For millions of American TikTok users, the drama surrounding the app’s legal status has taken another twist. Although Google removed TikTok from the Play Store, the app remains functional on Android devices.
In a rare move, TikTok is actively encouraging users to sideload it. The company now offers its Android Package Kit (APK) for direct download on its official website—a strategy usually avoided due to security concerns.
The situation stems from a looming U.S. law that could force TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its American operations. Unless a sale happens, the law mandates the app’s removal from major app stores, with penalties reaching up to $5,000 per U.S. download. The app briefly went offline on January 19, sparking confusion, but TikTok quickly restored access—just not through traditional app stores.
The battle over TikTok’s future has drawn high-profile involvement. One of the executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump has delayed the ban for 75 days, giving ByteDance until April to negotiate.
Reports indicate that Trump has assigned Vice President J.D. Vance to oversee the potential sale. While ByteDance has repeatedly denied plans to sell, one of its investors recently suggested that a deal might be in “everybody’s interest.”
Meanwhile, buyers are already lining up. AI startup Perplexity AI and popular YouTuber MrBeast are rumored to be interested, though it remains unclear how serious their bids are. As the clock ticks down and political debates intensify, TikTok’s fate in the U.S. remains limbo. Will ByteDance stand firm, or will a new owner step in to reshape the platform’s future?
