How to prepare for a TikTok ban, including how to save your content

TikTok has cemented itself as a quintessential entertainment app, offering everything from funny skits and makeup tutorials to social commentary and news.

Without a sale to an approved buyer, the platform is expected to vanish from U.S. app stores by Sunday now that the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the ban. The decision came against the backdrop of unusual political agitation by President-elect Donald Trump, who vowed that he could negotiate a solution. It’s unclear what options are open to Trump once he is sworn in as president on Monday. An official in the Biden administration told the Associated Press on Thursday that the outgoing administration was leaving the implementation of the law to the new administration.

TikTok has more than 170 million U.S. users. According to the Pew Research Center, that includes most teens and a third of adults. If you are an avid user, or a creator who relies on the platform for income, here’s what you need to know about the ban and how to prepare for it:

What happens on Jan. 19?

A lawyer representing TikTok told Supreme Court justices last week that TikTok will “go dark” on Jan. 19 if the law isn’t struck down.

What that means in practice is unclear, but the law bars app stores operated by Apple, Google, and others from offering TikTok beginning on Sunday. internet hosting services will also be prohibited from hosting TikTok.

Users should continue to have access to TikTok if it’s already downloaded on their phones, but the app will disappear from Apple and Google’s app stores—so new users won’t be able to download it. This would mean that TikTok wouldn’t be able to send updates, security patches, and bug fixes to users, all of which will degrade the quality of the app and likely lead to security issues. Eventually, the app will become unworkable.

According to David Choffnes, executive director of the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute at Northeastern University in Boston, the TikTok website should continue to work even after the ban goes into effect. While the statute would prohibit domestic internet hosting providers from hosting the platform, companies could theoretically use servers outside of the U.S. This could, however, lead to slower content loading and worse performance on the app and website.

Are there any workarounds to access TikTok?

Yes, but some technical knowledge is required, and it’s unclear what will and won’t work. The most common workaround is a VPN (virtual private network), which allows users to mask their location. A VPN encrypts your traffic data and routes it through secure servers around the world, preventing others from reading it. Lauren Hendry Parsons, director of communications at ExpressVPN, suggests users could access their TikTok accounts by using a VPN and changing their phone’s settings to access a nearby country’s app store.

If large numbers of users do this, tech companies such as Apple or Google could recognize it as a legal liability and find ways to clamp down on the app. However, they might avoid doing so since they’re seeking to maintain friendlier ties with Trump, who now wants to “save TikTok” and could potentially direct the Justice Department to abandon enforcement of the law altogether.

Android users in the U.S. might also be able to update the app through third-party app stores, a process known as sideloading. However, bypassing the security protocols of official app stores might expose users to malware, according to Gus Hurwitz, a telecommunications and technology professor at the University of Pennsylvania.

Would I still have access to my favorite videos?

TikTok allows users to save videos or photos they’ve posted, as well as content from favorite influencers. Posts saved will be downloaded and stored on your phone.

However, not all content may be downloadable. Some creators place limits on their videos, and users cannot download content from private accounts or accounts of users under 16. The platform also allows users to request a copy of their TikTok data, which includes video-watching history and comments. This may take a few days to prepare.

Are people going to other apps?

If a TikTok ban occurs, established platforms like Instagram (Reels), YouTube (Shorts), and Snapchat are expected to benefit. These platforms already mimic TikTok’s format, making it easier for creators and businesses to transition.

Beyond established platforms, other apps like China’s Xiaohongshu (“RedNote”) and Lemon8 have gained attention as alternatives.

What is going to happen next?

The TikTok saga will be handled by the incoming Trump administration, which has stated it’s exploring options to “preserve” the app. Florida Rep. Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, said Thursday that measures will be put in place to prevent TikTok from going dark. Waltz also mentioned the law allows an extension of the ban if a viable deal is on the table.

President-elect Trump, aware of TikTok’s popularity and his 14.7 million followers on the platform, finds himself at odds with prominent Senate Republicans who criticize TikTok’s Chinese ownership. In a Truth Social post, Trump revealed that TikTok was a topic in his conversation with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

TikTok CEO Shou Chew is expected to attend the inauguration alongside tech industry leaders such as Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Sam Altman, and Jeff Bezos, according to sources familiar with the planning.