Apple users in the United States have found that they are geo-blocked from installing or updating apps published by Chinese developer ByteDance, according to a Wired report.
ByteDance is best known for the TikTok app (and its Chinese version, Douyin), although the developer has also published several other apps in the App Store, including Capcut, Hypic, Lark, and Lemon8.
While US-based users were able to download and update ByteDance-owned apps, Apple has recently started blocking downloads and updates of any ByteDance-owned apps, even if users that have a working Chinese App Store account.
Wired has learned that users attempting to install a ByteDance app receives a message saying, “This app is unavailable in the country or region you’re in.”
As noted by 9to5Mac, US-owned TikTok USDS Joint Venture recently took over the US operations of the TikTok app from ByteDance, so the blockage is likely connected to that divestment. However, we have no way of knowing for sure what’s behind the blockage, as all three parties involved (Apple, ByteDance, and TikTok USDS Joint Venture) declined to comment when pressed by Wired.
Wired was able to find an archived Apple support page stating that starting January 19, 2025 (around the time that the 2025 TikTok ban briefly went into effect), that listed 11 apps owned by ByteDance and its subsidiaries that would “no longer [be] available in the United States, and visitors to the United States might have limited access to features.”
Those apps included:
- TikTok
- TikTok Studio
- TikTok Shop Seller Center
- CapCut
- Lemon8
- Hypic
- Lark – Team Collaboration
- Lark – Rooms Display
- Lark Rooms Controller
- Gauth: AI Study Companion
- MARVEL SNAP
The support document, which has since been taken down, explained:
If you already have these apps installed on your device, they will remain on your device. But they can’t be redownloaded if deleted or restored if you move to a new device. In-app purchases and new subscriptions are no longer possible.
Users in the United States won’t receive updates for these apps, which could potentially impact performance, security, and compatibility with future versions of iOS and iPadOS, and some app functions might become limited or stop working since the app can’t receive updates.
Wired’s full report is available here.
