Buying a new iPhone in the US, you can't use TikTok.

TikTok is still available for use in the United States, although it remains highly restricted. President Trump promised not to punish TikTok and its service provider for continuing to operate the service, but this was merely a promise. The president also signed an executive order temporarily suspending sanctions, but the likelihood of this executive order being legally upheld is very low.

For any reason, Apple (and Google) decided not to take the risk. If the court later determines that President Trump's position cannot be legally supported, Apple may have to pay up to $85 billion in fines. To them, this simply isn't worth it.

TikTok is not available on the US app store.

TikTok does not appear on the App Store. At first glance, if you haven't already downloaded the app, you might think you can't get it - but that's not really a big problem. After all, if you were really interested in TikTok, you probably would have installed it by now.

However, the consequences of TikTok not being available on the App Store are much larger. If you need to reinstall an app for any reason, you won't be able to install that app again.

If you buy a new iPhone, you won't be able to install TikTok officially. Even if you transfer your data, this will also be the case. If you have to replace a severely damaged iPhone, TikTok will also be replaced, which is unfortunate. It's also the same when you need to restore an iPhone due to software issues.

On January 19, 2023, Apple published a support document explaining this fact when TikTok was officially banned.

These apps are already installed on your device. However, if they are deleted or moved to a new device, you can no longer redownload them. Additionally, in-app purchases and new subscriptions are no longer possible.

If you think about TikTok very seriously, take good care of the iPhone you're currently using. And if your current iPhone is running out of battery, wait a little longer for an upgrade. After that, reinstalling the app won't be easy. Unfortunately, you may have to use a website.

My favorite Apple iPhone accessories (Amazon):

• ESR MagSafe wallet and case with Expecta, Lock, and Find My support
• Anker MagSafe 2-in-1 wireless charger (Qi2)
• UGREEN 6.6-foot blind USB-C charging cable, 2-pack
• iPod Pro 2 (USB-C)

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