TikTok's U.S. ban arrived earlier than expected, logging users out abruptly on Saturday night before midnight ET. See how users are reacting to the sudden shutdown.

The popular video app stopped working shortly after signaling to users it might go offline, with a federal law barring U.S. companies from hosting or distributing TikTok set to take effect on Sunday.

The news comes as a law banning TikTok, which is owned by Chinese firm ByteDance, is set to go into effect on Jan. 19.

The Chinese-owned company said it would cut off its services unless the U.S. assures Apple, Google and other companies that they would not be punished for hosting and distributing TikTok.

A looming ban on TikTok set to take effect on Sunday presents a multibillion-dollar headache for app store operators Apple and Google.

TikTok's app was removed from prominent app stores on Saturday evening just before a federal law that bans the popular social media platform went into effect.

TikTok disconnected access to its users in the United States late Saturday shortly before a national ban on the app was to take effect, with President-elect Donald Trump unable to intervene until he takes office.

TikTok users in the United States attempting to use the app have been locked out as a ban takes effect, saying they can't use it "for now".

A law that prohibits mobile app stores and internet hosting services from distributing the video-sharing platform to U.S. users takes effect on Sunday.

"We are fortunate that President Trump has indicated that he will work with us on a solution to reinstate TikTok once he takes office," the TikTok landing page reads