Apple and Google Restore TikTok to the U.S. App Stores

Apple and Google have brought TikTok back to the U.S. App Store after a short-lived removal, making it accessible again for users to download and update.

The popular social media platform was previously taken down following the enforcement of a legal mandate introduced last year, which required its removal from both Apple app store and Google’s play store.

However, a recent executive order from President Trump, issued on January 20, temporarily halts the enforcement of this law for 75 days. This pause allows for a comprehensive review of the policy, potentially shaping TikTok’s future in the country.

Apple is set to reinstate TikTok in the App Store by tonight, while Google is expected to follow suit on the Play Store for Android users. The decision follows a letter from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to Apple, urging the company to reconsider. Apple has since confirmed to Bloomberg that TikTok will once again be available by Thursday evening.

The app, owned by Chinese tech firm ByteDance, was initially removed on January 18 due to a law requiring the company to either sell TikTok or face a complete ban in the U.S. Apple has not provided an official statement regarding the reinstatement, while Google has chosen not to comment on its position.

TikTok, with over 170 million American users in the U.S., briefly shut down its services for less than a day before restoring access. This swift return followed assurances from President Trump that the ban would be temporarily lifted. During the brief outage, thousands of users turned to the Chinese platform RedNote, where they referred to themselves as “TikTok refugees.”