How to Get TikTok Ad Code for Spark Ads
TikTok Spark Ads can transform your advertising strategy by letting you leverage authentic, user-generated content instead of creating traditional, polished ads from scratch. This article breaks down exactly how to get the authorization code you need - whether you're promoting your own organic post or collaborating with a creator.
What Are TikTok Spark Ads, Anyway?
Spark Ads are a native ad format that allows advertisers to promote existing organic TikTok videos. Instead of uploading your own video file directly into the TikTok Ads Manager, you use a code to "spark" an organic post from any account (with their permission), turning it into an ad.
This approach has a few major advantages over regular in-feed video ads:
Authenticity: Spark Ads look and feel like genuine TikTok content because they are genuine TikTok content. This helps combat ad fatigue and makes your brand blend in more naturally with the user experience.
Social Proof: The ad retains all the likes, comments, shares, and views from the original organic post. When users see an ad that already has thousands of likes, they're more likely to trust it and engage. With a standard ad, you start building that social proof from zero.
Performance Gains: Because they are so authentic, TikTok has reported that Spark Ads often achieve higher completion rates and engagement rates compared to non-Spark Ads. All post-click interactions get attributed back to the original organic video, further boosting its metrics.
In short, using Spark Ads is one of the most effective ways to run performance-driven campaigns on a platform that highly values authentic, creator-driven content.
How to Get a Spark Ad Code From Your Own Video
If you've posted a video on your brand's own TikTok profile that is performing well organically, turning it into a Spark Ad is a fantastic way to amplify its reach. The process involves generating a code from the TikTok mobile app that you'll later paste into the Ads Manager.
Here are the step-by-step instructions:
Open your TikTok profile: Launch the TikTok app on your phone and navigate to your main profile page.
Select your video: Tap on the video you want to turn into an ad.
Access the post settings: Tap the three-dot icon (...) on the right side of the screen to open the options menu.
Find "Ad settings": In the bottom row of icons, swipe to the right until you see the "Ad settings" option (it looks like a small flame or a rocket). Tap it.
Turn on Ad Authorization: You'll see a toggle for "Ad authorization." Switch it on. Agree to the Terms of Service when prompted.
Set the authorization period: You need to decide how long you want this video to be available for advertising. You can choose 7, 30, or 60 days. It's generally best to select the longest period (60 days) to prevent a successful ad from getting shut off unexpectedly.
Generate the Code: Once you've selected a duration, tap the "Authorize" button, and then tap "Generate." TikTok will create a unique alphanumeric code for your video.
Copy and Save the Code: Tap the "Copy" button to save the code to your clipboard. Immediately paste it somewhere safe, like a team chat, a notes app, or an email to yourself.
That's it! You now have the Spark Ad code for your own post. When you create your campaign in TikTok Ads Manager, you'll simply paste this code into the ad creative section to pull in your video.
How to Get a Spark Ad Code From a Creator's Video
The real power of Spark Ads comes from collaborating with creators. This allows you to tap into their audience and use their trusted voice to promote your product. The process for this is almost identical, but it requires coordination with the creator, as they are the one who has to generate the code for you.
Step 1: The Creator's Responsibility (Generating the Code)
The creator whose video you want to use must perform the steps on their own account. You cannot do this for them. You should provide them with clear instructions to make the process as smooth as possible.
Here’s what the creator needs to do:
Navigate to the video on their TikTok profile.
Tap the three dots (...) to open the video's options.
Swipe over and tap the "Ad settings" icon.
Turn the "Ad authorization" toggle ON.
Agree to the terms and select an authorization period for the ads (e.g., 30 or 60 days).
Tap "Authorize" and then "Generate."
Finally, they will "Copy" the code and send it directly to you.
Before asking a creator to do this, make sure you have already negotiated the terms of use, compensation, and the duration for which you'll be running their content as an ad.
Step 2: The Advertiser's Responsibility (Using the Code in Ads Manager)
Once the creator has sent you the code, you're ready to build your campaign. The final step takes place inside the TikTok Ads Manager platform.
Set up Your Campaign and Ad Group: Log in to TikTok Ads Manager . Create a new campaign and then an ad group, configuring your objective, budget, audience targeting, and placement settings as you normally would.
Navigate to the Ad Level: Once you get to the "Ad" creation level, you’ll find the section for your ad creative.
Select Spark Ad: Under the "Identity" section, tick the box that says, "Use TikTok account to deliver Spark Ads."
Choose an Authorized Account: Under "Post," select "Use other authorized account or post."
Enter the Code: An input field labeled "+ Authorize TikTok Post" will appear. Paste the creator's video code into the search bar and click "Search."
Select the Video: The authorized video should pop up instantly. Click on it to select it and then click "Confirm."
Complete the Setup: The creator's video is now locked in as your ad creative. All you have to do is fill out the remaining details, like your Call-to-Action (e.g., "Shop Now," "Learn More") and the destination URL for your landing page.
After you submit your ad for review, it will run using the creator's video and profile handle, driving authentic engagement and clicks from their audience and beyond.
Key Tips for Successful Spark Ads
Getting the code is only half the battle. To ensure your Spark Ad campaigns are a success, keep these best practices in mind.
Pick Proven Winners: Don't just pick any video. Look for content (either from your own page or a creator's) that already has strong organic engagement. High view counts, lots of comments, and strong saves are all great indicators that the creative resonates with an audience.
Communicate Clearly With Creators: Before you request a code, establish a clear agreement. It should cover what the video is for, how long you plan to promote it, and what the compensation will be. Surprising a creator with an ad request without this groundwork can damage the relationship.
Maximize the Authorization Period: Always request the longest possible authorization duration (either 60 or 365 days, depending on the option currently available). Nothing is worse than having a high-performing ad stop abruptly because the authorization code expired. If it expires, you can't reuse that post in the same ad group, so you lose the ad learning.
Don’t just Re-upload Content: Some advertisers try to bypass the Spark Ad process by simply downloading a creator's video and uploading it as a new "regular" ad. This is a huge mistake. Doing so severs the connection to the original post, meaning you lose all the built-in social proof and the video starts from zero likes and comments.
Final Thoughts
Using Spark Ads is a straightforward way to harness the power of authentic TikTok content for your marketing campaigns. Whether generating a code from your brand’s own viral video or collaborating with a creator, the process requires just a few taps in the app to unlock huge performance potential.
Once your ads are running, knowing how they're truly performing is the next critical step. Instead of sorting through columns in TikTok Ads Manager, I use Graphed to get a clear picture of my cross-platform results. It connects directly to my ad accounts, Shopify, and Google Analytics. When I want a new report, I just ask for what I need with simple text - like "Show me a comparison of revenue driven by my Spark Ad campaigns vs. my regular in-feed campaigns this month" - and it builds a live dashboard for me in seconds, saving me hours of manual report building.