Short answer: a Spark Ads code lets a brand run your TikTok post as an ad from your account without your login. On the post, tap the three dots, then Ad settings, then Generate, and send the code to the brand, who adds it in TikTok Ads Manager. Agree on the authorization period first, and don't delete the post or make it private while the ad runs.
What a Spark Ad is
A Spark Ad promotes an existing organic post. The ad shows your account and your post, so likes and follows go to your account. The brand pays for the promotion; you grant permission through a code. TikTok's help on managing accounts in Business Center (as of 17 September 2026) describes the related "Deliver ads" permission as authorizing use of "a TikTok account's identity and its posts for paid campaigns, most notably Spark Ads."
Generating the code
TikTok's Spark Ads creation guide (as of 17 September 2026) gives the creator steps:
- Open the TikTok app and go to the video.
- Tap the three dots on the video.
- Tap Ad settings.
- Tap Generate to get the post code.
The guide notes there is "an authorization period for you to review beneath each post." Creator platforms also describe an account-level switch first: Billo's help center, for example, says to go to Settings > Creator tools > Ad settings and turn ad authorization on, then choose a duration for the code (Billo, as of 17 September 2026). Menu names can change between app versions.
What happens on the brand's side
| Step | Who | Detail from TikTok's guide |
|---|---|---|
| Add code | Brand | Paste into the TikTok posts section via Add post |
| Batch | Brand | Up to 20 video codes at a time |
| Run ad | Brand | Uses your post in their campaign |
| Remove | Brand | A video code can only be deleted once all ads using it are deleted |
Agree these before you send a code
| Item | Why |
|---|---|
| Authorization period | Sets how long the brand can run your post |
| Fee for paid usage | Paid usage is often priced separately from the video |
| Disclosure | The post should be disclosed as paid |
| Comment handling | Ads draw comments on your post |
| What happens after | Whether the post stays up |
The FTC says that for videos, "the disclosure should be in the video and not just in the description" (FTC). Track codes and periods alongside your other work in the deliverables schedule.
While the ad is running
- Keep the post public and don't delete it; Billo's guide flags this too.
- Don't edit the caption unless the brand agrees.
- Keep your account in good standing. An ad depends on the post staying available.
For other ways brands can access your account, see posting on a brand account.
Posting the organic video first
A Spark code needs a live post. If you schedule the organic post with Farmero, it goes up through the real TikTok app on your iPhone, with per-post settings such as who can view and comments applied and read back, and is marked posted only once it appears on your profile. Generate the code in the app afterwards. See posting.
FAQ
Does a Spark Ads code give the brand my password?
No. It authorizes a specific post for ads; the brand never gets your login.
How long does a Spark Ads code last?
You choose from the authorization periods the app offers; agree the length with the brand before generating it.
Can a brand use my code on more than one ad?
A code can be used in the brand's ads, and TikTok says it can only be deleted once all ads using it are deleted. Agree scope in your contract.
Can I delete my video during a Spark Ad?
You shouldn't. The ad runs on your post, so deleting it or making it private breaks the campaign.