• by Colin Kirkland , February 10, 2025

In response to its uncertain existence in the United States, TikTok is trying to convince Android users in the region to download “TikTok Lite,” a stripped-down mobile version of the app that the company says will allow users to continue posting content, as well as watching, following, and interacting with creators.

By inviting users to download an “Android Package Kit” directly on its website, the ByteDance-owned company is attempting to bypass the app's current absence from the Google Play Store.

TikTok's launch of an alternative app for U.S. Android users is a product of the recent sell-off bill signed into law by former president Joe Biden, then postponed by President Donald Trump hours after the app briefly went offline on January 19 for over 170 million U.S. users.

Under the law, the Apple App Store and Google Play Store are required to remove TikTok's listing for U.S. users, or else they will receive a $5,000 fine for every user in the region who downloads the app.

Due to Trump's pause on the law, ByteDance has until April to reach a deal with a stateside buyer, or the app could be banned permanently in the region. A handful of potential buyers have expressed interest, including the federal U.S. government by way of a recent executive order signed by Trump himself.

However, it is still uncertain whether ByteDance will agree to sell the platform. 

Until April, Android users in the U.S. have a way to download the newest version of TikTok outside of both app stores.