TikTok has made a partial return to India after five years. Some users are able to access the TikTok website, but the app is still unavailable on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The platform was banned along with 58 other Chinese apps in June 2020 following border tensions between India and China. At the time, India was TikTok's largest overseas market, with over 200 million users.

The ban opened up space for Indian apps like Moj, Josh, and Chingari, as well as global platforms like Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. However, several Indian short-video platforms have shut down, merged, or shifted focus. This has left the market dominated by large global companies.

Recently, India-China relations have shown signs of improving, and some banned Chinese apps like Shine, Sender, and Tantan have returned. The fact that TikTok’s website is accessible could signal a step towards a comeback, but it’s unclear whether the app will make a comeback. Many in India’s digital media sector still want TikTok to remain banned.