TikTok Reinstated on App Stores After DOJ Assures No Penalties to Apple, Google
TikTok has returned to both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store following a letter from US Attorney General Pam Bondi assuring platforms they won't face fines under the current administration.
TikTok app on Play Store
The app was previously removed on January 19 due to a provision in the Biden administration's TikTok ban that would have imposed $5,000 fines per download on platform owners. While Android users could still sideload the app, iOS users had no alternative method to download TikTok.
According to Sensor Tower data, TikTok's downloads are nearly evenly split between platforms:
- Apple App Store: 52% of downloads
- Google Play Store: 48% of downloads
President Trump has appointed Vice President J.D. Vance and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz to lead a task force overseeing TikTok's U.S. operations sale. While the initial 75-day deadline for finding a U.S. partner could be extended, Trump indicated this may not be necessary. Multiple potential buyers have expressed interest, with Trump suggesting TikTok could potentially become part of a new U.S. sovereign wealth fund.
With TikTok now restored to major app stores, the immediate crisis appears to have been resolved, though questions about the app's long-term future in the U.S. market remain.
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