The TikTok app is currently unavailable in the Apple App Store — making it available only to those who installed the app prior to its recent ban
iPhones that already have TikTok installed on them are fetching high prices online, days after the social media platform’s short-lived ban in the United States.
The TikTok app is currently unavailable in the Apple App Store, meaning that anyone who wishes to download the app for the first time, or those who want to re-download it after deleting the application from their phone amid the company’s brief ban, are unable to do so.
Now, iPhone owners are selling their phones with the TikTok app installed on eBay — and some are asking for high amounts of money.
Many listings on the online marketplace are listed for over $1,000, and some even offer potential purchasers to take part in a “Best Offer” option.
One user, however, is going much higher, offering an iPhone 15 with TikTok and CapCut, a video editing app owned by the same Chinese company as TikTok, for over $4.9 million.
TikTok was previously shut down on Saturday, Jan. 18. Those who opened the app at the time were greeted with a message that read, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.”
“A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok for now,” the message continued, before referring to Donald Trump‘s indication that he would “work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office” on Monday, Jan. 20.
The Supreme Court ruled on Jan. 17 that the law forcing TikTok to cease U.S. operations if it didn’t divest from Chinese ownership was constitutional, following the sell-or-ban legislation passed by Congress and signed by Joe Biden in 2024.
It was determined that ByteDance — the owners of TikTok — would have to either sell the app over fears China’s government could use its data to harm Americans or shut down. (TikTok has previously denied that information on the app would be shared with the Chinese government, calling it “outright censorship of the American people.”)
Trump — who initially revealed a plan to ban TikTok from operating in the U.S. during his first term in office in April 2020 — announced on Sunday, Jan. 19 that he intended to issue an executive order to stall its federal ban and keep the platform running, at least temporarily. (The following day, the politician, 78, signed an executive action that delays the enforcement of the TikTok ban for 75 days.)
TikTok restored service in the U.S. less than 24 hours after its nationwide shutdown on Jan. 19.
The social media app announced on X, via an official statement shared to its policy account, that it was “in the process of restoring service” to Americans after going dark the night prior.
“We thank President Trump for providing the necessary clarity and assurance to our service providers that they will face no penalties providing TikTok to over 170 million Americans and allowing over 7 million small businesses to thrive,” the statement continued, referring to Trump’s previous comments.
“It’s a strong stand for the First Amendment and against arbitrary censorship,” the statement added. “We will work with President Trump on a long-term solution that keeps TikTok in the United States.”
