Why can I not find common apps in Apple's app store on the MacBook?

Water_Dog wrote:

Please read my post and question again. I was searching under the "iPhone & iPad Apps" tab. I KNOW there is an iPhone version of the TikTok App, but it did not show up there.

In reply to your comment (Not sure why you concluded that Apple was restricting the app when it is the developer that chooses where they want the app marketed.), I think this because if I go to the App Store on my iPhone, I can see the TikTok app there (and indeed I have the app loaded on my iPhone. But when I'm in the MacBook version of the App Store where one can supposedly look, by clicking on the "iPhone & iPad Apps" tab, for apps written and marketed to and for iPhones/iPads, the TikTok app does not appear in the search results.

Please read my response again. Normally all apps available for the iPhone will show on your Mac when using the iPhones/iPad button as the Mac can also run those apps, BUT the developer can choose to not have those show on the Mac if they don't want them to. The developer does this when they submit the app and is detailed in this Developer article:

Running your iOS apps in macOS | Apple Developer Documentation

The question is for the developer to tell you why they do not want their app to show on your Mac when you use the iPhone/iPad tab. They are the ones that have prevented it from appearing there and it is there option to do if they wish. Anything you see in the iPhone/iPad tab can be installed on your Mac, but TikTok does not want you to do that with their app so it is not shown.

There is no TikTok version available for the Mac. While iPhone/iPad apps can show on the Mac App Store, the developer does have the option to make them not appear if they wish. You will need to contact the Developer as to why they are restricting access to the app on the Mac App Store.

Not sure why you concluded that Apple was restricting the app when it is the developer that chooses where they want the app marketed.

Water_Dog wrote:

Please read my post and question again. I was searching under the "iPhone & iPad Apps" tab. I KNOW there is an iPhone version of the TikTok App, but it did not show up there.

I’d expect the iPhone and iPad apps you seek are not listed by the app developer as also being compatible with Apple silicon, so they won’t show (on Mac) in those tabs, and won’t show in your previous purchases:

• Get apps and Safari extensions in the App Store on Mac - Apple Support
• Use iPhone and iPad apps on Mac with Apple silicon - Apple Support

But log your feedback with Apple: Product Feedback - Apple

I currently have some apps iOS in the App Store that are fine running on Silicon Macs, but others don't make any sense, such as those that use the iPhone Accelerometer to measure movement speed of the iPhone, so I do not have those show up on the Mac in the iPhone/iPad list as I would not want a user to install it on a Mac.

Best of luck going forward.

The Apple ecosystem is indeed quite complex with it’s own - sometimes confusing - “Applespeak” terminology which has evolved over time.

Not all detailed elements are as quite as intuitive as one might be led to believe.

DO keep coming back !!!

Speaking as a NON TikTok user …

… are you sure that a MacOS App even exists ???

Just because something runs on iOS / iPadOS does NOT necessarily mean that there is a MacOS version.

I now understand.

I think Mr Hoffman has subsequently provided the definitive answer for all.