TikTok parent company ByteDance will reportedly launch a US-specific version of the video app in September. The new app is being designed to better comply with US federal legislation, avoiding further security concerns.
In a few short months, a new version of TikTok will be available on the App Store and Play Store in the US. Reported by The Information, the existing version of TikTok (codenamed ‘M’) will be removed from US app stores the day the new app launches. The existing version of TikTok will redirect US users to the new app (codename ‘M2’).
The existing version of TikTok is being sunset for US users. Starting in September, existing users will be urged to migrate their accounts and access over to the new version by March 2026. The current version of the app will no longer work following this point, regardless of whether it is already installed on a device or not. TikTok has an estimated 170 million users in the US, meaning a mass transfer will have to be underway come September.
ByteDance is working to comply with US federal legislations, which deem TikTok to be a security concern. Earlier this year, TikTok was shut down temporarily under a national security law. It was deemed that ByteDance had to divest its US operations in order to satisfy the law. However, once US President Trump came into office, the divestment was paused on a number of occasions. Interested parties, including Oracle, have expressed the desire to manage TikTok’s US operations.
Apple restricts developers from launching region-based apps under a single listing. So, it’s assumed that the new version of TikTok will be listed as a new entry on the US App Store (and subsequently in the Play Store as well).
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