| Step | Who | Where | What to do |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Finish the caption | Creator | TikTok app | Edit the caption first. It can’t be changed after the post is authorized. |
| 2. Turn on ad settings | Creator | Settings › Creator tools › Ad settings | Switch Ad settings on. Some guides say a Business or Creator (professional) account is needed. |
| 3. Open the post | Creator | Your profile | Open the video you want to authorize and tap the ⋯ (three dots) button. |
| 4. Open Ad settings | Creator | ⋯ › Ad settings | Accept TikTok’s Advertising Content terms if asked. |
| 5. Turn on Ad authorization | Creator | Ad settings | Switch on Ad authorization for this video. |
| 6. Pick how long it lasts | Creator | Ad settings | Choose 7, 30, 60 or 365 days. 30 days is the default; pick 60 or 365 for longer campaigns. |
| 7. Generate and copy the code | Creator | Ad settings | Tap Generate, then copy the code. One code covers one post. |
| 8. Send the code | Creator | DM or email | Send the code to the brand or agency with the post link and the end date. |
| 9. Add the code | Advertiser | Ads Manager › Ad creatives › + Add videos or images › TikTok posts | Click Add post and paste the code. You can also add codes in Assets › Creative library. |
| 10. Batch codes | Advertiser | Add post dialog | Paste up to 20 codes at a time. |
| 11. Check the dates | Advertiser | TikTok posts tab | Review the authorization period shown under each post. Make sure it covers the whole campaign. |
| 12. Build and publish | Advertiser | Ad level | Select the post, click Confirm, fill in ad details and destination, then click Publish all. |
| Private posts go public | Rules | During promotion | A private video becomes public once used in a campaign, and its privacy can’t be changed while it runs. |
| When the code expires | Rules | Ads Manager | Ads using the post stop delivering. The creator must generate a new code or a longer one. |
| Revoking access | Rules | TikTok app | The creator can turn off authorization any time. Deleting the post or making it private also stops the ads. |
| Deleting a code | Rules | Ads Manager | A video code can be deleted only after every ad using it is deleted. |
| Account limit | Rules | Ads Manager | Each Ads Manager account can hold up to 10,000 Spark Ads. |
| Unsupported posts | Rules | TikTok app | Some Stories, Duets, Stitches and carousel formats can’t be used. The post must stay public. |
Menu names follow TikTok’s Ads Help Center and creator guides as of Nov 2026; labels can differ slightly by app version and region.
How Spark Ads codes work
What a code does
A Spark Ads code lets a brand run a creator’s organic post as an ad. Likes, comments and follows go to the original post and account.
How long it lasts
The creator picks 7, 30, 60 or 365 days. When the time runs out, ads using that post stop.
Who controls it
The creator can revoke it any time. Brands should agree the length and usage in writing before paying for content.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a Spark Ads code last?
7, 30, 60 or 365 days, chosen by the creator when they generate it. 30 days is the default.
Can I edit the caption on a Spark Ad?
No. The caption comes from the post and can’t be edited after authorization, so finalize it first.
How many Spark codes can I add at once?
Up to 20 codes at a time in Ads Manager.
Why did my Spark Ad stop?
The code expired, the creator revoked it, or the post was deleted or made private.
Related free tools
Sources: TikTok Ads: How to create Spark Ads (Manual and Search campaigns) · Leadsie: TikTok Spark Ads and allowlisting · Archive: Creator’s guide to providing Spark codes