Apple Updates TestFlight to Block Access to TikTok Beta in U.S.

Apple tonight updated its beta testing app TestFlight, seemingly to block U.S. users from accessing the TikTok beta on the iPhone and other devices.

TestFlight Banner
The update adds this fine print to the app, according to MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris:

Apple may use the IP address of your internet connection to approximate your location in order to determine whether certain beta apps that are subject to legal restrictions in some regions can be made available to you.

This development comes after Apple removed TikTok from the App Store in the U.S. earlier tonight. In the U.S., a law banning TikTok unless Chinese company ByteDance divests ownership of the platform takes effect Sunday, January 19. The app is "temporarily unavailable" in the U.S., according to an in-app notice being shown to users tonight.

More details about the ban and what comes next are outlined in our earlier report.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Popular Stories

2024 iPhone Boxes Feature

Apple Changes Trade-In Values for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and More

Thursday January 16, 2025 6:45 am PST by
Apple today adjusted estimated trade-in values for select iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models in the U.S., according to its website. Some values increased, while others decreased. The changes were not too significant, with most values rising or dropping by $5 to $50. We have outlined some examples below: Device New Value Old Value iPhone 15 Pro Max Up to $630 U ...
iPhone 17 Slim Feature Single Camera 1 Redux

'iPhone 17 Air' Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Wednesday January 15, 2025 7:16 am PST by
While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the "ultra-thin" device. Overall, the "iPhone 17 Air" is shaping up to be a mixed bag. Due to its thinness, the device is expected to have some limited specifications compared to the iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, only a single speaker, no SIM...
Generic iOS 18

Everything New in iOS 18.3 Beta 3

Thursday January 16, 2025 12:39 pm PST by
Apple provided the third beta of iOS 18.3 to developers today, and while the betas have so far been light on new features, the third beta makes some major changes to Notification Summaries and also tweaks a few other features. Notification Summary Changes Apple made multiple changes to Notification Summaries in response to complaints about inaccurate summaries of news headlines. For...
Generic iOS 19 Feature Mock Light

iOS 19 Leak Reveals All-New Design

Friday January 17, 2025 2:42 pm PST by
iOS 19 is still around six months away from being announced, but a new leak has allegedly revealed a completely redesigned Camera app. Based on footage it obtained, YouTube channel Front Page Tech shared a video showing what the new Camera app will apparently look like, with the key change being translucent menus for camera controls. Overall, the design of these menus looks similar to...
Apple Card iPhone 16 Pro Feature

Three Companies Are Now in the Running to Take Over the Apple Card

Thursday January 16, 2025 8:18 am PST by
Apple is in talks with Barclays and Synchrony about becoming its new financial partner for the Apple Card, according to Reuters sources. The report today added that Apple has also been holding discussions with Chase Bank owner JPMorgan since last year, so there are at least three potential companies in the running to take over the Apple Card from current partner Goldman Sachs. Goldman...
iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Feature 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 8 New Features

Thursday January 9, 2025 5:45 am PST by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. iPhone 17 Pro concept based on rumors Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of January 2025: More aluminum: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models ...
MacBook Air 15 Inch Feature Blue

MacBook Air Likely Apple's First Product Update of 2025: What to Expect

Wednesday January 15, 2025 8:49 am PST by
There is a good chance that Apple's first product announcement of 2025 will be updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M4 chip. Last month, Apple released macOS Sequoia 15.2, and in doing so it accidentally confirmed new MacBook Air models are coming this year (unsurprisingly). Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the new MacBook Air models will be announced "earlier" than some...
iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Horizontal Single Feature

iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Major Thermal Design Upgrade

Friday January 17, 2025 4:33 am PST by
The iPhone 17 lineup will feature a vapor chamber heatsink to improve thermal performance, according to a new report. The news comes from Chinese tech news site MyDrivers, which claims that the entire iPhone 17 lineup, consisting of the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, will adopt the improved thermal heat spreader. Vapor chamber technology is already used...
HomePod mini and Apple TV

Apple Expected to Launch 20+ Products This Year: Here's the Full List

Friday January 17, 2025 5:30 am PST by
2025 promises to be quite a big year for Apple, with the company rumored to be planning more than 20 product announcements this year. Apple's rumored smart home hub will be its second all-new product to launch in as many years, following the Apple Vision Pro headset last year. And of course, we will get several new iPhone and Apple Watch models, like every year. Beyond that, Apple could...

Top Rated Comments

Lounge vibes 05 Avatar
3 hours ago at 09:26 pm

I do have to say one thing, Apple sure is quick to lick the boots. That's a bit unsettling.
Of course, according to the original article if they refuse to comply they may have to pay *billions* in fines.
They certainly aren’t going to risk that for one app, and neither will Google, which is why it’s also gone from the play store as well.
And every other US application retailer.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Analog Kid Avatar
2 hours ago at 09:39 pm

I do have to say one thing, Apple sure is quick to lick the boots. That's a bit unsettling.
Lick the boots? You mean comply with the law?

I think the law is stupid and misguided but it's been upheld through every court up through the Supreme Court. ByteDance has already turned off the service, so there's no content for the app to display. What part of complying by ending new downloads of an app that has no content to display qualifies as "licking the boots"?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Takeo Apple Avatar
1 hour ago at 10:35 pm

It's even on the front page of my App Store. I better installed it, maybe it's worth much money soon. ?


dude this is not flappy bird which does not need a connection to the internet - this won't be worth ********. Just like Fortnite on iOS isn't worth anything.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Takeo Apple Avatar
1 hour ago at 10:35 pm

I do have to say one thing, Apple sure is quick to lick the boots. That's a bit unsettling.
glad you are not in charge of managing the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of people and trillions of dollars over an app. Maybe you should launch a TikTok alternative if you think it is worth any legal trouble lol.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)