As of 11:15 a.m. ET Sunday, TikTok’s website was accessible on desktop web browsers, USA TODAY staff and two sources confirmed. Click here to learn more.
TikTok may be dark in America, but users are still able to download their data.
On Saturday night, TikTok users scrolling through the app were met with a pop-up message indicating that the app was no longer available in the US, just hours before legislation banning it took effect on Sunday.
“A law banning TikTok has been passed in the U.S. Unfortunately, this means you can’t use TikTok right now,” read a pop-up message on the TikTok mobile app and website.
Under the ban, it is illegal for web hosting services and app stores to distribute TikTok. The Apple App and Google Play stores will not remove TikTok from devices on which it is already downloaded, but the app is unusable. TikTok is also not available in web browsers.
But with more than 170 million Americans curious about the future of the platform, TikTok is still allowing its users to download their data, as of Sunday morning.
Here’s how to access and download your TikTok data, even though the ban is currently in effect.
Live Updates:TikTok has been shut down, but some can access the browser version
How to download your TikTok data from the app
Although the ban is in effect, TikTok users can download data associated with their accounts, including their usernames, followers, accounts they follow, links to videos, messages and their favorite activity.
Here’s how to download TikTok data from the mobile app:
- open the TikTok app.
- touch “Learn more” when prompted with the stop popup message.
- When sent to the TikTok website, tap “enter” at the end of the ban message.
- LOGIN in your TikTok account.
- touch “Download your data.”
- Select data you want to include in your downloaded file and select a file format (either a .TXT (plain text) file or a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) file. Both are readable with standard text editing programs.
- touch “Look for clues.”
How to download your TikTok data from the website
Here’s how to download TikTok data from a web browser:
- Visit TikTok.com.
- Click “download your data” at the bottom of the ban message.
- Click “download your data.”
- Select data you want to include in your downloaded file and select a file format (either a .TXT (plain text) file or a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) file. Both are readable with standard text editing programs.
- Click “Look for clues.”
If you are able to access the full TikTok website, follow these steps:
- Visit TikTok.com.
- Click “More” at the bottom left of the screen.
- Click “Settings.”
- Click “Privacy.”
- Click “Download your data.”
- Select data you want to include in your downloaded file and select a file format (either a .TXT (plain text) file or a JavaScript Object Notation (JSON) file. Both are readable with standard text editing programs.
- Click “Look for clues.”
When do you get your TikTok data?
Depending on how much data an account includes, TikTok will send a file for you to download within minutes or days.
Why is TikTok banned in the US?
After years of investigations, lawsuits and controversy, President Joe Biden signed legislation into law last spring that gave ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese parent company, until January 19, 2025 to take down the platform. Some government officials fear that ByteDance, which is based in Beijing, is a national security threat, believing that the company could share US user data with the Chinese government.
Because ByteDance failed to sell TikTok by the required date, TikTok is now effectively banned in the US
Although he has previously supported a ban on TikTok, President-elect Donald Trump has now promised to “save” TikTok and told NBC News last week that he expects to “most likely” offer a 90-day extension to it. avoid the ban.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew is expected to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email it to gcross@usatoday.com.
