How to Change My TikTok from Business to Creator

Frustrated because you can’t use that trending sound on your TikTok video? You’re likely on a Business Account, and switching to a Creator Account is the fix. This guide will walk you through exactly how to change your TikTok from a Business to a Creator account, why the type of music you can access is so different, and the pros and cons of making the switch so you can make the right call for your brand.

Understanding the Core Difference: Creator vs. Business Accounts

Before you tap any buttons, it’s good to understand why TikTok even has different account types. It boils down to one major thing: commercial use. A Business Account is designed for brands, retailers, and organizations that are using TikTok as a marketing channel to promote products or services. A Creator Account is for individuals - public figures, artists, and influencers - who are building a personal brand.

This single distinction impacts the features you get, especially the all-important music library.

TikTok Creator Account: The Pros

This is the standard "full-experience" TikTok account that gives you the best tools for organic growth and personal brand building.

• Unrestricted Music Access: This is the number one reason people switch. Creator Accounts have access to the entire general music library, which includes millions of popular, trending, and copyrighted songs. You can hop on any sound, duet any video, and participate fully in TikTok’s audio-driven trends.
• Monetization Opportunities: Creator Accounts are eligible for TikTok’s monetization features. This includes the TikTok Creator Fund (where you get paid for views), Creator Marketplace (for brand collaborations), tips, and video gifts. A Business Account is not eligible for these programs.
• Creator-Centric Analytics: Your analytics dashboard is tailored to tracking personal performance. You'll see data on follower growth, video views over time, profile views, and demographic information about who is watching your content - all geared toward helping you understand what resonates with your audience.

TikTok Business Account: The Pros (and a Big Con)

A Business Account gives you tools designed for advertising and selling but imposes some serious creative limitations.

• The Commercial Music Library: This is the major drawback. Because businesses are using TikTok for commercial gain, they cannot legally use copyrighted and popular music in their marketing without a specific (and very expensive) commercial license. To protect both its users and itself from copyright infringement lawsuits, TikTok limits Business Accounts to the Commercial Music Library. This library is free to use but contains only royalty-free tracks and generic sounds. You won’t find Drake, Taylor Swift, or the latest trending audio clip here.
• Advertising Tools: This is the main benefit. Business accounts get access to the full TikTok Ads Manager, allowing them to run professional ad campaigns, target specific audiences, and track conversions.
• Business-Specific Features: You get access to things like the Business Creative Hub, which provides tips and showcases for brand content. You can also add an email address to your profile and often get access to newer commercial features first.
• Link in Bio: While creators with over 1,000 followers can add a link in their bio, Business Accounts can often add one immediately, which is useful for directing traffic to a shop or website.

Creator vs. Business Account: A Side-by-Side Look

Sometimes seeing it all laid out makes the decision easier. Here’s a quick-glance comparison to help you decide.

Music Library

• Creator: Full access to millions of popular and trending songs.
• Business: Limited to the restrictive, royalty-free Commercial Music Library.

Monetization

• Creator: Eligible for the Creator Fund, brand deals via Creator Marketplace, and features like Tips and Video Gifts.
• Business: Not eligible for built-in monetization programs. Your revenue comes from selling your own products or services.

Profile Link

• Creator: Can add a website link after reaching 1,000 followers.
• Business: Can add a website link immediately, regardless of follower count.

Analytics

• Creator: Focused on content performance, follower trends, and audience engagement.
• Business: Includes more conversion-focused metrics, such as button clicks and traffic analysis, alongside standard metrics.

Best For…

• Creator: Influencers, public figures, artists, experts, and anyone building a personal brand who wants to engage with trends.
• Business: Registered companies, e-commerce stores, service providers, and organizations using TikTok primarily for advertising and direct marketing.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Switch from Business to Creator

Convinced that a Creator Account is the right move? The process is simple and only takes a minute. One important thing to note: in TikTok’s recent updates, you'll actually be switching to a "Personal Account." Don't worry - a personal account now includes all the creator tools you’re looking for. It's just a change in labeling.

Here’s exactly how to do it:

1. Open the TikTok App: Launch the app and go to your profile by tapping the 'Profile' icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. Access the Menu: Tap the three horizontal lines (the "hamburger menu") in the top-right corner to open up your settings.
3. Go to 'Settings and Privacy': From the menu that appears, select the 'Settings and privacy' option.
4. Select 'Account': This is the first option at the top of the list. Tap on it.
5. Tap 'Switch to Personal Account': Inside the Account settings, you'll see the option 'Switch to Personal Account'. This is the button you need to tap to move away from the Business Account restrictions.
6. Confirm Your Choice: TikTok will show you a confirmation screen explaining what you'll lose (like business-only features) and what you'll gain (like access to the full sound library). Tap 'Switch anyway' to confirm your decision.

And that's it! Your account is now a Personal/Creator account. You should immediately have access to the general music library and be able to use any trending sound you want.

What to Consider Before and After You Switch

Making the change is easy, but it's not without consequences. Here are a few things to keep in mind.

Before You Switch:

• Download Your Data: You will lose access to the Business Suite and some of your past analytics data that was specific to the business account type. If you have any campaign data or metrics you need to save, it's a good idea to screenshot or download it before you make the switch.
• Will It Affect Your Brand Perception? For most, the answer is no. TikTok is a creator-driven platform. Appearing as a creator often makes a brand feel more authentic and approachable. However, if you are a large, formal corporation, you may want to stick with the Business designation.

After You Switch:

• Monetization Is Not Instant: While you become eligible for things like the Creator Fund, you still need to meet the follower and view requirements (e.g., at least 10,000 followers and 100,000 video views in the last 30 days for the Creator Fund).
• Rethink Your Sound Strategy: Congratulations, you have the full music library! Now you can fully participate in audio trends. Revisit your content strategy to incorporate popular sounds, which can give your videos a significant organic boost.
• Third-Party Apps: If you use external social media management tools to schedule posts to TikTok, you may need to re-authenticate or reconnect your account after changing its type.

Final Thoughts

Switching your TikTok from a Business to a Creator account is a straightforward process that instantly unlocks the platform's full creative potential, most notably by granting you access to the entire music library and monetization features. The sacrifice is losing business-specific tools and ad-focused analytics, a trade-off that is well worth it for anyone focused on organic growth, community building, and engaging with cultural trends.

Whether you’re operating as a creator or brand, consistent content is what fuels growth on TikTok. Juggling video ideas, trending audio, and a consistent posting schedule can feel overwhelming. Planning your entire social calendar ahead of time, all from one clean visual view, is why we built Postbase. We designed it for the way social media actually works today - focused on short-form video for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts - so you can schedule your content once, publish it everywhere, and get back to creating without the administrative headache.