APKMirror Blocks Android Users From Downloading TikTok
On Saturday evening, TikTok went offline and removed its products from US app stores. The next day, citing assurances from incoming President Trump, TikTok returned services to American users, but its apps remain missing from app stores — even after Trump signed an executive order delaying enforcement of the law banning TikTok.
As we approached the ban, I advised our Android readers on a way to download TikTok after the ban: sideloading. Although you need to be careful, sideloading apps allows you to install apps that are not available in official app stores such as the Google Play Store. This means that if you missed the TikTok download window until last Saturday evening, it was still available through other online retailers. sources.
Again, sideloading apps can be risky. Google may not detect all malicious apps , but they have strict filters that protect users from many malware. Depending on where you download apps from, you may be much less protected when sideloading apps and put yourself at greater risk of encountering malware. However, there are reliable side loading platforms available. One of them is APKMirror, which verifies the identity of all developers whose applications are hosted on the site. Thus, I have recommended APKMirror to all Android users who want to download TikTok after the ban.
It so happened that this is no longer possible . If you try to search for TikTok on APKMirror right now, you will be immediately blocked and see the following message:
It is clear that this is not a glitch or a thin block. APKMirror specifically states that TikTok is being blocked from downloading due to the Protecting Americans from Foreign Controlled Apps Act, a law that bans TikTok in the US. The situation is similar with Lemon8, a popular lifestyle app from TikTok. Although you can search for Lemon8, clicking on any of the apps in the results will result in the same message as above.
Interestingly, APKMirror did not block downloads of other popular TikTok apps such as CapCut or Marvel Snap . These apps are also banned from official app stores while the law is in effect, but APKMirror still allows you to search and download them. As of this writing, you can download the CapCut version that was last updated on January 22nd and the Marvel Snap version that was last updated on January 14th.
The law is not being followed, but is it legal?
The blocking speaks to the precarious nature of the TikTok ban. As written, the law is effective from Sunday, January 19th. The law was passed by Congress, signed into law by President Biden, and even upheld as constitutional by the Supreme Court. It gives the president the power to delay the ban for 90 days if ByteDance is found to be actively working to sell the app, but the deadline set by law has already come and gone. It’s unclear what authority Trump actually has to delay enforcement in this case.
Some organizations, such as TikTok and the companies that host its traffic (including Oracle), clearly believe that Trump has the right to delay implementation of this law, and continue to operate in the US while the law is in effect. Others, like APKMirror, seem to take a more cautious approach – allowing downloads of certain TikTok apps, but not TikTok itself.
Either way, for now, there appear to be a few safe ways to download TikTok on your smartphone if you didn’t download it before the ban. My advice: if you want to use this service, just use the web app. It’s far from perfect, especially on mobile devices, but it’s a lot better than downloading a virus-riddled TikTok from a dubious online source.