TikTok is planning to release a new version of its app just for users in the United States. This comes as the company moves closer to being sold to American investors. According to a report, the new app is called “M2” for now and is expected to launch in U.S. app stores on September 5. The current TikTok app will stop working in the U.S. by March 2026.
The U.S. government has concerns about national security because TikTok is owned by a Chinese company called ByteDance. To continue operating in the U.S., TikTok must sell its American business to a group of non-Chinese investors, including tech company Oracle. ByteDance will still hold a small share.
Why a New App Is Needed
Apple’s App Store rules don’t allow different versions of the same app for different countries under one listing. That’s why TikTok has to create a completely new app for U.S. users, with a new app listing and system.
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What This Means for Users
- U.S. users will need to download the new TikTok app once it’s available.
- The current app will be removed from U.S. app stores and won’t work after March 2026.
- All U.S. user data will be moved to U.S.-based servers, addressing concerns about Chinese access to American information.
What’s Next?
President Donald Trump has said the U.S. is close to a deal with China regarding TikTok. The deadline for ByteDance to complete the sale is September 17.
This is part of ongoing efforts to keep TikTok running in the U.S. while making sure users’ data is safe and managed within the country.
