US EditionApple Users in the US Can No Longer Download ByteDance's Chinese Apps
Apple blocks some ByteDance apps in the US using location data to comply with a law banning foreign adversary-controlled apps, affecting downloads starting January 19, 2025.
- On January 19, 2025, Apple began geoblocking downloads and updates of ByteDance apps in the U.S., as an archived support page stated 11 apps would no longer be available.
- The Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act targets ByteDance apps in the U.S., with a deadline extended to January 23, 2026, by President Donald Trump’s last executive order.
- 9to5Mac reported `countryd` uses GPS, Wi‑Fi and SIM data to determine a device’s location, while dozens of users reported failed Douyin downloads with messages saying `This app is unavailable in the country or region you’re in.`, and some say VPNs offer imperfect work-arounds.
- Wired asked Apple and ByteDance for comment, and a support document said U.S. users with existing installs can use apps but cannot re-download them, recently.
- Researchers say the system may stem from the European Union's Digital Markets Act, as Apple limits alternative app store access to devices in the EU and withdraws eligibility if a device leaves for more than 90 days.
13 Articles
13 Articles
Apple users in the US can no longer download ByteDance's Chinese apps
While TikTok operates in the United States under new ownership, Apple has deployed technical restrictions to block iOS users in the United States from downloading other apps made by the video platform’s Chinese parent organization ByteDance. ByteDance owns a vast array of different apps spanning social media, entertainment, artificial intelligence, and other sectors. The leading one is Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, which has over 1 bill…
Apple Blocks US Users From Downloading ByteDance's Chinese Apps
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Wired: While TikTok operates in the United States under new ownership, Apple has deployed technical restrictions to block iOS users in the United States from downloading other apps made by the video platform's Chinese parent organization ByteDance. ByteDance owns a vast array of different apps spanning social media, entertainment, artificial intelligence, and other sectors. The leading one is Douyin, the …
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