Important!
As of February 14, 2025, TikTok is (temporarily) back in the App Stores in the United States. It seems that TikTok will be available for download again, until the TikTok ban is officially imposed. This ban was postponed by 75 days on January 21.
TikTok users in the United States have been experiencing the effects of a nationwide TikTok ban. While the app is currently back in service, there’s a good chance that TikTok will be banned in the United States again in the near future.
President Trump has lifted the ban on his first day back in office. However, those who have deleted the app from their device are struggling to redownload it. More importantly, you might be wondering how to get access to TikTok if the app is banned again.
We’ve got your back! There are safe and easy ways to unblock TikTok in the United States: all you need is a VPN (virtual private network). In this article, we will tell you how to use it.
How to Access TikTok in the US After a Ban – Quick Overview
Ready to get access to TikTok? With a VPN you can bypass the TikTok ban easily by following these steps:
The easiest way to keep using TikTok is by unblocking it in a browser with a VPN. Here’s how:
- Sign up for a VPN. NordVPN is our #1 best VPN to unblock TikTok.
- Download the VPN software from the website.
- Log in with your new account.
- Connect to a country where TikTok isn’t banned, for example Canada or Mexico.
- Go to the TikTok website on your phone or computer and enjoy!
Expert tip: if you’re trying this on mobile, adapt your browser settings to use the desktop version of the site and avoid Tiktok trying to force you to use the app.
Unblocking the TikTok mobile app is difficult and will likely require creating a new account, but a VPN may do the trick:
- Sign up for a VPN. NordVPN is our #1 best VPN to unblock TikTok.
- Download the VPN software from your app store.
- Log in with your new account.
- Connect to a country where TikTok isn’t banned, for example Canada or Mexico.
- Change your App Store or Play Store location settings to this same country.
- Go to the TikTok app, re-download it, and enjoy!
NordVPN is our tried and tested #1 VPN for unblocking TikTok from anywhere. Since there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee on every plan, you can see for yourself if this VPN is for you.
Read our extensive instructions below to see how you can use a VPN to access TikTok in the United States once the app is banned.
TikTok Ban Update: Why is the United States Banning TikTok?
Despite the fact that TikTok has 170 million American users, the app is currently in legal limbo. Last year, growing concern about TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, lead to a bipartisan bill in favor of a TikTok ban. The US Senate adopted this bill in April, 2024.
Already, TikTok is banned on federal government devices. Besides ByteDance’s potential ties to the Chinese government, TikTok is known to gather huge amounts of private user data. Though there is no proven evidence that TikTok is a national security risk, concerns over the app have only increased.
In March 2023, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew had to testify before Congress to address concerns regarding the app. The subsequent TikTok bill gave ByteDance until January 19, 2025 to divest its shares. On this day, a nationwide ban came temporarily into effect, before being lifted again.
Can the United States ban TikTok?
Yes, it certainly seems so. At the state level, TikTok is already banned on certain networks or devices. While previous attempts at a nationwide ban have failed, the adoption of last year’s bipartisan bill makes it more likely TikTok will become restricted.
At the moment, it is impossible to download the app from app stores, and it may take a while before this issue is fixed. On top of that, it’s unclear whether TikTok will be banned again in the future.
A real TikTok ban will be catastrophic for content creators and force them to different platforms. Should TikTok get banned, either by the government or by your school or workplace’s firewall, and you don’t want to try out any TikTok alternatives, a VPN can help you bypass the restrictions.
How to Keep Using TikTok in the United States: Step-by-Step Instructions
Want to make sure you’ll always have access to TikTok, even when it’s banned or blocked? There’s an easy solution: Use a TikTok VPN. With a VPN, you can change the virtual location of your device.
To bypass the TikTok ban, all you need to do is connect to a VPN server in a country where TikTok is still readily accessible, such as Canada or Mexico.
With a VPN, you have two options to unblock TikTok:
- Use Tiktok in the browser: Fast and simple
- Keep using the TikTok app: Tricky
Follow the instructions below to get started.
1. Get a VPN subscription
The first thing you need to do, is sign up with a VPN provider. There are countless options out there, but the best VPN for TikTok is NordVPN. This trustworthy provider will have you back on TikTok in no time.
With 9300 servers worldwide, you can easily bypass the TikTok ban from the United States. On top of that, NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can get a full refund if you’re not satisfied.
2. Download the VPN software
After signing up on the website and creating an account, you can download the software for the device you want to use. Most likely, you’ll want to use the NordVPN mobile app for TikTok.
However, depending on how strictly the TikTok ban will be enforced, it may be easier to use the desktop version. Either way, NordVPN’s compatible with all major operating systems.
3. Connect to a TikTok-friendly country
Once you’ve got NordVPN installed, log in with your new account. Now, you need to connect to a VPN server in a country where TikTok isn’t banned.
Unblocking TikTok from the US? Connect to a server in Canada or Mexico. Since a VPN can slow down your connection a little bit, it’s always best to choose a server in a country that’s relatively close to your real location.
4A. Use TikTok in the browser (easy)
Even if you want to use TikTok on your phone, we strongly recommend you use TikTok in your browser. You’re much more likely to actually bypass the TikTok ban this way.
Pro Tip!
For optimal results, make sure you adapt your browser settings to use the desktop version of the TikTok site. Unless you do this, TikTok will try to redirected you to the app store, despite the fact that the TikTok app is currently unavailable for you.
To open the desktop version of TikTok on Android:
- Go to the TikTok website.
- Open your mobile browser settings.
- Toggle ‘Browser site’ (Chrome & Firefox).
To open the desktop version of TikTok on iPhone:
- Open Safari and go to the TikTok website.
- Tap on the symbol on the left to open browser settings.
- Tap the three dots.
- Toggle ‘Request Desktop Website’.
4B. Keep using the TikTok app (tricky)
Depending on how strictly the TikTok ban will be enforced, you might have to (re)download the app. If you’re using an Android device, you have 3 options.
1. Directly install the TikTok app through an APK (Android Package Kit)
- Enable ‘allow unknown apps on Android’ and ‘Allow as Source’ for your browser in your App settings.
- Note: Make sure turn this setting off after you are done.
- Download the TikTok APK. This is similar to downloading a program on a computer. Some reputable sources include Apkpure.com and AndroidAPKsBox.
- Note: Always make sure you only download files from a trustworthy source.
- Run the APK to install TikTok. You should now see TikTok in your App list. Depending on how the ban is implemented, you may need to keep your VPN connected to a country where TikTok is not banned.
- Enjoy TikTok! Just remember to connect your VPN to Canada before you scroll.
Tip!
NordVPN‘s split tunneling feature can be configured to keep TikTok VPN-connected, while all your other apps use your regular connection.
2. Create a new Play Store account in a TikTok-friendly region.
- Go to the Play Store website.
- Note: you may still be logged into you primary account.
- Create a new Play Store account for the region you use for unblocking, for example Canada. Make sure the information (region, etc) for the new account matches the country you’re connecting to.
- Download TikTok from the Canadian Play Store.
- Enjoy TikTok! Just remember to connect your VPN to Canada before you scroll.
Tip!
If you have an old phone available, you can use it to log in instead. This way you don’t need to change anything on your main phone just to use TikTok.
3. Change your Play Store country to download the TikTok app
Recent Development:
ByteChance has restored service to the US, but the TikTok app is still unavailable for US users through Google Play and the Apple App store. You will still need a VPN and follow specific steps to redownload the TikTok app.
Follow our instructions on how to change your Google Play Store country. Please note: Google will only let you change your location one or twice per year, so we recommend using a separate account instead.
On an iPhone, you likely have to change your Apple Store country to find the TikTok app. Either way, you will need to manually update the app once in a while to keep it running properly.
5. Enjoy TikTok
Once you have the TikTok app installed, your VPN will allow you to enjoy TikTok as you normally would.
You should now be able to watch videos, post your own content, and stay up-to-date with the latest viral videos.
Summary: Get a VPN to Access TikTok Whenever You Want
A TikTok ban in the United States has serious consequences for content creators and users alike. If you don’t want to lose access to the app, the best thing to do is set up a VPN. The top 3 VPNs to unblock TikTok in the United States (or anywhere, really) are:
- NordVPN: Reliable and high level of security
- Surfshark: Affordable and fast
- CyberGhost: Beginner-friendly budget option
NordVPN is our overall recommended VPN for TikTok, thanks to its large server network, high-end encryption and capacity to give access to the app, wherever you are in the world.
As TikTok comes with privacy concerns, a VPN will also safeguard your privacy and security. For more information, have a look at these related articles:
- Why is TikTok Bad? Change These TikTok Privacy Settings Now
- How to Get Unbanned From TikTok: Step-by-Step Guide
- The Ultimate Guide to TikTok: Is TikTok Safe for Kids?
Still have questions regarding the use of TikTok in the United States? Take a look at the frequently asked questions below. Simply click on a question to see the answer.
TikTok currently has until January 19, 2025 to divest its Chinese shares. If the company fails to do so, a nationwide TikTok ban will likely follow.
You can use a VPN to (re)download the TikTok app and use it without restrictions. With a VPN, you can change your virtual location to a country where TikTok is still available, such as Mexico or Canada. Depending on how strict the ban is, you might have to change your app store country along with your VPN location.
We recommend NordVPN as the #1 best VPN to bypass the TikTok ban.
Unless TikTok’s laywers manage to appeal to the Supreme Court, it is likely that the TikTok app will be banned or restricted from January 19 onwards. It’s unclear yet whether the app will lose its functionality over time or whether it will become completely inaccessible.
Several lawmakers, as well as President-elect Donald Trump, are currently pushing to extend the deadline of January 19.
No, TikTok as a company is not shutting down. However, from January 19 onwards, the United States will likely follow in the footsteps of countries like Pakistan and Nepal and place restrictions on the app in the form of a TikTok ban.
