When a TikTok ad preview fails in Motion, it almost always comes down to one of three things:
TikTok isn’t exposing the creative correctly (permissions/account access problem)
The ad format has preview limitations in Motion
Motion’s TikTok connection or local cache needs a refresh
This guide covers the main TikTok ad formats that appear in Motion and how to troubleshoot missing ad previews.
Step 1 - Check if your TikTok ad/campaign format is supported in Motion
Some TikTok formats are fully supported for previews, some only pull in data.
Use this table to check if you ad type/campaign is supported in Motion:
TikTok ad type/campaign | Support in Motion | What this means for previews |
Standard in-feed video ads | Fully supported | Previews will work if TikTok is set up correctly |
Single-video Spark Ads | Partially supported | Motion supports previews for Spark Ads, but they fail easily when Spark authorization or Business Center permissions are incorrect or expired. |
TikTok Shop/specialty formats / Live | Partially supported | Often data only, no previews in Motion |
Non-Spark Carousel | Partially supported | Motion can ingest performance data; preview availability depends on TikTok’s rendering and isn’t guaranteed for all carousel setups. |
Smart+ (non-2.0) | Partially supported | Previews may work; behavior varies by setup |
Spark Carousel | Not supported | Performance data may pull in; previews are not available. |
Smart+ 2.0 | Not supported | No previews in Motion |
If your campaign type is not supported → you won't get a preview in Motion.
If it’s supported/partially supported → continue with the steps below.
Step 2 – Fix TikTok account access in TikTok's Business Center
Every ad preview in Motion relies on TikTok’s Business Center setup being correct. If TikTok doesn’t let your ad account use a TikTok profile for ad delivery, the preview fails.
You'll need to verify these three things:
The TikTok account is added to Business Center with ad delivery permissions
That TikTok account is linked to the correct ad account(s)
Your members have the permissions to use existing posts / publish videos
Make sure the TikTok account has ad delivery permissions:
Log in to TikTok Business Center.
In the left sidebar, go to Accounts → TikTok accounts.
If the account you’re trying to use is missing:
Click Add a TikTok Account
Choose Request ad delivery permissions
Follow the prompts, generate the QR code, and have the TikTok account owner approve it in the app
The approval step is what actually grants Business Center permission to use that TikTok account for ad delivery.
Link the TikTok account to the right ad account(s)
Even with ad delivery permissions, the account must be linked to your ad accounts:
Still in Business Center, go to Accounts → TikTok accounts.
Find the TikTok account you want to use and click View (under Ad delivery assets).
Open the Link accounts tab.
Click Link accounts → Advertiser accounts.
Select the ad account(s) you use for these campaigns and click Confirm.
If this link is missing, Ads Manager can’t use that TikTok account identity, and Motion won’t get a preview.
Check member permissions on that TikTok account
Finally, make sure all users setting up campaigns have the right permissions:
In the same TikTok account view, open the Members tab.
Click Assign a new member or edit an existing one.
For each person running TikTok ads, make sure permissions include at minimum:
Ability to use existing posts for ads
Ability to publish/manage videos as ads
Click Save.
If the account is added, linked, but the user doesn’t have “existing posts” access, they won’t be able to use posts in ads, and previews can fail.
Step 3 - Check the ad’s Identity settings (applies to any ad using a TikTok account)
Identity determines which TikTok account the ad is using.
TikTok provides three Identity modes:
Use account owned by you
Use other authorized account or post
Custom Identity (name/logo only; not tied to any TikTok profile)
To verify:
Open TikTok Ads Manager → edit the ad.
Scroll to Identity.
Confirm:
If you want the ad tied to an actual TikTok profile (brand or creator), choose Use account owned by you or Use other authorized account or post.
For Spark Ads, Identity cannot be Custom Identity.
Ensure the selected TikTok account matches the account containing or authorizing the creative.
Motion won't generate a valid preview if Identity points to an incorrect account or uses a generic Custom Identity that doesn't correspond to the actual TikTok profile containing the video.
Step 4 - Extra checks for Spark Ads specifically (only if this ad is Spark)
Spark Ads have two additional TikTok requirements:
The post must be authorized for Spark use
Identity must use a TikTok account with Spark authorization
Confirm the Spark post is authorized
Ask the creator/account owner to:
Open the TikTok app → go to the specific video.
Tap •••
Tap Ad settings / Ad authorization
Turn on Ad authorization
Generate the video code
Select an authorization duration (TikTok offers fixed options in-app)
Send you the code
Then in Ads Manager:
Go to Assets → Creative → Spark Ads posts
Click Apply for Authorization
Paste the video code
Confirm
Ensure the post now appears in Spark Ads posts
If the post doesn’t appear or the code is expired → TikTok will not treat it as Spark, and Motion will not receive a Spark preview.
If the post never shows there, or the code has expired, TikTok will not treat it as a Spark creative and Motion won’t see a Spark preview.
Identity must match the authorized post
For Spark Ads:
Go to the ad’s Identity section
Choose:
Use account owned by you, or
Use other authorized account or post
Select the exact authorized post or account
Do not use Custom Identity, as Custom Identity cannot produce a Spark Ad
Step 5 — Refresh Motion after completing TikTok fixes
Once TikTok setup is correct (account access + ad account link + Identity + Spark auth if applicable), you'll need to refresh the Motion connection.
Hard refresh your browser
This forces the browser to reload preview assets:
Mac: Command + Shift + R
Windows: Ctrl + Shift + R
Reconnect your TikTok profile in Motion (if needed)
If previews still fail:
In Motion: Workspace Settings → My connections
Find your TikTok profile
Click ••• → Disconnect
Click Connect and re-authenticate
This re-initiates Motion’s access token session.
Still stuck...? Here's when to hit that chat bubble:
Before contacting Motion Support, double check these TikTok-side requirements:
The ad format is supported or partially supported in Motion
The TikTok account:
Has ad delivery permissions requested in Business Center (with existing posts + Publish and manage new videos enabled)
Is linked as an ad delivery asset to the correct ad account(s)
The Spark post (if applicable):
Has a valid video code generated in the app
Appears in Spark Ads posts in Ads Manager
Identity is:
Using Use account owned by you or Use other authorized account or post
Not using Custom Identity for a Spark ad
You’ve hard-refreshed Motion and, if needed, reconnected TikTok as a data source
When you reach out, please include:
Your TikTok ad account ID
The Ad ID and creative ID
Screenshots of:
TikTok Business Center: TikTok account’s Ad delivery assets + member permissions
TikTok Ads Manager: the ad’s Identity section
TikTok Ads Manager: the post visible in Spark Ads posts (if Spark)
At that point, we can check if you’ve hit a bug or there’s still something missing in your TikTok configuration.