WASHINGTON, USA — TikTok, the social media platform owned by Chinese tech giant ByteDance, is once again available for download on Apple’s App Store and Google’s Play Store in the United States.
The companies confirmed the app’s return on Thursday, February 13, 2025, evening but did not provide further comment.
The app had been removed from both platforms on January 18, just hours before a federal ban was set to take effect.
While existing users could continue using TikTok, new downloads were blocked for nearly a month as the app’s legal status remained in flux.
TikTok’s Ban and Legal Battle
The ban on TikTok in the U.S. originated from a law signed by President Joe Biden in April 2024, which mandated that ByteDance divest ownership of the platform to a non-Chinese entity or face a nationwide ban by January 19, 2025.
After a series of appeals, the Supreme Court upheld the law on January 17, effectively clearing the way for the app’s removal from U.S. platforms.
However, with Biden’s administration set to leave office on January 20, enforcement of the law was left to incoming President Donald Trump.
In a dramatic reversal, Trump, who had previously attempted to ban TikTok during his first term, moved to keep the app operational.
On January 19, the platform restored service to U.S. users, citing Trump’s pledge to delay enforcement while negotiating a deal.
“The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order,” Trump wrote on Truth Social last month.
The App’s Uncertain Future
Despite its reinstatement, TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains unclear. Trump has indicated he will extend the deadline for ByteDance to divest the platform, but no official timeline has been set.
The law allows for a one-time 90-day extension, but only if the president can certify to Congress that a path toward divestiture has been identified and significant progress has been made.
Thus far, Trump has not formally enacted this extension, leaving TikTok’s long-term prospects in legal limbo.
TikTok, for its part, has expressed gratitude to the Trump administration for intervening.
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties for providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” the company said in a statement last month.
Political Whiplash Over TikTok
TikTok’s journey in Washington has been marked by bipartisan concerns over its data collection practices and potential ties to the Chinese government.
Trump initially led efforts to ban TikTok in 2020, signing an executive order that sought to block the app from operating in the U.S. within 45 days.
However, TikTok successfully challenged the order in court, and Biden later rescinded it upon taking office in 2021.
Despite reversing Trump’s original ban, Biden ultimately signed the April 2024 legislation that laid the groundwork for TikTok’s eventual removal unless it was sold to a U.S. buyer.
Both administrations have struggled with conflicting approaches to the app, with national security concerns clashing with TikTok’s popularity among younger voters and businesses.
A Deal or a Ban?
With no immediate enforcement of the law, Trump now faces a complex negotiation process.
He could push ByteDance to sell the platform, grant an extension, or attempt to broker a deal that addresses security concerns without requiring divestiture.
For now, TikTok remains operational, but whether it can continue long-term in the U.S. depends on what Trump decides in the coming weeks.
