TikTok is not returning to India anytime soon despite recent viral rumors, according to official sources from both the Indian government and TikTok’s parent company ByteDance. The controversy arose after several users reported being able to access TikTok’s homepage without using a VPN, sparking widespread speculation about a possible comeback of the popular short-video platform that was banned in India in 2020.
India imposed the TikTok ban in June 2020, alongside 58 other Chinese apps, citing concerns over national security, data privacy, and sovereignty amid rising geopolitical tensions with China. The government’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology has repeatedly denied lifting the ban or unblocking the app in any form. A senior government official termed the rumors of TikTok’s return as “false and misleading”.
ByteDance also confirmed that TikTok services have not been restored in India and that the company continues to comply with the government’s directive. The partial accessibility of the TikTok website was attributed to a network-level technical glitch, an incident reminiscent of a similar event in 2022 when some banned sites were temporarily available due to system patch errors by internet providers.
While users could briefly view TikTok’s homepage, key features such as account creation, video uploads, and content viewing remain unavailable. The TikTok app continues to be absent from both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store in India.
Despite some easing in India-China diplomatic relations and ongoing discussions, there has been no official move toward reinstating TikTok’s services. The company and the government are maintaining their positions, and no timelines or strategies for a relaunch have been shared publicly.
This clarification comes amid a surge of misinformation and excitement among former TikTok users in India. For now, users will have to continue relying on alternative short-video platforms available legally in the country.
