How to Add an Admin to a TikTok Account

Adding another person to help manage your TikTok account is a major step, whether you're bringing on a social media manager, partnering with an agency, or collaborating with a teammate. While TikTok doesn't have a simple Add Admin button like a Facebook Page, there is a secure and professional way to grant access without sharing your password. This guide will walk you through the official method using the TikTok Business Center and cover why sharing your login details is a risk you shouldn’t take.

Why Would You Need to Add an Admin to TikTok?

As your brand grows on TikTok, doing everything yourself becomes unsustainable. The constant need for new video ideas, filming, editing, engaging with comments, and analyzing performance can easily become a full-time job. Bringing someone else into the fold is a natural part of scaling your presence on the platform.

Here are a few common scenarios where you'd need to grant someone else access:

• Hiring a Social Media Manager: You've hired a freelancer or an in-house employee to take over the day-to-day management of your TikTok strategy. They'll need access to post content, respond to comments, and track analytics.
• Working with a Marketing Agency: An agency will need to connect your account to their systems to run campaigns, schedule content, and pull performance reports for you.
• Collaborating with a Team: If multiple people in your company contribute to your TikTok channel, giving each person defined access helps streamline your workflow without creating security vulnerabilities.
• Handing Over Responsibilities Safely: You want to grant an assistant access to schedule drafts or moderate comments without giving them the ability to change your password or access billing information.

In all these cases, simply handing over your username and password is a risky shortcut. It gives that person complete control over your account, including the ability to lock you out. The official method provides a much safer, more professional solution.

The Official Method: Using TikTok Business Center

The only "official" way to give another person management-level access to your TikTok profile is through the TikTok Business Center. This free platform is designed for brands and agencies to manage accounts, run ads, and collaborate with team members in a secure environment. Even if you don't plan on running ads, setting up a Business Center profile is best practice for team management.

This process has three main parts: creating your Business Center, linking your TikTok account, and then inviting the new user as a member with specific permissions.

Step 1: Set Up Your TikTok Business Center Account

If you don't already have one, your first step is creating a Business Center account. It's separate from your personal or creator TikTok account.

1. Navigate to the TikTok Business Center website.
2. Click "Create now" and follow the prompts to sign up with an email address. You'll need to verify your email to complete the setup.
3. Fill in your business details: Business name, time zone, and currency. Choose a name that clearly identifies your business, like your brand name.

And that's it! You now have a hub from which to manage your TikTok assets.

Step 2: Connect Your TikTok Account to the Business Center

Next, you need to tell your Business Center which TikTok account you want to manage. This creates a secure link between the two.

1. From your Business Center dashboard, look for the "Assets" section on the left-hand menu and click on "Advertiser accounts." Even though you're just adding a team member, this is where the management happens. Some dashboards might show "Accounts" and then "TikTok Accounts." The interface can vary slightly.
2. Click the blue "Add TikTok Account" button.
3. A pop-up will appear giving you prompts. It will ask for permission, authorize TikTok for Business to access your account.
4. Log into the TikTok account you want to connect using your username/password or by scanning a QR code with your TikTok mobile app.
5. Once you authorize the connection, your TikTok account will appear under your assets in the Business Center.

Step 3: Invite Your New Admin or Team Member

Now that your TikTok account is linked, you can invite people to help you manage it. This is where you actually add your "admin."

1. In your Business Center dashboard, go to the "Users" section on the left-hand menu and click "Members."
2. Click the blue "Invite Member" button.
3. Enter the email address of the person you want to invite. Important: They do not need to use the email address associated with their personal TikTok account. This invitation is for the Business Center itself.
4. Now, you have to assign them a role in the Business Center. Choose from "Admin" or "Standard." For most team members, Standard is sufficient. Admins have power over the entire Business Center, including adding or removing people and payment methods.
5. Next, you'll assign permissions for specific assets. Select the TikTok account you just added from the list.
6. On the next screen, you will assign their role for that specific account. This is the most important step. You'll see several options:
   • Admin: This gives them full control over the asset. They can manage campaigns, edit account settings, and grant other people access to the account as well. Assign this role with caution.
   • Operator: This person can manage ad campaigns, view creative assets, and work within the account, but they can't change fundamental settings or add/remove other users from the asset. This is the most common and safest role for a social media manager.
   • Analyst: This person gets view-only access. They can look at performance data and analytics but can't make any changes. This is perfect for stakeholders or team members who only need to see reports.
   • Finance: Similar to an Analyst, but they can also view and manage billing information related to ad accounts.
7. Once you've selected their role, click "Confirm" to send the invitation. The user will receive an email inviting them to join your Business Center. Once they accept, they will be able to access your TikTok account through the Business Center with the permissions you granted.

Understanding Business Center Roles: Who Gets What?

Choosing the right permission level is key to keeping your account secure. Giving an agency or new team member full "Admin" rights right away might be overkill. Here’s a simpler way to think about the roles when you invite someone.

Think of it in two layers:

1. Business Center Access:
   • Admin: This is the "owner" of the Business "house." They hold the keys, can decide who else gets a key, and can even change the locks. Only give this to a trusted business partner or co-owner.
   • Standard: This person is an employee or contractor invited into the "house." They can't remove the owner or change fundamental settings of the house itself.
2. TikTok Account Access (Asset Permissions):
   • Admin: They can do anything with this specific account - manage it, run ads, and invite others to manage it.
   • Operator: The perfect "Social Media Manager" role. They can do all the daily work like running campaigns and pulling insights, but they can't make major changes to permissions.
   • Analyst: A "viewer" only. Ideal for the boss or a client who just wants to check in on performance without being able to accidentally break something.

For 90% of cases, you'll invite someone as a Standard Member to the Business Center and give them Operator access to the TikTok Account asset. This provides the ideal balance of functionality and security.

The Alternative: Password Sharing (And Why It's a Bad Idea)

"Can't I just give them my password?" It's a common question, and while it might seem easier, it's packed with risks that aren't worth the shortcut.

Security Nightmares

When you share your password, you give up all control. That person has total access - they can change your email, your password, and lock you out of the account you built. If the working relationship sours, or if their computer gets hacked, your account is immediately vulnerable. You have zero recourse.

Lack of Accountability and Control

With an official team member setup, you can remove someone's access instantly. If you share a password, the only way to revoke access is to change it. But what if they change it first? The official method through the Business Center also lets you see who did what, which provides accountability for your team.

TikTok Algorithm &, Login Warnings

TikTok's algorithm monitors account activity closely. A single account being logged into from multiple devices in different geographic locations can sometimes trigger red flags. This could lead to temporary suspensions or security warnings that disrupt your workflow. Using an authorized method like the Business Center is recognized by the platform as legitimate collaboration.

While sharing a password with a highly trusted friend or family member for a personal account might feel low-risk, for any brand, business, or serious creator, it's an unprofessional practice that invites trouble down the line.

Final Thoughts

Granting someone admin access to your TikTok account is a vital step in scaling your content strategy and reclaiming your time. By using the TikTok Business Center, you can securely add team members, agencies, or managers with clearly defined roles, ensuring everyone has the access they need without compromising the security and ownership of your account.

Once you bring on new team members, keeping everyone aligned on content calendars, scheduled posts, and audience engagement across multiple platforms can feel like a challenge. For our own team at Postbase, we wanted a seamless way to collaborate on content, which is why we built in simple team features. Seeing your entire content plan on one visual calendar means your new TikTok manager can see exactly what's scheduled, get feedback on drafts, and manage everything without confusion or spreadsheet chaos.