TikTok Ban: VPN doesn’t work for many in the US as they try to bypass the ban

Americans faced the shocking reality of the TikTok ban on Sunday as ByteDance blocked access to the app in the United States.

US users who open the app are now greeted with a popup that reads, “Sorry, TikTok is currently unavailable.”

Searches for “how to get around the TikTok ban in the US,” “how to bypass the TikTok block,” and “TikTok VPN” came up immediately after the app went dark, according to Google Trends data.

Americans are turning to VPNs to get around the TikTok block

VPNs are a great tool to hide your IP address by connecting you to a secure server in a location of your choice. Ideally, that means you’ll be able to use a VPN to keep access to TikTok. And while the cybersecurity risks of using TikTok are well documented, that won’t stop the most dedicated users.

The surge in VPN interest has been so explosive since the ban went into effect that NordVPN’s problems were quickly reported, according to Downdetector site Ziff Davis.

VPN doesn’t work for TikTok, many users report

Despite trying to use a VPN to bypass the ban, users flooded social media early Sunday morning with memes and complaints that the trick didn’t work for them.

The Tweet may have been deleted

The Tweet may have been deleted

Ideas on how to make TikTok work in the US also began to circulate on social media. Some X users remind people to make sure the VPN is set up in a country where TikTok isn’t blocked, and others say you should use a VPN to create a new account that isn’t in the US.

While Mashable didn’t test any of these ideas, it’s worth noting that the best way to get TikTok back on track would be to wait. President-elect Donald Trump said he might give TikTok a 90-day extension to avoid a permanent ban, NBC reported.

In a popup explaining the ban, TikTok notes that “President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to restore TikTok once he takes office.”

Trump will be sworn into office on Monday, meaning an extension is likely to come sooner. Until then, creators and users alike must adjust to life without TikTok.