How to link an existing TikTok account in Business Center for ad delivery

Last updated: March 2026

Linking an existing TikTok account to your Business Center is the key to unlocking its content for your advertising campaigns, particularly for running high-performing Spark Ads. This process creates a secure connection that grants your Business Center permission to use the account's identity and posts for ads, without needing direct login credentials.


Note: Each TikTok account can be linked to up to 800 Business Centers for ad delivery. Each Business Center can link to up to 800 TikTok accounts for ad delivery.


Before you begin

  • Ensure you are a member with Admin access to the Business Center.

  • The user with access to the TikTok account must be ready to scan a QR code to approve the linkage.


How to link an existing TikTok account in Business Center for ad delivery

  1. Log in to your TikTok Business Center account.

  2. Click Accounts in the left-hand menu.

  3. Click TikTok accounts.

  4. Click Add a TikTok Account, choose Link an existing TikTok account and Send a QR code. Then click Next.

  5. Select Deliver ads as the permission level.

  6. This permission is specifically for using the account in advertising campaigns and does not grant broader management capabilities.

  7. Specify the exact advertising permissions required, then click Next to generate the QR code. This step is crucial for defining exactly what your ad team can do. Carefully review and select the permissions you need:

    • Existing posts: This permission allows you to pull existing posts from your TikTok account for ad delivery.

    • Publish and manage new videos: This permission allows you to push new content to your TikTok account.

      • Show through ads only (Recommended): Videos get paid traffic (formerly "ads-only mode") and are hidden from organic traffic. Turn on this permission to prevent members from publishing posts that appear on the profile. Members assigned this permission won't be able to toggle off the "Show through ads only" setting in Ads Manager when creating Spark Ads by pushing content to this TikTok account from any linked ad account.

      • Show on TikTok profile and in ads: Videos get both paid and organic traffic. Turn on this permission to allow members to publish posts that appear on the profile. Members assigned this permission will be able to toggle the "Show through ads only" setting on or off in Ads Manager when creating Spark Ads by pushing content to this TikTok account from any linked ad account.

    • LIVE videos: This permission allows you to access LIVE videos.

      • Exclusive LIVE GMV Max ad delivery permissions: This permission allows you to publish LIVE ads for the TikTok account using GMV Max.

    • Showcase: This permission allows you to access products from Showcase.

    • Message ads permissions: This permission allows you to manage features or settings related to TikTok Messaging Ads. Learn more about TikTok Messaging Ads.

    • Series permissions: This permission allows you to access TikTok Series.

    • Manage TikTok account in BC: This permission allows you to access account data and insights.

    • Note: To ensure that you can use the TikTok account to deliver Spark Ads, turn on Existing posts and Publish and manage new videos.

  8. Click Copy QR code to download and share the QR code with the TikTok account user.

  9. Guide the TikTok account user through approval.

On the TikTok mobile app, a user logged into the TikTok account will need to scan the QR code and give the Business Center authorization to the account. You can ask the TikTok account user to access the QR Code Scanner via the Profile page by following these steps:

  1. Log in to your TikTok account in your TikTok mobile app.

  2. Go to your Profile page.

  3. Tap the three dashes on the top right corner of your screen.

  4. Tap Your QR code.

  5. Tap the Scan icon on the top right corner of your screen.

  6. Scan the QR code to approve your request.


Once the TikTok account user grants authorization, the TikTok account will appear in your TikTok accounts tab within the Business Center. You will see Deliver ads listed in the Permissions column, indicating it is ready to be connected to an ad account for campaign delivery. Learn about how to link a TikTok account to ad accounts in TikTok Business Center.