Even though the service remains operational, TikTok continues to be banned in the United States. President Trump made a commitment not to penalize TikTok and its service providers for maintaining their services, but this is merely a statement of intent. He also executed an executive order that temporarily halted the ban; however, there are significant doubts about the legal validity of this order.
For various reasons, both Apple and Google have opted to avoid the associated risks. Should a court later rule that Trump’s assurances are legally void, Apple could face fines up to $850 billion. It’s simply not a risk worth taking for them.
TikTok Unavailable on the App Store in the US
The TikTok app is currently inaccessible on the App Store. At first glance, this may lead you to think that not having the app is a minor issue—especially if you had previously downloaded it. After all, if you were truly invested in TikTok, you likely already had the app installed.
However, the unavailability of TikTok on the App Store has more serious implications: if you need to reinstall the app for any reason, you will be unable to do so.
This means that if you purchase a new iPhone, you won’t have the option to officially install TikTok. Additionally, if your iPhone sustains serious damage and requires replacement, you will miss out on accessing TikTok. The same goes for cases where you may need to restore your iPhone due to software problems.
In a support document released by Apple on January 19th, coinciding with the official enactment of the TikTok ban, the company highlighted this issue:
If you have these apps installed on your device already, they will remain accessible. However, if deleted, they cannot be redownloaded, nor can they be restored when switching devices. In-app purchases and new subscriptions are no longer an option.
If TikTok holds significant value for you, it’s advisable to take excellent care of your current iPhone. Should your device be nearing the end of its lifespan, consider postponing an upgrade. Reinstalling the app will not be straightforward afterward, and you may have to rely solely on the website.
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