The TikTok application just got a major revamp for iPad users. And that includes both portrait and landscape orientations.
It’s a significant change for an app that previously emphasized handsets well ahead of every other device.
TikTok takes to tablets
TikTok (including the Chinese counterpart Douyin) is a global phenomena. Displaying user-made short videos has made it hugely popular — more people go to its website than Google’s.
Those short videos are mostly filmed on iPhones or Androids, and developer ByteDance always formatted the viewing experience for handset screens in portrait mode. But that’s changing.
“We’re excited to share that TikTok is now better optimized for tablets and foldable gadgets,” a ByteDance blog post announced late Monday. “People can now watch their favorite videos on larger screens and experience a clear video feed, streamlined navigation bars, and orientation support that will take their TikTok journey to the next level.”
There’s a navigation bar at the top of the application’s screen with links to For You and Following. And there’s a second nav bar at the bottom of the screen with Home, Friends, Add, Inbox and Profile.
A new orientation
Image: ByteDance
Perhaps the most noteworthy change is greater support for a landscape orientation. While holding a phone with a vertical screen feels more natural, most tablet users prefer a landscape orientation.
That said, most videos are still formatted for a phone held vertically. But at least these can now be easily viewed in the app on a large tablet screen.
“This new update offers a complete upgrade, ensuring a seamless and visually appealing TikTok experience for users worldwide, regardless of the device they choose,” promised ByteDance.
TikTok is available now in the App Store. It’s free, includes ads, and tracks users in every way possible, including their location.
ByteDance frequently updates its software. Thanks to a November update, users can add a song they hear in a video directly to Apple Music or another music-streaming service.
