TikTok became the home for workout routines, Roman Empires, podcast TLDRs, and more. But despite its bountiful source of brain rot, people raised concerns about the app posing a national security risk. It’s one of the few things Democrats and Republicans can agree on, and it led to the House passing a bill that forces TikTok to sell its majority ownership or face a nationwide ban.
The ban came and went (briefly) thanks to a last-minute extension by President Trump, but the uncertainty about the app’s future in the U.S. remains. Below, find out what the current TikTok restrictions are, why it’s unavailable on the app store, and if it’s really here to stay.
Why is TikTok unavailable on the app store?
Not long after people were screaming, crying, and throwing up on X about TikTok being gone for good (we didn’t even get a proper goodbye!), their parent company ByteDance restored TikTok’s service on January 19. Users were greeted with a message on their home screen stating that “as a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.!”
Despite the good news, TikTok and other ByteDance-owned apps, like CapCut, remain unavailable on the Google and Apple app stores. It’s as if a swarm of Black Friday shoppers are waiting outside, only to find the Best Buy doors firmly locked.
For now, the platforms are hitting “pause,” reportedly to implement “additional protections” before bypassing the ban. According to analysts, distributing the app without these safeguards could lead to severe penalties. When U.S. users search for TikTok on Android or Apple devices, they’re met with a frustrating message that says TikTok downloads are paused due to the current U.S. legal requirements.
The stakes for breaking the ban are high. U.S. app stores could face fines of $5,000 per user who gains access to TikTok. With TikTok’s 170 million U.S. users, those fines could potentially skyrocket to an eye-watering $850 billion. Yes, billion — with a B. And with a five-year statute of limitations, companies may still be held accountable if future presidential administrations enforce the ban.
So, if you’re eagerly awaiting TikTok’s return to app stores, you might need some patience. The platforms can’t move forward until they secure the legal protections needed to host the app or until ByteDance sells its majority ownership. With Trump’s enforcement order set to expire on April 5, there’s hope the situation might resolve before then — but no guarantees.
Is there any other way to get TikTok?
What started as a joke to sell screen recordings of TikTok to those affected by the ban quickly turned into a legitimate cash grab. Entrepreneurial-minded individuals turned to eBay to sell phones with the app installed for thousands of dollars because there is no other way to re-download it.
Some highlights, as reported by USA Today, include an eBay user in Ruskin, Florida, listing an iPhone 15 Pro Max “With TikTok” for $10,000 (or best offer). According to the listing, the device racked up more than 1,800 views in just 24 hours. Other sellers have posted phones at prices ranging from $100 to a jaw-dropping $25,000—like the iPhone 16 Pro Max with “TIKTOK INSTALLED” from a seller in Whittier, North Carolina.
And it doesn’t stop there. One user in North Carolina listed a 128GB iPhone 15 Pro with TikTok and CapCut installed for a staggering $4.5 million. Whether anyone is actually buying these is unclear, but given the app’s uncertain future, it might be a bad investment.
Are there restrictions if you have the app?
Even if you already have TikTok installed, problems could arise down the line. Without regular updates, the app is likely to “degrade over time,” leading to a host of issues. Bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features—essential for maintaining a seamless user experience—will be out of reach. Some users are already reporting glitches with the app’s algorithm, hinting at the challenges that may lie ahead.
Did Trump save TikTok?
Although Congress passed the ban, President Trump signed an executive order delaying its enforcement by 75 days. This extension gives ByteDance more time to sell its stakes while allowing Trump’s administration to explore a solution that provides national security and the doomscrolling people want.
After signing the order, Trump told reporters that the U.S. government is now entitled to a share of TikTok’s U.S. business in exchange for allowing the app to continue operations. “So I think, like a joint venture, I think we would have a joint venture with the people from TikTok. We’ll see what happens,” he said. Trump also warned that if China blocks the deal, it would signal “a certain hostility,” and he threatened tariffs of 25%, 30%, 50%, or even 100%.
It’s unclear if the President has seen Mr. Beast’s claims about being the next CEO of the app. However, he has communicated that he would be down for Elon Musk or Larry Ellison, co-founder of Oracle, to take the reins (the company houses the majority of the app’s servers).
Getting TikTok to stay in the U.S. for good will require significant effort. Bill Ford, CEO of General Atlantic (a major ByteDance investor) and a TikTok board member, told Axios he remains optimistic about making a deal.
“It’s in everybody’s interest… We’ll get on with it, as soon as maybe the end of the week in terms of negotiating what might work. The Chinese government, the U.S. government, the company, and the board all have to be involved in this conversation,” Ford said. Fingers crossed.