TikTok Now Offers Direct Download of Android App in the US
New Option for Android Users
TikTok is now offering US downloads of the Android version of the app on its own website, the company announced last night. With this change, Android users in the United States now have an easy way to download or update the app for the first time since Google removed it from Google Play last month in response to a US ban on the app.
How to Download and Install
You can download both TikTok and TikTok Lite, a version of the app designed to work with slower internet connections. Once you’ve downloaded the app, you can install or update it by opening the file and approving its installation. The process is quick – I was able to update to the most recent version of TikTok on my Pixel 6 in about the same amount of time it takes to get an app from Google Play.
Safety and Security
Like Apple, Google requires app makers to follow certain rules to be listed on the Play Store – rules TikTok isn’t necessarily bound to when offering the download on its own. A TikTok help page claims that, however, the app "remains safe and secure." It says that TikTok’s source code is still examined by Oracle and the "Independent Security Inspectors" that ByteDance selected last year following former reported accusations that its Project Texas effort to wall off its US operations from China and appease US lawmakers was "largely cosmetic."
Google’s Response
Google did not immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.
Apple’s Stance
Apple doesn’t allow sideloading in the US, so iPhone owners will have to continue using it in a web browser while waiting for Apple to reinstate the app on the App Store. That may not happen anytime soon, as neither Google nor Apple have seemed eager to defy the ban and risk billions in fines, despite President Trump’s executive order staying enforcement of it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How can I download the TikTok app in the US?
A: You can download the app directly from the TikTok website.
Q: What are the system requirements for the app?
A: The app is compatible with Android devices.
Q: Is the app safe and secure?
A: According to TikTok, the app "remains safe and secure" and is still examined by Oracle and the "Independent Security Inspectors."
Q: Why is the app no longer available on Google Play?
A: The app was removed from Google Play in response to a US ban on the app.
