TikTok stopped working in the United States late on Saturday and disappeared from Apple and Google app stores ahead of a law that takes effect Sunday requiring the shutdown of the app used by 170 million Americans.
President-elect Donald Trump said earlier in the day he would "most likely" give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban after he takes office on Monday, a promise TikTok cited in a notice posted to users on the app.
TikTok, which is owned by China's ByteDance, told users attempting to use the app around 10:45 p.m. ET (0345 GMT): "A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can't use TikTok for now. We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office. Please stay tuned."
Other apps owned by ByteDance, including video editing app Capcut and lifestyle social app Lemon8, were also offline and unavailable in U.S. app stores as of late Saturday.
"The 90-day extension is something that will be most likely done, because it's appropriate," Trump told NBC. "If I decide to do that, I'll probably announce it on Monday."
TikTok users logging on late on Saturday were met with a message that said the law would "force us to make our services temporarily unavailable. We're working to restore our service in the U.S. as soon as possible."
It was not clear if any U.S. users could still access the app, but it was no longer working for many users and people seeking to access it through a web application were met with the same message that TikTok was no longer working.
The Chinese-owned app, which has captivated nearly half of all Americans, powered small businesses and shaped online culture, said on Friday it will go dark in the U.S. on Sunday unless President Joe Biden's administration provides assurances to companies such as Apple and Google that they will not face enforcement actions when a ban takes effect.
Under a law passed last year and upheld on Friday by a unanimous Supreme Court, the platform has until Sunday to cut ties with its China-based parent ByteDance or shut down its U.S. operation to resolve concerns it poses a threat to national security.
The White House reiterated on Saturday that it was up to the incoming administration to take action, increasing the likelihood of a shutdown on Sunday.
"We see no reason for TikTok or other companies to take actions in the next few days before the Trump administration takes office on Monday," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
TikTok did not respond to a request for comment on the new White House statement.
The Chinese embassy in Washington on Friday accused the U.S. of using unfair state power to suppress TikTok. "China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its legitimate rights and interests," a spokesperson said.
© Thomson Reuters 2025.
28 Comments
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sakurasuki
It doesn't matter, in Japan still can use Tiktok from Japan's in App Store and Play Store.
Sorry for those US user that become victim of trade war, which making excuse as national security.
Those kids will still dance around using Instagram or other social media platform.
Japanoob
.... and 334.9 million people discover what a book is.
wtfjapan
Sorry for those US user that become victim of trade war, which making excuse as national security.
SCOTUS would disagree, Tiktok and still be used in te US if ownership is in a freiendly country, Tiktok is efectively owned by the CCP
JboneInTheZone
Trump indicated he’ll give them a 90 day reprieve which makes sense as Trump loses the complete opposite of what’s best for the American people at every turn
JboneInTheZone
Does* not loses
John-San
Real USAmerican don't use a Chinese platform. So these 170 million must be illegals right.
Blacklabel
Joe Biden and Democrats are to blame for this.
Trump will work to find a safe way to turn it back on for the youngsters and the business owners.
Wesley
Wouldn't have been an issue if American software companies came up with a home grown platform that will be even more popular.
deanzaZZR
I guess they failed. A Chinese company simply out-innovated your American software companies. 170 million users is proof.
Yubaru
Huh? The Supreme's decided unanimously to uphold the legislation. Thus it's the followers of Trump who are to "blame" for allowing it to take effect.
Blacklabel
No, Joe Biden is still President and it is turned off.
Despite 170 Americans wanting to use it.
wallace
I never used it but the app is no longer available on my American iPhone.
NCIS Reruns
There's a certain irony when Tiktok invokes Americans' First Amendment's right to free speech when it's owned by a company based in China, whose citizens are blocked from viewing US media (Google, YouTube, Wikipedia, news sites, etc.) by its "Great Firewall."
Blacklabel
“DOJ Asks Supreme Court to Reject Trump Bid to Delay TikTok ban”
who is in charge of the “DOJ” at this time that asked the court to reject what Trump wanted?
TorafusuTorasan
Who is in charge of the NTPIBFW--naked Trump pic in Blacklabels fantasy world? Thanks in advance for not showing it anymore.
Hervé L'Eisa
As a person who hasn't used/viewed TikTok, as with websites, can people use a VPN to bypass the block?
isabelle
It amuses me the way that TikTok always stresses that it is headquartered in Singapore and LA, and not beholden to China in any way. However, the Chinese government regularly comes out with statements like this, and threatens to block any sale through technology export rules.
If the company really were independent of China, surely the Chinese government wouldn't make such a fuss, and wouldn't be able to block a sale?
The idea that TikTok and Bytedance don't do Beijing's bidding is utterly laughable.
Blacklabel
cry some more.
that’s your President, tomorrow.
Was going to change it but realizing it triggers you so much, will keep it. Thanks!
So…any comments about people begging Trump to help turn TikTok back on after old meanie Joe shut it down on his last day?
wallace
TikTok on YouTube has also stopped.
TorafusuTorasan
As a person? As opposed to what?
As a cauliflower who spends half their day vegetating on TikTok etc, where man get VPN?!!!
isabelle
Strange how Trump changed his tune on TikTok since one of his major donors has a huge stake in it.
It's almost as if he is only thinking of himself, not the country. Imagine that.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-tiktok-ban-reversal-after-meeting-megadonor-stake/story?id=108013785
Indeed there is.
And their argument about a TikTok ban suppressing free speech is totally spurious. It's not the speech which would be banned, but the platform. People can still post exactly the same speech: just not on a platform that is controlled by an aggressive, totalitarian state.
India has the right idea: ban Chinese apps.
Blacklabel
oh so the 170 million American users begging him to restore it are what in this false narrative?
He’s not actually thinking of them and they want with his actions?
robert maes
A very good thing. Maybe people find that they are better of without and creativity increases again.
isabelle
I said the country, meaning national security and the national interest.
Allowing the CCP to harvest detailed user data, control what millions of people do and don't see, and promote pro-CCP narratives and disinformation is clearly not in the interests of the country, as lawmakers have agreed.
Blacklabel
If Trump were thinking of himself and not 170 million Americans?
“too bad! TikTok is gone forever, but you can use my platform: Truth Social”.
THAT would be “selfish”.
All of you know good and well if he supported the Biden ban?
you would be here crying about why he is being mean to all the Americans who want to use it/he’s unlawfully eliminating a competitor for his buddy Elon, etc.
TorafusuTorasan
Oh so the 170 JT users, give or take, begging you to show us more nude photos of Trump are what in this false narrative?
You are not thinking of them and they want?
deanzaZZR
Just curious, do you have some skin in the game? Are you a USA citizen? I am a USA citizen. It's not difficult to state.
isabelle
I certainly would not be "crying," as banning TikTok is exactly the right thing to do in terms of national security.
Some of us can see further than red/blue, you know?
TokyoLiving
Drama queen US and one more of its stupidities..
But no problem people, Trump will get Tiktok back..
Blacklabel
How odd. When I hear “the country” I think of the American people. People are our country,
and the national security/national interest line applies to an app but not to securing our physical border?
Blacklabel
It’s just you that’s obsessed over it and begging, homie.
i just kept it an extra 2 months more cause of your posts. Wanna go for 3?
TorafusuTorasan
@deanzaZZR--but are you one of those US citizens who was raised in Germany and flies by private jet between Texas and Japan? We have a club of the like-minded you could join.