Apple restricts access to ByteDance apps in US

Apple has started blocking iOS users in the United States from downloading apps owned by ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok.

The move affects apps such as Douyin, Doubao, and Fanqie Novel and comes after the TikTok divestment deal aimed at separating its US operations from Chinese ownership. Users report seeing a pop-up stating, “This app is unavailable in the country or region you’re in.”

US restrictions hit ByteDance apps

The restriction does not apply to Chinese apps that fall under the TikTok US joint venture, which was launched in January 2025 under the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act.

The legislation bars Apple from offering apps majority-owned by ByteDance in the US market unless they have been specifically excluded for US investors.

Users of iPhones with Chinese Apple IDs have complained of being unable to download or update popular Chinese apps such as Douyin or the AI-powered chatbot Doubao, even while in the US.

The technical limitation seems to be based on the user’s physical location, which is possibly detected through their device’s GPS, SIM, or Wi-Fi data. There have been attempts by some users to overcome this by using VPNs, but this has been inconsistent.

The apps under TikTok US Joint Venture, such as TikTok, CapCut, and Lemon8, remain available on the US App Store. This is an indication of Apple’s growing dependence on geoblocking to adhere to national security regulations, despite allowing their apps access to the App Store.

This technique has been seen as an approach that might be used for other regions and apps in the future, signifying a new trend by Apple in implementing geographic restrictions.