What Is com.zhiliaoapp.musically and Why It’s on Android?

Key Features

• The package name com.zhiliaoapp.musically serves as TikTok’s official Android identifier in many regions.
• It powers TikTok’s short-form video creation by enabling editing, trimming, filters, music integration, and sharing.
• TikTok under this package name has reached an extraordinary scale, with Android versions alone surpassing 1.5 billion installations worldwide.
• The “musically” string in the package name remains for technical reasons such as data continuity, Play Store update paths, and seamless user experience despite.

Have you ever opened your Android settings only to stumble upon an app name like com.zhiliaoapp.musically and wondered what it really is? While it may sound suspicious at first glance, this package name is actually tied to one of the world’s most downloaded apps: TikTok. According to Statista (2024), TikTok had over 1.5 billion global downloads on Android devices, making it one of the most dominant players in the short-video market. What most users don’t realize is that this cryptic identifier is a legacy from the platform’s earlier life as Musical.ly, a lip-sync app that gained massive popularity before merging into TikTok in 2018.

The numbers behind this evolution are striking. By 2017, Musical.ly had already amassed over 200 million registered users worldwide before being acquired by ByteDance for approximately $1 billion USD. After the merger, ByteDance retained the original package name (com.zhiliaoapp.musically) for technical reasons, ensuring that existing users could seamlessly transition without losing data, preferences, or app functionality. In fact, Android’s architecture ties updates, app storage, and account details directly to the package name, which explains why it remains unchanged despite the shift in branding.

Today, TikTok isn’t just another app, it has become a global cultural force. Reports from App Annie (2023) show that TikTok users spend an average of 95 minutes per day on the platform, surpassing engagement levels of both YouTube and Instagram. This extraordinary reach has made TikTok a subject of fascination, innovation, and controversy, from its role in shaping digital trends to the security concerns tied to its massive data collection. 

What is com.zhiliaoapp.musically?

com.zhiliaoapp.musically is the official package name for TikTok on Android devices. Package names are unique identifiers assigned to every app on the Play Store, and they typically remain unchanged, even after a major rebrand.

The structure of this one breaks down like this:

• com. is a namespace prefix, standard for all Android packages.
• zhiliaoapp refers to Zhiliao, one of ByteDance’s earlier branding units.
• musically is the legacy app name carried over from Musical.ly.

This is not unusual at all. For example, Facebook’s package is com.facebook.katana, Instagram’s is com.instagram.android, and Gmail runs as com.google.android.gm.

Developers choose these names when first launching an app, and once set, they rarely change. Altering a package name would disrupt the app’s identity across updates, links, permissions, user data, and even backups, making stability a top priority.

Why com.zhiliaoapp.musically Comes Preinstalled on Some Phones?

Certain Android smartphones come with TikTok (com.zhiliaoapp.musically) preinstalled right out of the box.

Manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Realme, Huawei, and even some carrier-branded devices often bundle popular apps like TikTok, Facebook, or Spotify in the system firmware. These partnerships are especially common in regions where app makers and phone brands strike deals to boost visibility and revenue. As a result, many users find TikTok already present the very first time they power on their new device.

This preinstalled version is identical in package name, but it may behave a little differently:

• It can include broader default permissions than a user-installed app.
• It may auto-run in the background, consuming data and resources.
• In many cases, it cannot be fully uninstalled, only disabled.

How to manage it:

1. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps.
2. Tap TikTok from the list.
3. If the Uninstall button isn’t available, it means the app was preloaded by the manufacturer.
4. In that case, tap Disable, then select Clear Data and manually revoke its permissions.

While this process won’t completely delete TikTok from the firmware, it will stop the app from running in the background or accessing personal data. If you don’t actively use TikTok, disabling and clearing its permissions is the most effective way to prevent unnecessary resource usage.

Can I Uninstall com.zhiliaoapp.musically Completely?

In most cases, yes, but it depends on whether TikTok was user-installed or preinstalled on your phone.

User-installed TikTok: If you downloaded TikTok yourself from the Google Play Store, you can easily uninstall it like any other app. Just go to Settings → Apps → TikTok → Uninstall. This will remove both the app and its package name (com.zhiliaoapp.musically) from your device.

Preinstalled TikTok: On some devices (Xiaomi, Realme, Huawei, etc.), TikTok may come preloaded in the firmware as part of a partnership deal. In these cases, the Uninstall option might not appear. Instead, you’ll only see Disable, which stops the app from running and hides it from your home screen, but doesn’t delete the core files.

If TikTok is preinstalled, you can:

1. Tap Disable to stop background activity.
2. Select Clear Data and Revoke Permissions to prevent it from storing or collecting information.
3. Use ADB commands (for advanced users) to remove system apps, though this requires technical know-how and can void warranties.

In short: if TikTok was downloaded manually, you can uninstall it completely. If it came preloaded, the best option for most users is to disable and restrict its activity.

Why Does TikTok Still Use the Name “Musically”?

In November 2017, Chinese tech giant ByteDance, best known at the time for its AI-driven news app Toutiao, acquired Musical.ly for a reported $1 billion (CNBC). Less than a year later, in August 2018, ByteDance merged Musical.ly into its own short-form video app, TikTok. Instead of building a brand-new platform, ByteDance simply rebranded the existing Musical.ly app as TikTok, ensuring that both user bases were seamlessly combined into one unified ecosystem.

However, one crucial detail never changed: the back-end package name. TikTok still runs on Android as com.zhiliaoapp.musically. Why? Because altering a package name would:

• Erase user data tied to the original identifier.
• Break app update continuity in the Google Play Store.
• Disrupt push notifications, deep links, and third-party integrations.
• Force every device to treat TikTok as a completely new installation.

In short, the package name is the invisible backbone of the app. While the branding shifted from Musical.ly to TikTok, the underlying identity remained intact. Think of it like a house: the exterior sign has changed, but the foundation is still the same. That’s why, to this day, every TikTok update you install is technically still an update to the old Musical.ly framework.

How Cybercriminals Could Misuse the TikTok (Musical.ly) Identifier?

Yes, and this is where things can get risky. While com.zhiliaoapp.musically is TikTok’s legitimate package name, malicious developers can create fake APKs that mimic or closely resemble this identifier. These clone apps often disguise themselves as TikTok to trick unsuspecting users into installing malware, which can then spy on activities, inject ads, or even steal sensitive data.

Common signs you may be dealing with a fake TikTok clone:

• The app doesn’t appear in your official Play Store library (meaning you never actually installed it through Google Play).
• It requests unnecessary permissions like access to SMS, call logs, or system settings.
• It redirects you to strange websites, triggers pop-ups, or behaves abnormally.
• Updates aren’t available through the Play Store, forcing you to sideload new versions.
• The app’s icon or branding looks slightly “off” (low-quality logo, extra spaces, or unusual characters).
• It causes unusual battery drain or background data usage.

How to protect yourself:
Always download TikTok only from the Google Play Store and verify the official developer (TikTok Pte. Ltd.). If you ever need to sideload, scan the APK with a trusted tool like VirusTotal Mobile before installation. And if you suspect you’ve installed a clone, uninstall immediately and run a full device security scan.

Is com.zhiliaoapp.musically Safe?

Yes, if you installed TikTok through the Google Play Store, you generally have nothing to worry about. The package name may look unusual, but it is completely legitimate. You can always confirm the installation source and review permissions directly in your phone’s App Info screen to be sure.

Where you need to be cautious is when the app was:

• Sideloaded from a third-party website instead of the Play Store.
• Preinstalled on a used phone without your knowledge of its source.
• Modified by a clone app designed to impersonate TikTok for malicious purposes.

How to verify yours is safe?

Step 1: Confirm Installation Source

1. Open the Google Play Store.
2. Search for TikTok.
3. If it shows “Installed” with TikTok Pte. Ltd. (the official developer), your version is authentic.
4. If it doesn’t appear as installed or lists a different developer, uninstall it immediately.

Step 2: Check the Package Name
On most devices, you can view the package name directly in the system settings:

1. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps.
2. Find and tap TikTok.
3. Tap the three dots (⋮) and select App Info (wording may vary).
4. Look for the package name, it should read: com.zhiliaoapp.musically.

If this option isn’t visible, you can use a free utility like Package Name Viewer to confirm the package name easily.

Pro Tip: Even if the package name looks correct, avoid downloading TikTok from APK sites or third-party stores, as clone apps may reuse the same identifiers to trick users. The safest route is always the official Google Play Store.

Final Words

com.zhiliaoapp.musically is simply the technical backbone of TikTok on Android, a legacy package name that reflects its Musical.ly origins but continues to power one of the world’s most influential apps. While the label may look unusual in your phone’s settings, it is completely normal, safe when installed from official sources, and essential for ensuring seamless updates and data continuity. Understanding this hidden detail not only clears up confusion but also helps you stay more informed about how your device manages apps behind the scenes.