Following a US Supreme Court decision, the popular short-video platform TikTok ceased operations in the United States on January 19. In response, Apple released a statement listing applications that were banned and removed from the App Store alongside TikTok.
List of Affected Applications
Apple has removed not only TikTok but also several other applications owned by the Chinese company ByteDance. These include widely used apps that gained popularity among American users in recent months. The complete list of removed apps includes:
- TikTok
- TikTok Studio
- TikTok Shop Seller Center
- CapCut
- Lemon8
- Hypic
- Lark — Team Collaboration
- Lark — Rooms Display
- Lark Rooms Controller
- Gauth: AI Study Companion
- Marvel Snap
Compliance with Legal Requirements
In the accompanying document, Apple stated that its actions align with legal requirements. “Apple is required to comply with the laws of the jurisdictions in which it operates. In accordance with the Protecting Americans from Apps Controlled by Foreign Opponents Act, apps developed by ByteDance Ltd. and its subsidiaries, including TikTok, CapCut, Lemon8, and others, will no longer be available for download or update in the App Store for U.S. users, beginning January 19, 2025,” Apple’s statement reads.
International travelers visiting the United States are also affected, adds NIX Solutions. Those with an App Store region set outside the U.S. will be unable to update ByteDance apps or make in-app purchases while in the country. This limitation effectively restricts full interaction with ByteDance services until users leave the U.S.
We’ll keep you updated as more information and integrations become available regarding this significant development.