How to Link a TikTok Account to Ads Manager

Running TikTok ads without linking your account to your Ads Manager means missing out on powerful advertising tools. You get data, but you miss out on a feature that makes TikTok's platform special: the ability to supercharge your best organic posts. We're going to walk through exactly how to connect your TikTok account to your Business Center, from start to finish, so you can stop running generic ads and start building real community engagement and results.

The Why: Power Up Your Ads with Spark Ads & Better Data

You might be wondering, "Why bother? My ads are running just fine." Fair question. Technically, you can run ads (we call these "Non-Spark Ads") without ever connecting your organic TikTok Profile. These ads use a ghost account with a generic profile picture and don't link back to your actual content hub.

They work, but they feel like traditional advertisements. They interrupt, they sell, and then they disappear. Linking your account unlocks Spark Ads, and that's a whole different game.

Spark Ads allow you to use your own organic TikTok posts as the creative in your campaigns. Instead of creating a new video from scratch inside Ads Manager, you boost content that has already proven to resonate with your audience. This has a few huge advantages:

• Authenticity and Social Proof: Spark Ads look and feel like native content because they are native content. They run directly from your profile, so any likes, comments, shares, and saves they get from the ad campaign are added directly to the original organic post. This builds massive social proof that stays with the video long after the ad campaign ends.
• Building Your Community: When someone sees your Spark Ad, they can tap your profile picture and immediately land on your TikTok page. This transforms an ad impression into a potential follower. Non-Spark Ads don't allow this, clicking the profile leads nowhere useful. Every ad dollar you spend is also an investment in growing your organic presence.
• Higher Engagement and Better Performance: Because Spark Ads are genuinely authentic content, they tend to perform far better. We're talking higher click-through rates (CTR), lower cost-per-click (CPC), and higher conversion rates. The TikTok algorithm already favors content that feels real, and viewers do, too. You're simply putting budget behind content that already works.
• Turn User-Generated Content (UGC) into Ads: With proper permission, you can even request access codes from other creators to use their organic posts as Spark Ads for your brand. This unlocks an entirely new level of trust and authenticity.

In short, linking your account is the first step toward running ads the TikTok way. It's about blending in with the culture of the platform, leveraging content that's already winning, and using your ad spend to simultaneously build a loyal long-term following.

How to Link Your TikTok Account to Business Center: A Step-by-Step Guide

The standard and most reliable way to connect your TikTok account is through the TikTok Business Center on a desktop. This process generates a QR code that authorizes the connection from your phone. It sounds a bit complicated, but if you follow these steps, you'll be done in under five minutes.

Step 1: Navigate to Your TikTok Business Center

First things first. Log in to your TikTok Business Center. If you run ads, you already have one of these. Once you're in, look at the left-hand navigation panel under the "Assets" section. You should see an option labeled "TikTok Accounts." Click it.

This screen will show any TikTok accounts that are already connected to your business. If it's your first time, this page will be empty. Don't worry, we're here to fix that.

Step 2: Add Your TikTok Account and Generate the QR Code

Look for a blue button that says "Add TikTok Account." Once you click it, a pop-up window will appear. This window is your gateway to initiating the link. TikTok gives you a few options here, but the most direct method is using the generated QR code.

The pop-up will show a QR code front and center. It only stays active for a few minutes, so have your phone ready for the next step. If it expires, you can just click to generate a new one.

Pro Tip: If the person who has access to the TikTok account isn't you, you can also generate a link to send them instead of using the QR code. But for most users doing this themselves, the QR code is the fastest path.

Step 3: Scan the Code Using Your TikTok Mobile App

Now, grab your phone and open the native TikTok app. Make sure you are logged into the exact account you want to link. This is a common trip-up - if you manage multiple accounts, double-check that you're in the right one first!

1. Go to your Profile page (the "Me" icon in the bottom right).
2. Tap the three-line menu icon (hamburger menu) in the top-right corner.
3. Select "Settings and privacy."
4. Near the top, you should see an option that says "QR Code." Tap it.
5. Your phone will show your personal QR code, but what you need is the scanner. In the top-right corner of this screen, tap the little scanner icon.

Your phone camera will open up. Simply point it at the QR code displayed on your desktop screen. It should recognize it instantly.

Step 4: Authorize the Connection

Once you scan the code successfully, a confirmation screen will slide up on your phone. It will say "[Your Business Center Name] wants to access your TikTok Account."

It will also outline the permissions you're granting, such as:

• Accessing your profile information.
• Accessing your public videos and content.
• Allowing use of your account for advertising (this is what enables Spark Ads).

Review the details and, when you're ready, tap the red "Authorize" button at the bottom. Once you do that, the pop-up on your desktop will refresh, showing that the account is now successfully linked to the Business Center. Congratulations, you’ve done the hard part!

Granting Permissions: The Final, Critical Step

Okay, your TikTok account is now connected to your Business Center. A lot of people stop here and assume they're done. But there's one final step that's absolutely essential: you need to assign permissions for that TikTok account to your Ad Account(s).

Think of it this way: the Business Center is the building, your TikTok Account is a person who just entered the building, and your Ad Account is a specific, locked room inside. You've brought the person into the building, but you haven't given them the key to the room they need to be in yet.

Here's how to hand over that key:

1. Back in your Business Center >, TikTok Accounts section, you will now see your newly added profile listed.
2. Check the box next to your TikTok account.
3. At the top of the table, you'll see a blue button that says "Assign new member." Here, 'member' means an Ad Account or another user. Click this button.
4. A new window will pop up. In the left-hand column, select the Ad Account you want to grant access to.
5. In the right-hand column, choose the level of permission. For running Spark Ads, you'll want to grant Operator or Admin access. Operator is usually sufficient.
6. Click the red "Assign" button.

That’s it! Now your Ad Account has official permission to access your TikTok account's organic posts. When you create a new campaign in Ads Manager, you can now toggle on "Use TikTok account to deliver Spark Ads," and you will be able to select from a library of your best-performing videos.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes things don't go perfectly. Here are a few common hiccups and how to fix them:

1. "I've linked the account, but it's not showing up when I try to create a Spark Ad."

This is almost always a permissions issue. You've completed the connection but missed the final step of assigning the Ad Account. Go back to the "Granting Permissions" section above and make sure your Ad Account has operator-level access to the TikTok profile.

2. "The QR code expired or isn’t working."

The code is time-sensitive. If you get delayed, simply close the QR pop-up on your desktop and click "Add TikTok Account" again to generate a fresh one. Also make sure there are no browser extensions interfering with the display.

3. "It says my TikTok account is already connected to another Business Center."

A single TikTok account can only be linked to one Business Center at a time. If it's connected to an old agency's account or a previous Business Center you set up, you will need to have them remove it from their end before you can add it to your new one.

4. "My post isn't appearing in the Spark Ad selection list."

To be used as a Spark Ad, an organic TikTok post must have the right "Ad Settings" enabled in the mobile app. Open the TikTok post you want to use, tap the three dots (...), go to "Ad settings," and make sure "Ad authorization" is toggled ON. You might also have to agree to the advertising terms and conditions here for the video.

Final Thoughts

Connecting your TikTok account to Ads Manager is a foundational step for any brand serious about advertising on the platform. It opens the door to running authentic, high-performing Spark Ads that build your community while driving conversions, truly aligning your paid and organic strategies.

We know that the best ads begin as incredible organic content, and keeping a steady stream of fresh videos ready for your audience and your Spark Ad campaigns is a huge challenge. That’s why we built Postbase. Our visual calendar lets you plan your TikToks alongside all your other social channels, and the simple scheduling makes sure your content goes live consistently, keeping your pipeline full so you always have killer posts ready to boost.