Is TikTok Back in India? Here’s What’s Really Happening

Recently, social media buzz suggested that TikTok might be making a comeback in India after nearly five years. The speculation started when some users noticed that parts of the TikTok website were loading without the use of a VPN. This fueled excitement, but the truth is more complicated.

Website Access: Just a Glitch

While some sections of the TikTok website, like the “About” or “Contact” pages, briefly became visible to Indian users, the platform’s core features—such as logging in, creating an account, or watching videos—remained inaccessible. The TikTok app is also still missing from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in India.

Government’s Position: Ban Still in Place

The Indian government has clarified that the ban on TikTok has not been lifted. Officials confirmed that no new orders have been issued to unblock the platform, and all existing restrictions remain fully active.

TikTok’s Statement: No Comeback Yet

TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, has confirmed that it has not restored services in India. The company said it continues to comply with the government’s ban and dismissed rumors of an official return.

Likely Reason: Technical Misconfiguration

Experts believe that the sudden accessibility of certain pages was most likely due to a technical glitch or network misconfiguration by local internet service providers. This is not the first time such an incident has happened—similar glitches in the past also created brief speculation about the app’s return.

Quick Reality Check

Claim	Reality
TikTok website visible	Only partially; login and video features still blocked
TikTok app available	Not on Google Play or Apple App Store in India
Government lifted the ban?	No, the ban continues
ByteDance restored access?	No, company says it’s still blocked
Why website opened briefly?	Likely a technical/network glitch, not an official decision

Bottom Line

Despite the rumors, TikTok has not returned to India. The platform remains banned, the government has not lifted restrictions, and ByteDance has not restarted operations. The recent chatter was most likely the result of a temporary technical glitch rather than a policy change.