You’ve probably seen the headlines. One day it’s a total ban, the next it’s a delay, and then suddenly your favorite creator is posting from a different app entirely. If you’re trying to figure out what states is tiktok banned in, the answer isn't a simple "yes" or "no" anymore. Honestly, it’s a mess of state laws, federal drama, and a massive corporate sale that’s still shaking out.
As of early 2026, the map of the United States looks like a patchwork quilt of restrictions. Some places have totally blocked it. Others only care if you're a government worker. It’s enough to make anyone want to just put their phone down and go outside.
📖 Related: How to Turn On iPhone 8 When It Feels Completely Dead
The State of the Union: Where TikTok Stands Right Now
Let’s get the big one out of the way first. Montana was the pioneer here. Back in 2023, Governor Greg Gianforte signed SB 419, which basically tried to wipe TikTok off the map in the Treasure State. It didn't stick immediately because of a bunch of legal fights in the Ninth Circuit, but it set a precedent.
Today, nearly 35 states have some form of ban. But here's the catch: most of them aren't banning you from using it. They’re banning themselves.
The Government Device Lockdown
If you work for the state of Texas or Alabama, you probably haven't had TikTok on your work phone for years. Governors across the country—both Republican and Democrat—decided that the risk of data being accessed by ByteDance’s China-based employees was too high.
States with active bans on government-issued devices and networks include:
- Texas: Governor Abbott was one of the first to get "aggressive" about this.
- Maryland: They went hard, banning not just TikTok but several other Chinese and Russian-owned apps.
- South Dakota: Governor Kristi Noem really kicked off the modern wave of state-level bans.
- Ohio and New Jersey: These states have strict policies preventing state employees from even having the app on their personal phones if they use them for work emails.
What Really Happened with the Federal Ban?
You might remember the chaos of early 2025. The "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" (PAFACAA) was supposed to be the end. The law, signed by President Biden in 2024, gave ByteDance a deadline of January 19, 2025, to sell the app or face a total blackout in the U.S.
January 19 came and went. TikTok actually shut down for a few hours. It was wild.
But then President Trump took office for his second term and threw a massive wrench in the gears. He signed an executive order on his first day (January 20, 2025) that basically said, "Wait a minute, let’s talk." He paused the enforcement of the ban for 75 days. Then he extended it.
Now, in 2026, we are in the middle of the "qualified divestiture." A group of American investors is essentially buying the U.S. operations. Because of this deal, the "total ban" you keep hearing about is technically on life support. It exists on paper, but the government isn't pulling the plug as long as the sale keeps moving.
Why Montana Is Still Different
Montana tried to go further than anyone else. They didn't just want it off state phones; they wanted it off all phones. They even tried to fine Apple and Google $10,000 a day if they allowed people in Montana to download it.
The courts blocked this for a long time, citing the First Amendment. However, after the Supreme Court weighed in on the federal law in early 2025, the legal ground shifted. While the Montana ban is still tied up in some appeals, the state has been the most vocal about pushing for a total consumer ban. If you live in Billings or Missoula, you’ve probably noticed the app acting glitchy or certain features being restricted due to "regional compliance."
The "Shadow Ban" on Universities
This is the part that actually affects most people. Even if your state hasn't "banned" TikTok for everyone, your school might have.
📖 Related: Apple Reservations for Genius Bar: Why You’re Doing It Wrong
Dozens of public universities across the country—including huge names like the University of Texas at Austin, Auburn, and Oklahoma State—have blocked TikTok on their campus Wi-Fi. If you’re in a dorm and try to scroll, the video just won't load.
It’s a "soft" ban. You can still use your own cellular data, but for a student trying to save money on a data plan, it’s a massive pain. These universities are following state directives that classify TikTok as a "prohibited technology." It’s less about stopping you from seeing dances and more about keeping the school's network secure from potential breaches.
What About the Rest of the World?
We aren't the only ones. India did the "full ban" thing back in 2020 and never looked back. They replaced it with local apps like Moj and Josh. In Europe, it’s a bit different. Countries like the UK, France, and Belgium have banned it for government officials, similar to most U.S. states.
Canada did the same. They basically looked at the security reports and decided it wasn't worth the risk for people handling sensitive government data.
The Reality of 2026: Can You Still Use It?
Yes. Mostly.
✨ Don't miss: Why the Samsung Flip Phone 2000s Era Still Hits Different
If you are a regular person living in Florida, California, or New York, you can open the App Store and download TikTok right now. The "ban" is largely a bureaucratic war being fought in state houses and in D.C.
The biggest change isn't that the app is gone—it's that it's changing. The "Project Texas" initiative (which is TikTok's plan to store U.S. data on Oracle servers in the U.S.) has become the standard. The app you're using today in 2026 is technically "TikTok U.S.," an entity that is slowly being separated from the global version.
Actionable Steps for TikTok Users
If you're worried about the future of your account or the status of the app in your specific area, here is what you should actually do:
- Check your school or workplace policy: If you use a device provided by the government or a public university, delete the app. They can see if it's installed, and it’s not worth losing your job or getting a disciplinary mark.
- Download your data: Regardless of whether a ban is "active," the future is uncertain. Go to your settings, hit "Privacy," and request a download of your data. This saves your videos and your history just in case.
- Diversify your platform: If you’re a creator, start mirrors of your content on YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels. We’ve seen how fast things can change—one executive order can flip the switch.
- Use a VPN for University Wi-Fi: If you’re on a campus that blocks the app, a VPN can sometimes bypass the network-level block, though many schools are getting smarter about blocking VPNs too.
The bottom line is that while the question of what states is tiktok banned in has a long list of answers, the "total ban" hasn't happened yet. We are in a waiting game. The U.S. government wants the app to be "Americanized," and until that sale is 100% finished, the threat of a ban will keep hanging over our heads.