TikTok Returns to App Stores After DOJ Assurance on Fines
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. The app's return comes less than a month after the initial US government ban.
TikTok app on Play Store
The ban, which took effect on January 19, included a $5,000 fine per download for platform owners. This led both Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their stores. While Android users could still sideload the app through ByteDance's direct download, iOS users had no alternative method to access TikTok.
According to Sensor Tower, TikTok's downloads were almost evenly split between platforms in the previous year:
- 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 oversee the sale of TikTok's U.S. operations. While the initial 75-day deadline for TikTok to find a U.S. partner could be extended, Trump indicated this might not be necessary. Multiple potential buyers have expressed interest, and there's speculation about TikTok potentially becoming 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 discussions about its long-term ownership structure continue.
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