TIKTOK - How to access TikTok in the USA

 Americans confronted the stark reality of the TikTok ban on Sunday, when

ByteDance restricted access to the app in the United States. 

Users in the United States who launch the app now get a window that says, 

"Sorry, TikTok isn't available right now." Searches for "how to get around TikTok ban US," "how to bypass TikTok block," and "TikTok VPN" increased shortly after the service went black, according to Google Trends.

Americans flocking to VPN to get past TikTok block VPNs are an excellent tool to mask your IP address by connecting you to a secure server in a location of your choosing. 

In theory, you could utilize a VPN to continue using TikTok. While the cybersecurity threats associated with TikTok have been extensively documented, the most dedicated users will not be deterred.

According to Ziff Davis-owned site Downdetector, the rise in VPN interest occurred so quickly after the restriction was implemented that NordVPN troubles were soon detected. VPN is not functioning for TikTok, many users claim.

 Despite attempting to circumvent the restriction via a VPN, individuals filled social media early Sunday morning with memes and complaints that the strategy did not work for them.

Theories on how to get TikTok running in the United States started to surface on social media. Some X users are urging people to make sure their VPN is configured to a place where TikTok is not already banned, while others say you must use a VPN to register a new account that is not in the United States. 

While Mashable has not tested any of these possibilities, it is worth noting that the best approach to recover access to TikTok may simply be to wait. According to NBC, President-elect Donald Trump has stated that TikTok will most likely receive a 90-day extension to avoid a permanent ban.

TikTok's popup explaining the restriction states that "President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office."