PARIS, FRANCE – MARCH 05: In this photo illustration, the social media application logo, Tik Tok is … [+]
That was fast. TikTok appears to be back online in the U.S. after going dark in the late hours of Saturday ahead of the looming Jan. 19 ban. But why is TikTok working again, and is it still banned from operating in the U.S.? Here’s everything to know so far.
Access to TikTok’s content began to return slowly on Sunday afternoon, although it remained limited through web browsers and for users who already had the app installed on their devices. TikTok is currently still unavailable for many on Apple and Google’s app stores.
The country had been preparing for a TikTok ban, which became a reality on Friday when the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously upheld a law requiring TikTok to either separate from its China-based parent company, ByteDance, or be removed from U.S. app stores and hosting services starting Jan. 19.
On Saturday, creators flooded TikTok with emotional farewell videos, shared secrets, and uploaded nostalgic drafts in anticipation of the ban. Then, when the app went dark around 10:30 p.m. ET on Jan. 18, users turned to platforms like X and Instagram to express their disappointment and outrage over the unexpected early shutdown.
So, what’s happening now? Why is TikTok suddenly back up and running? Here’s everything you need to know so far.
Why Is TikTok Working Right Now?
WASHINGTON, DC – AUGUST 07: In this photo illustration, the TikTok app is displayed on an Apple … [+]
TikTok is officially back in operation in the U.S., following President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to suspend the ban as soon as he takes office on Monday.
“Welcome back! Thanks for your patience and support,” a pop-up message on TikTok reads. “As a result of President Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the U.S.! You can continue to create, share, and discover all the things you love on TikTok.”
The announcement came shortly after TikTok confirmed via a statement on X at 12:27 p.m. on Jan. 19 that it was actively working to restore service to its 170 million U.S. users.
“In agreement with our service providers, TikTok is in the process of restoring service. We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” the statement said.
The app added, “It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship. We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
On Sunday morning, the app displayed a different message to U.S. users, stating that they were “working to restore our service in the U.S. as soon as possible,” after shutting down in the U.S. the night prior.
Is Trump Going To Stop The TikTok Ban?
WASHINGTON, DC – NOVEMBER 13: U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at a House Republicans … [+]
TikTok appears to be accessible again for U.S. users after Trump offered assurances to the company’s service providers, including Apple and Google, who risk massive fines for each user downloading the app during the ban.
Just hours before TikTok began restoring its service, Trump announced on Truth Social that he planned to issue an executive order on Monday to extend the deadline for ByteDance to sell the app.
“I will issue an executive order on Monday to extend the period of time before the law’s prohibitions take effect, so that we can make a deal to protect our national security. The order will also confirm that there will be no liability for any company that helped keep TikTok from going dark before my order,” he wrote.
In April, President Joe Biden signed a law that prohibits U.S. app stores from hosting TikTok unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, relinquishes ownership. However, the current president has the ability to delay the ban for 90 days if certain conditions are met.
As Forbes reported, if Trump were to pause the law without providing actual evidence that ByteDance is divesting, the executive order may not be legally sound, “meaning it could be challenged in court and the ban could take effect anyway—or companies like Apple and Google could still take TikTok off their app stores regardless of what Trump says, in order to avoid any potential legal liability.”
Another possibility is for Trump to declare that TikTok complies with the law, regardless of whether it has divested from ByteDance, University of Minnesota law professor Alan Rozenshtein told Forbes.
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