Troubleshooting
Creator Account Not Found for TikTok Spark Ads
A video code links a creator's post to your ad account, but the code must be entered and read correctly.
Is this your situation?
You try to set up a Spark Ad using a creator's post, and the account or video will not come up. The likely cause is an issue with the video code itself rather than the creator's account.
The short answer
To create a Spark Ad, an advertiser must select a TikTok account as their identity for the Spark Ad. The creator taps Copy Code to share the video code with the advertiser. Check whether the code you have is complete and still within its authorization window.
What you see, and why
| Symptom | Cause |
|---|---|
| The creator's account does not appear when setting up a Spark Ad. | To create a Spark Ad, an advertiser must select a TikTok account as their identity for the Spark Ad. |
| You entered a code, but nothing links to the creator's video. | The creator selects the authorization duration of 7, 30, 60, or 365 days. |
| You have a code for one creator's video but need two. | Videos made by two creators, such as Duets and Stitched posts, require video authorization codes from both creators. |
Check these first
- Confirm the creator generated a code. A creator generates a video code from the post's Ad Settings.Verify: Ask the creator to tap Copy Code and send it.
- Check that Authorized Posts is allowed. Authorized Posts must first be allowed for the creator in the TikTok app.Verify: Check the creator's profile setting for Authorized Posts.
- Check whether the video involves two creators. A Duet or Stitch requires a code from each featured creator.Verify: Check whether the post is a Duet or Stitch.
How TikTok handles this
- Identity for a Spark Ad can be an authorized account or posts authorized through a video code.
- A creator finds the code by opening the video, tapping the three dots, tapping Ad Settings, and tapping Generate.
- TikTok Ads Manager supports batch authorization of up to 20 video codes at a time.
- A video code can only be deleted once every ad using that video has been deleted in TikTok Ads Manager.
Which path applies to you?
- Did the creator generate and send a code? If not, the advertiser must enter a received code on TikTok Ads Manager before anything can link.
- Is the video a Duet or Stitch with two creators? If so, codes from both creators featured in the videos are required.
- Was the code entered under the correct menu? From TikTok Ads Manager, the advertiser goes to Tools and clicks Spark ads posts to enter a video code.
- Could the authorization window have passed? The creator selected an authorization duration of 7, 30, 60, or 365 days when generating the code.
- Does the ad use the creator's identity, or your own linked account? There are two types of identity for Spark Ads: your own linked TikTok account, or accounts and posts authorized through Business Center or video codes.
Step by step: finding the cause
- Ask the creator to allow Authorized Posts. Authorized Posts must first be allowed for the creator within the creator's profile in the TikTok app.Confirm: Check the creator's privacy or creator tools settings for this option.
- Have the creator open the post's ad settings. The creator taps the three dots on the post and taps Ad Settings.Confirm: Check that the Ad authorization toggle is visible on the post.
- Turn on the Ad authorization toggle and generate a code. The creator turns on the Ad authorization toggle and generates a code.Confirm: Check that a code now appears in the ad settings module.
- Select an authorization duration. The creator selects the authorization duration of 7, 30, 60, or 365 days.Confirm: Check which duration the creator selected.
- Copy and send the code. The creator taps Copy Code to share the video code with the advertiser.Confirm: Check that you received the code from the creator.
- Enter the code in TikTok Ads Manager. From TikTok Ads Manager, the advertiser goes to Tools and clicks Spark ads posts to enter the video code.Confirm: Check that the video now appears in the Spark ads posts list.
Common mistakes
- Searching for the account instead of using a code. To create a Spark Ad, an advertiser must select a TikTok account as their identity for the Spark Ad.Why it happens: The setup flow looks like other identity fields that accept a name search.
- Using an expired code. The authorization duration selected by the creator was 7, 30, 60, or 365 days.Why it happens: Time passed between when the code was generated and when it was entered.
- Entering only one code for a Duet or Stitch. Videos made by two creators require codes from both creators featured in the video.Why it happens: The need for a second code is overlooked on collaborative posts.
Quick reference
| Situation | What applies |
|---|---|
| Account not found in setup | An advertiser must select a TikTok account as their identity for the Spark Ad. |
| Code entered but not linking | The creator selects an authorization duration of 7, 30, 60, or 365 days. |
| Duet or Stitch post | Codes from both featured creators are required. |
| Where to generate a code | Post → three dots → Ad Settings → Generate. |
| Where to enter a code | TikTok Ads Manager → Tools → Spark ads posts. |
| Batch authorization limit | Up to 20 video codes at a time. |
| Deleting a code in use | Only possible once all ads using that video are deleted. |
| Required for Authorized Accounts or creator posts | Authorized Posts must be allowed for the creator in the TikTok app. |
Keeping track of who has access
Delvia keeps account access clear so the confusion you diagnosed here does not hold up your next campaign.
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