TikTok Traffic Rebounds After Temporary U.S. Ban but App Store Return Remains Uncertain

The app's usage has nearly recovered to pre-shutdown levels, but its future in the U.S. remains unclear as creators seek alternatives.

TikTok's traffic has recovered to within 10% of pre-shutdown levels after an 85% drop during its temporary U.S. ban on January 19, according to Cloudflare data.
The app remains unavailable on Google Play and Apple App Store, with no timeline for its return, despite services being restored shortly after the ban was paused.
The shutdown stemmed from a law requiring ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to divest ownership of the app due to national security concerns.
President Donald Trump extended the divestment deadline to April 5, while potential U.S. buyers, including Elon Musk and Larry Ellison, have been floated as part of discussions.
Many TikTok creators are diversifying their presence on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, citing uncertainty about the app's long-term availability in the U.S.