ByteDance’s video editing app CapCut is back online for users in the United States after a brief shutdown. The disruption, caused by federal legislation banning ByteDance-owned apps, ended when President Donald Trump issued an executive order extending the compliance deadline by 75 days.

Availability Still Restricted on Apple App Store and Google Play

On Tuesday, January 21, U.S. CapCut users received a pop-up message thanking them for their patience and confirming the app’s return. ByteDance hasn’t issued an official statement regarding the delay in restoring CapCut compared to other properties like TikTok and Lemon8.

While CapCut’s web-based services have resumed, the app remains unavailable for download or updates on Apple’s App Store and Google Play Store. These platforms continue enforcing federal regulations prohibiting the distribution of ByteDance-owned apps, including TikTok and Lemon8.

Apple and Google’s compliance with this law underscores the ongoing scrutiny of ByteDance’s operations in the U.S. The current legislation requires the Chinese company to sell its U.S. assets to a non-Chinese entity for its platforms to remain operational in the country.

Impact on the Creator Economy

According to The New York Times, the temporary unavailability of CapCut has set off a chain of events in the creator economy. Industry experts note that the app’s absence disrupted workflows for many content creators.

“People just find it to be the easiest, most straightforward way to edit videos on the fly,” stated Mae Karwowski, founder of influencer marketing agency Obviously, emphasizing the app’s value. She also noted that many creators were unaware of CapCut’s ByteDance ownership and its implications under the federal ban.

This disruption has forced creators to seek alternatives, potentially benefiting competitors such as Meta’s newly announced app Edits, a video editing tool positioned to rival CapCut.