The code is generated inside the TikTok app. The creator opens the video's settings, enables ad authorization under the app's ad settings, selects the specific post, chooses an authorization period, and copies the resulting code. The brand then redeems it in TikTok Ads Manager, which unlocks the video as Spark Ads creative — without ever giving the brand access to the creator's account.
Validity windows. Authorization is time-boxed: creators pick a period from 7 up to 365 days when generating the code, and can extend it before it lapses. Once the window closes, the code deactivates, any live ads using it stop delivering, and an expired code cannot be revived — the creator must issue a new one.
Scope and control. A code covers one video only. The creator keeps ownership of the post and can end the authorization, which halts the ads. For that reason, brands typically request the longest practical window and write the authorization period — alongside usage rights — into the creator agreement.
Why it matters for brands
Spark codes are the operational bottleneck of creator amplification: campaigns stall when codes arrive late or expire mid-flight. Teams that systematize code collection, track expiration dates, and contract for long authorization windows keep paid distribution running without renegotiating every renewal.