Is TikTok Getting Banned? The Current Situation
The situation around TikTok's ban status is complex and constantly evolving. As of May 2025, TikTok had been under a nationwide ban in the United States since January 19, 2025, due to US government concerns about potential user data collection and influence operations by the Chinese government.
This ban was the result of the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA), which required ByteDance, TikTok's Chinese parent company, to divest from the app or face a nationwide ban.
However, when President Donald Trump took office on January 20, 2025, he signed an executive order that temporarily halted enforcement of the ban for an initial 75-day period while his administration pursued a potential sale of TikTok to American owners. This executive order effectively resurrected the app hours after it had gone dark for US users.
The initial 75-day reprieve was set to expire on April 5, 2025. As that deadline approached, President Trump suggested a deal with potential buyers was in progress, stating there was "tremendous interest in TikTok" with "a lot of potential buyers." On April 5, Trump granted TikTok another 75-day extension, allowing the app to continue operating until mid of June 2025.
Why is TikTok Not Working?
If you're experiencing issues with TikTok, you're not alone. According to Downdetector, the platform regularly experiences various outages, with reports indicating that 78% of TikTok issues are related to the mobile app, while 21% are linked to server connection problems.
Several TikTok users turned to X to report issues with the app not functioning properly.
One User Wrote, "TikTok is down and I lowkey thought they went ahead and banned it again without warning."
Another wrote, TikTok is down, thought my account got deleted
Common TikTok Technical Issues and Loading Errors
The most frequent TikTok problem is the app's inability to load properly. This often happens because cached data in your phone's memory is preventing TikTok from functioning correctly
When this occurs, videos may fail to play, the app might crash repeatedly, or you might experience significant lag while scrolling through your feed.
Before troubleshooting any issues, always ensure you're running the latest version of both the TikTok app and your device's operating system, as outdated software is a common cause of performance problems.
Here are the main reasons for TikTok loading errors and what you can do about them:
- App Cache Issues: Accumulated cache data can prevent the app from loading properly
Solution: Clear your TikTok app cache through your device settings
- Network Connection Problems: Poor internet connectivity can cause videos to buffer endlessly
Solution: Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data to identify if connectivity is the issue
- Outdated App Version: Using an older version of TikTok may cause compatibility issues
Solution: Update TikTok to the latest version from your device's app store
- Server Downtime: Sometimes the problem isn't on your end, but with TikTok's servers
Solution: Check outage reporting websites to confirm if TikTok is experiencing widespread issues
Are TikTok Servers Down?
When experiencing disruptions with TikTok, it's important to determine whether the issue is with your device or if there's a widespread server outage affecting multiple users.
TikTok occasionally experiences server problems that can lead to the app being inaccessible for many users simultaneously.
You can check TikTok's status by visiting outage tracking websites that compile user reports and create graphs showing the number of issues reported over time. TikTok down or not working? Current app problems and status •
Is The Service Down? These services can help you determine if there's a major outage or if the problem might be specific to your device or account.
If you confirm that TikTok's servers are indeed down, there's unfortunately little you can do besides wait for the company to resolve the issue. During these outages, TikTok users typically migrate to other social platforms temporarily to discuss the downtime.
What to Do When TikTok Isn't Working?
Here's a step-by-step troubleshooting guide to fix common TikTok issues:
- Restart the App: Close TikTok completely and relaunch it
- Check Your Internet Connection: Test your Wi-Fi or mobile data connection with another app
- Update the App: Ensure you're running the latest version of TikTok
- Clear Cache: Go to your device settings, find TikTok, and clear its cache
- Restart Your Device: A simple device reboot can often resolve minor glitches
- Check for Server Issues: Use outage reporting websites to see if TikTok is down for others
- Reinstall the App: As a last resort, try uninstalling and reinstalling TikTok
