Unable to reinstall TikTok app after deletion

exvzi wrote:

for those who are wondering why you cannot download tiktok but you can use it if you have it, its because since it violated the rules, and was “banned”, its now off limits on the app store for further purchase.

Specifically, the "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act", whose text you can find in Division H of Public Law 118–50 (118th Congress) .

This isn't an Apple or Google "rule". It's U.S. law, upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. I believe that it became law in April 2024, but that Congress wrote it so that the ban did not kick in until many months later. I believe that the idea was to give ByteDance, Ltd. and TikTok a chance to divest TikTok from Chinese Government control so that TikTok would not be banned at all. But ByteDance, Ltd. and TikTok did not take that opportunity.

It looks as though the legal definitions of a "covered company" and a "foreign adversary controlled application" would cover any sufficiently popular social media application or website that is controlled in a direct or indirect fashion by China, North Korea, Russia, or Iran. (This law cross-references a list of adversaries in another law.).

Because Congress wrote the law with TikTok in mind, the law also calls out ByteDance, Ltd. and TikTok by name.

Hello~ This is at the top of this page. It’s Apple’s current stance…

💡 Did you know?

TikTok and ByteDance Ltd. apps are no longer available in the United States, and visitors to the United States might have limited access to features. Learn more <<<Click here.

~Katana-San~

Hello~ See below and at the top of this very page…

💡 Did you know?

TikTok and ByteDance Ltd. apps are no longer available in the United States, and visitors to the United States might have limited access to features. Learn more <<< Click here.

The above is Apple’s current stance.

~Katana-San~

Hello~ Read below…this is also at the top of this very page and the answer has been posted many times in this at present 47 page and climbing thread…

💡 Did you know?

TikTok and ByteDance Ltd. apps are no longer available in the United States, and visitors to the United States might have limited access to features. Learn more <<< Click here.

~Katana-San~

Hello~ No can do. Please see this link for still currently Apple’s stance…

About availability of TikTok and ByteDance Ltd. apps in the United States - Apple Support

Speculation is not supported here in these forums. So no….have no idea when or whether it will be returned to the App Store. Patience will be required and we are not Apple but fellow forum members like yourself. There are now 52 pages with answers sprinkled in…kinda like a scavenger hunt.

~Katana-San~

jackeline37 wrote:

I deleted TikTok once I heard that it would be banned because I thought it would be it then it was announced that TikTok had been UN-banned so I went to the App Store and I couldn’t find the app to put TikTok back in the App Store for the people who deleted it since it is now unbanned

It has not been unbanned.

About availability of TikTok and ByteDance Ltd. apps in the United States - Apple Support

To use Tiktok on iPhone:

Go to Safari (Web Browser)

Go to TikTok and login

Click the share icon at the bottom

Click on Add to Home Screen

Done - You now have an app

For everyone here, please read this announcement:

About availability of TikTok and ByteDance Ltd. apps in the United States - Apple Support

Heartzcece wrote:

This is legit not fair I did the same and a few hours later people where able to use it again, i don’t care if it stops working after a while. Put tik tok back in the App Store. At this point this is so lame and unnecessary.

TikTok is banned in the United States.

There are ruinous fines for any company that breaks the law and helps to distribute the TikTok app to people in the U.S. through marketplaces – including mobile application stores like the Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the law that bans TikTok.

TikTok will remain banned until

• ByteDance, Ltd. and TikTok decide to comply with the divestiture provisions of the law, and take concrete steps to actually comply with it (not just talk about it), or
• Congress changes the law.

Neither Apple nor Google instituted the ban, but both are required by law to honor it.

vylinaa1 wrote:

give us tiktok back, if it’s un banned then why not put it back in the appstore

You might have got some bad information. The law has NOT been repealed by Congress and the Supreme Court has NOT ruled that an Executive Order could even eliminate the fines imposed on Google and Apple for allowing downloaded.

Hope that helps. All you are left with is using a previously downloaded version of TikTok or accessing it on the web using Safari. Some people are calling that UNBANNNED. Also note that since the law is still in effect, the days are numbered for even that kind of access since China must still divest TikTok to a US company to operate here, and as of now that has not happened.

tala27 wrote:

Tiktok isnt fully "unbanned" The people that kept tiktok on their phone are able to use it. If it was deleted tiktok is not in the app store play store etc. If u deleted tiktok it cant be downloaded. Although president trump is working on restoring tiktok in the app store and play store once he takes office. Im not sure if he has taken office yet or if he is still working on getting tiktok back in the app store

Sorry, but you don't have accurate information.

• Trump took office on January 20th.
• Congress has not repealed the fines placed on Apple and Google for allowing any downloads.
• The Supreme Court has not ruled on whether Trump could even do anything about the fines that Congress passed and the Supreme Court upheld.
• The law still requires TikTok to divest to a US company and currently there is no indication that China is willing to do that. The days are numbered for that to occur and currently you are looking at about 69 days.
• You are correct that a previous version can be used and you can access on the web as the fines for Google and Apple pertain to the downloads in their App Store.

Hello~ For now here’s what Apple has to say…

About availability of TikTok and ByteDance Ltd. apps in the United States - Apple Support

Waiting patiently is your best course of action for now until the legal details are worked out.

~Katana-San~

PixieV wrote:

I can’t believe they still haven’t added it back. The law was put on hold again 2 days ago. They could at least reply to everyone.

They DID reply to everyone. That reply is a link in this thread that has been posted around a dozen times. Bottom line: Apple would be violating the law if they put it back. The 75 day stay applies only to TikTok service, not TikTok apps.

kourtney152 wrote:

How can I get TikTok back after I deleted it

Hello~ Read one of my explanatory posts already in this thread. Also click on below…

About availability of TikTok and ByteDance Ltd. apps in the United States - Apple Support

~Katana-San~

izayah290 wrote:

I want to get TikTok back on my iPhone

If you are in the U.S., it is illegal for anyone to help you get TikTok back on your iPhone.

Distribution, maintenance, and updating of the TikTok app and website will remain banned by law until ByteDance, Ltd. and TikTok comply with the divestiture provisions of the law – or until Congress changes the law. (ByteDance, Ltd. and TikTok had 270 days from the time the law went into effect until the time the ban did, to comply, but they did not do so, and I have not heard of them showing any interest in doing so even now.)

Apple did not make the law – but they are obligated to follow it.

This is why you will not find this "foreign adversary controlled application" either in the U.S. Apple App Store or in the U.S. Google Play Store.