TikTok is shutting down its photo-sharing app, TikTok Notes, on May 8. The app, which was tested in Canada, Australia, and Vietnam, will no longer be available.
Users are being notified of the shutdown and encouraged to switch to Lemon8, another ByteDance-owned app that offers similar features. “We’re excited to bring feedback from TikTok Notes to Lemon8 as we continue building a space for our community to share and enjoy photo content,” a TikTok spokesperson told TechCrunch.
TikTok hasn’t given a specific reason for shutting down the app, but it’s likely due to low user adoption. Instead, the company is focusing on Lemon8, which had around 12.5 million global monthly active users as of December 2024.
In a notice to TikTok Notes users, the company said the decision “was not made lightly” and advised them to save their data before the shutdown. The notice also described Lemon8 as a similar app with “even more features.”
Lemon8, launched in Japan in 2020, has expanded to the U.S. and Southeast Asia. It combines elements of Instagram and Pinterest, allowing users to share slideshows, browse content, and use creative tools like filters, stickers, and text templates.
Beyond being a TikTok Notes alternative, ByteDance has also positioned Lemon8 as a potential backup for TikTok itself, especially amid U.S. government scrutiny. Last November, TikTok integrated Lemon8 with its platform, letting users access the app with their TikTok accounts and cross-share content. This move was seen as a way to transition creators to a new platform in case TikTok faced restrictions or a ban.
With a new U.S. ban deadline of April 5, TikTok is continuing to promote Lemon8 as a key platform for its users.
