TikTok advises Android users in the US to sideload the app

TikTok suggests US Android users sideload the app, unavailable on Apple App Store and Play Store.

: TikTok has advised Android users in the US to sideload its app, making Android Package Kits available on its website. The app was briefly offline in January due to a law requiring ByteDance to sell TikTok to a US-based owner to avoid removal from app stores. President Donald Trump paused this law for 75 days to allow negotiation for a sale, with Vice President J.D. Vance leading talks. While ByteDance initially opposed selling, some investors now see it as beneficial, with companies like Perplexity AI and MrBeast interested in buying.

TikTok has encouraged US Android users to sideload its app by providing Android Package Kits for download on its official website. This step arises from the app's unavailability on both the Apple App Store and Google Play Store due to recent legislative pressures.

On January 19, TikTok faced a brief offline period in anticipation of a US law that would ban the app unless its parent company, ByteDance, sold it to an American-based owner. The law mandates the removal of the app from major app stores, with penalties of $5,000 per US user download if not adhered to.

President Donald Trump issued an executive order granting a 75-day pause on this law, with Vice President J.D. Vance spearheading negotiations for a sale. Although ByteDance initially resisted selling TikTok, some major investors now believe that a deal would be in everyone's best interest, sparking interest from potential buyers like Perplexity AI and MrBeast.

TikTokAndroidsideloading