A potential TikTok ban for U.S. users may take effect as soon as  January 19, 2025. A U.S. appeals court upheld a law requiring TikTok to be sold by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, or face a ban. This ruling poses a significant threat to the app, which is used by over 170 million Americans.

If TikTok isn’t sold by the deadline, app stores could face heavy fines for continuing to host it. Users who already have the app may still be able to use it for some time, but without updates, it could soon become buggy or unusable.

TikTok plans to appeal the ruling to the Supreme Court.The Supreme Court has an established historical record of protecting Americans’ right to free speech, and we expect they will do just that on this important constitutional issue,” TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes said in a statement Friday, according to CNN. However, the company maintains its position against separating from its parent company, ByteDance. Hughes added, “If the TikTok ban isn’t stopped, it will silence the voices of over 170 million Americans in the U.S. and worldwide on January 19, 2025.”

Aside from a successful appeal, there are other ways the ban could be delayed or avoided. President-elect Donald Trump could potentially offer support after taking office. Additionally, President Joe Biden could grant a one-time, 90-day extension, though he has not indicated any plans to do so.

After a turbulent year marked by uncertainty and legal challenges over its future in the U.S., TikTok may have found an unexpected ally in Donald Trump — the man who once sought to ban it.

President-elect Trump, who previously attempted to ban the app during his time in office, has now promised throughout his latest campaign to oppose any ban on the platform. This shift could offer TikTok a reprieve if the company loses its ongoing court battle, which could lead to a ban as early as mid-January.

When TikTok appeals, it could also request a stay — a temporary pause on the law — allowing it to avoid the January 19 ban while the Supreme Court reviews the case.

Regardless of a stay, the Supreme Court is likely to move quickly. Both TikTok and the U.S. government previously asked the appeals court to fast-track its ruling so the case could be appealed in time.