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Troubleshooting TikTok Spark Ads permissions in Motion

Learn how to diagnose and fix common TikTok Spark Ads permission issues in Motion.

Joel Charboneau avatar
Written by Joel Charboneau
Updated this week

Common symptoms

You may be experiencing a permissions issue if:

  • Spark ad previews don't load in Motion

  • You can't find the post when setting up an ad

  • A preview that worked yesterday is now gone

  • The TikTok handle in ad identity is incorrect

  • The post is visible in TikTok but not in Ads Manager

Root causes

Most Spark Ads permission issues stem from:

  • Missing Business Center permissions

  • No authorization code applied or code has expired

  • Wrong Identity toggle in ad setup

  • Code revoked by creator

  • TikTok account not properly linked

  • Expired or revoked permissions

Step-by-step troubleshooting

1: Verify Business Center setup

  1. Go to TikTok Business Center

  2. Navigate to Assets, then TikTok Accounts

  3. Confirm the TikTok handle is added

  4. Go to Assets, then Ad Accounts

  5. Ensure the TikTok account is shared to your ad account with Ad Delivery permission

If the account is not shared correctly, Spark ads will fail to show in Motion, even if everything else looks right.

2: Check authorization codes

If you're using creator content or the video code method:

Creator steps:

  1. Open the TikTok App and go to the post

  2. Tap "..." then Ad Settings

  3. Verify "Ad authorization" is toggled on

  4. Check the authorization expiration date

  5. If expired, tap "Generate code" and choose a longer duration (30, 60, or 365 days recommended)

Advertiser steps:

  1. In TikTok Ads Manager, go to Assets, then Creative

  2. Select the Spark Ads posts tab

  3. Verify the post appears in your authorized posts

  4. If missing, click "Apply for Authorization" and enter the new code

Note: Authorization codes can expire or be revoked at any time, which will remove the post from Motion.

3: Verify Identity settings

When creating or editing a Spark Ad in TikTok Ads Manager:

  1. In the Identity section, ensure "Use TikTok account to deliver Spark Ads" is toggled on

  2. Verify the correct TikTok handle is selected

  3. Do not select "Custom Identity" even if it looks similar

  4. If the wrong handle is selected, the post will not appear in Motion

4: Refresh Motion

Once all permissions are corrected:

  1. Perform a hard refresh in Motion

  2. Mac: Command + Shift + R

  3. PC: Ctrl + Shift + R

This clears cached data and reloads with updated access.

5: Wait for sync

New Spark Ads may take time to appear due to Motion's scheduled sync intervals. If you've corrected all permissions, allow up to one sync cycle for the ads to appear.

Issue-specific fixes:

Can't find post in Creative Library

Cause: Authorization code wasn't generated or has expired

Fix: Ask the creator to generate a new code with a longer duration (60 or 365 days recommended), then apply it in Ads Manager under Assets > Creative > Spark Ads posts.

Wrong TikTok handle showing

Cause: Identity not set properly in ad creation

Fix: In TikTok Ads Manager ad setup, set Identity to the correct TikTok handle. Do not use Custom Identity.

Preview worked but is now gone

Cause: Authorization code expired or was revoked

Fix:

  1. Ask the creator to re-authorize the post

  2. Generate a new code with a longer expiration

  3. Reapply the code in Ads Manager

  4. Hard refresh Motion

Post visible in TikTok but not in Ads Manager

Cause: Business Center never shared the TikTok account to your ad account

Fix:

  1. Go to TikTok Business Center

  2. Navigate to Assets, then TikTok Accounts

  3. Select your TikTok account

  4. Click "Share" and choose your ad account

  5. Enable Ad Delivery permission

Spark Ads not appearing in Motion at all

Cause: Missing Business Center permissions or TikTok account not linked

Fix:

  1. Verify your TikTok Business Account is added in Business Center

  2. Confirm it's shared to your ad account with proper permissions

  3. Check that authorization codes are active (if applicable)

  4. Trigger a hard refresh in Motion

  5. Wait for the next scheduled sync

Still having issues?

If you've completed all troubleshooting steps and Spark Ads still aren't appearing:

Try these additional steps:

  • Re-generate authorization codes with maximum duration (365 days)

  • Remove and re-add the TikTok handle in Business Center

  • Double-check that the selected identity is accurate in TikTok Ads Manager

  • Verify your TikTok account is a Business Account, not a Personal Account

Contact Motion Support: If issues persist, reach out to Motion Support with the following information:

  • TikTok account handle

  • Ad account ID

  • Specific ad names or IDs that aren't appearing

  • Screenshots of Business Center permissions

We can help investigate deeper access issues.

Prevention tips

To avoid Spark Ads permission issues:

  • Use 60 or 365-day authorization periods when generating codes

  • Regularly audit Business Center permissions

  • Always set Identity to the correct TikTok handle in ad creation

  • Document which authorization method you're using for each campaign

  • Train team members on proper Spark Ads setup procedures code + confirm BC sharing

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