TikTok Not Coming Back To India Yet: Government Clarifies Amid Speculation
The buzz around TikTok’s return to India has grown louder after the short-video platform’s official website became accessible for some users this week.
The development has left millions of former users wondering: Is TikTok finally coming back to India? And if so, when can they download the app again?
TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, was banned in India in June 2020, alongside 58 other Chinese apps. The Government of India cited data privacy, national security, and sovereignty concerns as the reasons for the ban, especially after the Galwan Valley clashes between Indian and Chinese troops. Before the ban, TikTok had over 200 million active users in the country, making India one of its biggest markets.
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Recently, several users reported that TikTok’s official website was accessible in India on both mobile and desktop devices. Times Now Tech also confirmed that the site was live, though not all users were able to open it. Importantly, the TikTok app remains unavailable on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in India.
This suggests that while the website may be undergoing testing or backend updates, there is no official relaunch of TikTok in India yet. Users attempting to log in still cannot access video content.
Amid rising speculation, government sources on Friday clarified: “Government of India has not issued any unblocking order for TikTok. Any such statement/news is false and misleading.
“Government of India has not issued any unblocking order for TikTok. Any such statement/news is false and misleading”: Govt Sources
— PIB in Uttarakhand (@PIBDehradun) August 22, 2025
This statement makes it clear that the ban has not been lifted, and TikTok cannot legally operate in India without formal clearance.
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The timing of TikTok’s website reappearing coincides with a thaw in India–China relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi recently visited New Delhi, meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar. PM Modi is also scheduled to visit China from August 31 to September 1 for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit.
Additionally, both nations have resumed steps like reopening border trade points, restoring direct flights, and easing visa processes. Such diplomatic improvements have fueled speculation that Chinese apps, including TikTok, might be reconsidered for entry into the Indian market.
TikTok’s return remains uncertain. While its website becoming accessible again is the strongest signal in years, regulatory approval from the Indian government is essential for any official comeback.
