By Krystal Hu NEW YORK (Reuters) -TikTok is preparing to launch a standalone app for U.S. users that is expected to operate on a separate algorithm and data system from its global app, laying the groundwork for a potential sale orchestrated by U.

A new TikTok app may be coming for users in the U.S. and that could mean an almost entirely different user experience.

It’s looking increasingly likely that any sale of TikTok will mean US users have to download a new app. And that could mean an almost entirely different experience.

TikTok is facing a fresh European Union privacy investigation into user data transferred to China. The Irish Data Protection Commission opened the inquiry as a follow up to a previous investigation that ended earlier this year with a 530 million euro ($620 million) fine.

TikTok has denied a Reuters report claiming it's building a standalone U.S. app with a separate algorithm. TikTok is pushing back against a Reuters report that claims the company is working on a standalone version of its app for the U.S. market, complete with a separate algorithm and data infrastructure.

TikTok is developing a new app for its more than 170 million U.S. users alongside a potential sale, according to a report from The Information. The news follows comments President Donald Trump made on Friday that he “pretty much” has a deal for a U.S. company to purchase TikTok’s U.S. operations, although he did not disclose the potential buyer.

TikTok researchers and users say there is yet another type of deception to look out for on the hit video app: Deepfake videos that copy the exact words of a real creator but in a different voice.

TikTok is building a new version of its app for users in the United States ahead of a planned sale of the app to a group of investors, The Information reported on Sunday, citing unnamed sources.

TikTok's owner, ByteDance, has plans to move Americans to a US-specific version of CapCut as it looks to meet requirements for a divest-or-ban law.

Popular video-sharing app TikTok is still available to US users only because President Trump issued an executive order in early 2025 to postpone the ban the Chinese app is facing. Trump has extended the delay two more times since then, with the latest extension coming just a few weeks ago.