Wired reports that Apple is preventing U.S. users from downloading or updating many ByteDance-owned apps, even if they have a valid Chinese App Store account. Here are the details.

The Change Coincides with TikTok's Liquidation in the U.S.

Despite ByteDance being widely recognized for TikTok (and its Chinese version Douyin), it develops and distributes multiple apps on the App Store. These apps include Capcut, Lemon8, Lark, and Hypic.

Until recently, users in the U.S. could download these apps like any other apps in the App Store. However, according to Wired, Apple is blocking the downloads of ByteDance-owned apps, even if users have a valid Chinese App Store account.

Based on conversations with several users reporting this issue, Wired states that users see the message "This app is not available in your country or region" when they attempt to download the app.

The timing of this change aligns with the period when the TikTok USDS Joint Venture took over and separated the U.S. version of TikTok; this suggests that it might be related to a broader agreement that forced ByteDance's liquidation and the transfer of the U.S. app.

Wired reached out to Apple and ByteDance for comments, but both companies declined to comment; the TikTok USDS Joint Venture did the same.

However, Wired found an archived support page where Apple stated that as of January 19, 2025 (which coincides with the period when last year’s TikTok ban briefly went into effect), 11 ByteDance-owned apps "will no longer be available in the U.S., and visitors to the U.S. may have limited access to features."

The now-unavailable support document explained that U.S. citizens who already have the apps installed on their devices can continue to use them normally, but if they are deleted, they will not be able to download them again.

For users visiting the U.S., Apple added that ByteDance’s apps remain downloadable in "all other countries and regions where they are available," and also that "access to [full functionality] will be provided after leaving the U.S."

Follow this link to read the full report from Wired.

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