TikTok users in the United States will soon need to switch to a new version of the app, as part of ongoing efforts to address national security concerns and comply with a new US law.
The Chinese-owned social media platform announced it will release a separate version of its app for US users on September 5, 2025. The move comes amid preparations to sell its US operations to a group of non-Chinese investors, a requirement set by the US government.
Current US users can continue using the existing app until March 2026, after which it will stop working. Users who want to keep accessing TikTok will need to install the new version. The transition is intended to shift control of US user data to a new ownership structure and address concerns about data access by the Chinese government.
The planned sale involves a consortium that includes Oracle, a US-based tech company, while TikTok’s parent company, Bytedance, will reportedly keep a minority stake. However, the deal must still be approved by both the US and Chinese governments, which could complicate finalization.
Background on the Ban Threat
The pressure on TikTok began under the Biden administration, which raised alarms over the security of US user data potentially being accessible under Chinese law. A law passed by Congress required Bytedance to either sell TikTok’s US business or face a complete ban.
Although TikTok had attempted to resolve concerns by storing American user data on Oracle’s servers in the US, lawmakers continued to push for a full sale. Enforcement of the ban has been delayed multiple times to allow for negotiations.
TikTok briefly went offline in the US earlier this year due to non-compliance fears, but the issue was quickly resolved after a presidential delay in enforcement.
Technical and Legal Challenges
When the new app launches, the current TikTok app will be removed from the US versions of Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store. Users trying to open the old app will be redirected to install the updated version.
The Department of Justice has assured Apple and Google that they will not face penalties for hosting the existing app, provided that efforts to complete the sale continue.
Despite the plan, technical difficulties are expected during the switch. With around 170 million US users, transferring user accounts and data to US-based systems may cause disruptions.
Some critics argue there is no strong evidence that China accessed US TikTok data. However, US officials say Chinese laws would legally allow such access if the data is stored in China.
TikTok has not commented publicly on the new app or sale details.
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