TikTok has made its Android app available for download directly from its website. This comes after Google removed the app from the Play Store last month due to a US ban.
Now, Android users in the United States can install or update TikTok without relying on Google Play.
TikTok is offering both TikTok and TikTok Lite, which is designed for slower internet connections. The installation process is simple—users just need to download the file, open it, and approve the installation.
Since this method bypasses Google Play, Google’s app store policies do not apply. However, TikTok says the app is still safe and secure, with its source code reviewed by Oracle and independent security inspectors.
Apple users, however, are out of luck. iPhones do not allow sideloading, so iOS users must rely on TikTok’s web version until the app is reinstated in the App Store.
Neither Google nor Apple have shown any signs of reversing the ban, and it remains unclear when or if TikTok will return to official app stores.
