WASHINGTON – TikTok started bringing its services back online on Sunday after President-elect Donald Trump promised to restore the app’s access in the U.S. when he takes office on Monday.

During a rally on Sunday, Trump stated, "We have no choice but to save it," and announced plans to establish a joint venture to ensure TikTok remains accessible to its 170 million U.S. users. Hours earlier, TikTok announced that its services were being restored, thanking Trump for his efforts.

Some users noticed partial access to TikTok’s website on Sunday, but the app remained unavailable on Apple and Google app stores. TikTok explained that it was working with service providers to restore functionality and thanked Trump for ensuring they would not face penalties for supporting TikTok.

The ban came into effect on Sunday due to national security concerns over TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance. U.S. officials feared that American users' data could be misused. Trump extended the timeline of the ban to negotiate a deal that protects national security, proposing that the U.S. take a 50% ownership in a new joint venture.

This move marks a shift from Trump’s previous stance in 2020 when he pushed to ban TikTok. Now, he credits the platform for helping him connect with younger voters.

While some Republican senators oppose the extension, stating that ByteDance must sever ties with China, Trump remains focused on finding a solution. Talks about TikTok’s U.S. operations potentially being sold to figures like Elon Musk have also surfaced, though ByteDance has denied the reports.

Other ByteDance apps like CapCut and Lemon8 also remain offline. Meanwhile, marketing firms and users are scrambling to adapt, with web searches for VPNs spiking after TikTok went offline.

TikTok’s CEO plans to attend Trump’s inauguration, underscoring the platform’s renewed efforts to secure its future in the U.S.