As of last night, TikTok has officially ceased operations in the United States. Alongside the app’s unavailability, Apple has also removed TikTok from the App Store.
For the first time, Apple has commented on the TikTok ban, stating it is “required to comply with the laws in the regions where it operates.”
Apple Clarifies TikTok Ban
In a statement on its website, Apple mentioned:
Apple is required to comply with the laws in the regions where it operates. In accordance with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, applications developed by ByteDance Ltd. and its subsidiaries — such as TikTok, CapCut, Lemon8, and others — will be unavailable for download or updates on the App Store for users in the United States starting January 19, 2025.
Additionally, Apple provided a list of ByteDance-developed apps that have been removed from the App Store:
- TikTok
- TikTok Studio
- TikTok Shop Seller Center
- CapCut
- Lemon8
- Hypic
- Lark – Team Collaboration
- Lark – Rooms Display
- Lark Rooms Controller
- Gauth: AI Study Companion
- MARVEL SNAP
Apple clarified that if you reside in the United States and already have these apps installed, they will remain on your device. However, if these apps are deleted or if you switch devices, they will not be recoverable. Furthermore, Apple confirms that users in the U.S. will not receive updates for these apps, potentially affecting performance, security, and compatibility with future versions of iOS and iPadOS.
Finally, Apple stated that these apps “will still be available for download in all other countries and regions.” Important information for visitors to the United States includes:
Users coming from outside the United States with their Apple Account set to a country or region other than the United States will not be able to download, update, or make in-app purchases and new subscriptions within ByteDance Ltd. apps while within U.S. borders.
Upon leaving the United States, all functionality will be restored.
For more information about the TikTok ban, check out our complete coverage.
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