You've probably seen the countdowns. Maybe you’ve even started backing up your favorite drafts or telling your followers where to find you on Reels or YouTube Shorts. The question "when are they shutting down TikTok" has been haunting the internet for over a year now, and honestly, the answer is a lot more complicated than a single date on a calendar.
If you're looking for a simple "yes" or "no," you won't find it because the goalposts keep moving. As of January 2026, TikTok is still here, but it’s essentially living on borrowed time and executive orders.
The current deadline: January 23, 2026
The short answer to the big question is that the latest "no-action" order expires on January 23, 2026.
This isn't just a random Friday. It marks the end of a 120-day extension granted by President Trump back in September 2025. This was the fourth or fifth delay—depending on how you’re counting—since the original January 2025 deadline came and went. Basically, the government has been playing a high-stakes game of chicken with ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok.
Wait, didn't it already shut down once?
Sorta. If you remember that weird 12-hour window in January 2025, the app actually did go dark for a moment. It was a mess. Users opened the app and got a "not available" message because the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act (PAFACA) technically kicked in. But then, almost immediately, the new administration stepped in with an executive order to pause enforcement while they "negotiated."
Why the ban hasn't actually happened yet
It’s all about the deal.
The U.S. government doesn't necessarily want the app to vanish—they just want it to stop being "controlled by a foreign adversary." In plain English: they want an American company to own the keys to the castle.
Specifically, they want the data and the algorithm.
A massive deal is currently on the table involving a joint venture called TikTok USDS Joint Venture LLC. This group is led by Oracle, along with other investors like Silver Lake and MGX. If this deal closes—which is supposed to happen by January 22, 2026—then TikTok won't be shut down. It will just be... different.
What a "New" TikTok would look like
If the shutdown is averted by this sale, don't expect things to stay exactly the same. One of the biggest sticking points in the negotiations has been the recommendation algorithm—that "For You" page magic that knows you better than you know yourself.
China has been very clear that they won't let the proprietary algorithm be sold.
So, what’s the fix? The proposed plan involves "retraining" the algorithm. This means the new U.S. version of TikTok would have to rebuild its brain using only U.S. user data. For the average user, this means your FYP might feel a little "off" or "dumbed down" for a while until the new system learns what you like all over again.
- The Data: All U.S. user info moves to servers managed by Oracle.
- The App: It stays on your phone, but the backend is managed by the new American entity.
- The Content: You’ll still see the same creators, but the way they reach you might change.
The Supreme Court's role in this mess
A lot of people think the courts will save the app, but that ship has mostly sailed. In January 2025, the Supreme Court actually uphold the ban. They ruled in TikTok, Inc. v. Garland that the government's national security concerns (the fear of China harvesting data or manipulating content) were enough to override First Amendment arguments.
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Even though the court said the ban was legal, the President has the power to decide if a "qualified divestiture" (a sale) has happened. That’s why we’re in this weird limbo. The law says "ban it," the court says "okay," but the President says "wait, let’s see if they’ll sell it first."
What if the deal fails?
If January 23 rolls around and the paperwork isn't signed, or if the Chinese government blocks the sale at the last minute, the "shutdown" becomes a technical reality rather than a total disappearance.
Apple and Google would be forced to pull TikTok from their app stores. You wouldn't be able to download it, and more importantly, you wouldn't be able to update it. Without updates, apps eventually break. Security patches stop. New features don't arrive. Within a few months, the app would become a buggy, unusable ghost of its former self.
Internet service providers (ISPs) could also be told to block traffic to TikTok’s servers, which would effectively kill the app for anyone not using a VPN.
Real-world steps for creators and users
If you're a creator whose mortgage depends on those 15-second clips, or just a casual scroller who doesn't want to lose their "saved" folder, here is what you actually need to do right now.
- Request your data: Go into your TikTok settings and download your account data. This includes your profile info, activity, and links to your videos. It won't save the physical video files for you, but it’s a start.
- Cross-post everything: If you aren't already on Reels, Shorts, or even Lemon8, start now. The "mass migration" of early 2025 proved that audiences will follow you, but only if you're already there.
- Check the news on January 22: This is the make-or-break date for the current deal. If the sale is finalized, you can breathe. If another extension is announced, the cycle continues.
- Diversify your income: If you make money through the Creator Rewards Program, look into brand deals that live off-platform or start an email list. Relying on a single app that is currently a political football is risky business.
Ultimately, the answer to when are they shutting down TikTok is that nobody—not even the people in the room making the deals—knows for certain. We are currently staring down a January 23rd deadline, but if history has taught us anything, it's that another "final" extension could be just one executive signature away.