Video is mandatory: text posts fail
TikTok's Content Posting API only accepts video publishes. A scheduled post without a video file (.mp4 / .mov) fails at the API with an unhelpful error, hours after you stopped thinking about it.
Auto-publish · Schedule · AI-native
Publish to TikTok automatically
TikTok's Content Posting API is video-first with a required privacy level on every publish. Content Drifter writes the caption, validates the video requirement up front, handles privacy per post, and includes TikTok on every plan including the free one.
Publish to 9 platforms with one workflow
- X
- Threads
- YouTube
- Bluesky
- TikTok
- AI voice match
- Gold-slot scheduling
- Branded image generation
- Closed-loop analytics
3 reasons publishing to TikTok manually is broken
Privacy level is required on every publish
Every API publish must declare a privacy level (public, followers, mutual friends, or private). Schedulers that hardcode "public" ship your test uploads to everyone.
The caption is a hook, not a summary
TikTok truncates captions after roughly one line in the feed. If the first 80 characters do not open a curiosity gap, the caption never gets expanded and the watch-time signal never compounds.
What changes once TikTok runs on autopilot
Video-required validation
The publish pipeline rejects non-video TikTok posts at the boundary with an actionable "add a video" error, before the item ever reaches the API.
Per-post privacy controls
Set a per-account privacy default when you connect TikTok, then override it per post from the calendar editor, stage a private test before going public.
Hook-first AI captions
Generation front-loads the hook into the first 80 characters and weaves 3-5 niche hashtags inline, inside the 2,200-character caption budget.
Agency plan publishing
TikTok auto-publishing is the Agency tier's exclusive network, via managed platform keys (no developer app or audit paperwork on your side).
The TikTok rules we enforce before publish
Every limit below comes from our platform-rules source of truth, the same validator the publish pipeline uses before dispatch.
- 2,200 character limit (content + hashtags combined)
- Up to 5 hashtags recommended
- Video: mp4, mov up to 4 GB, max 600s
- Video file required: image-only posts blocked at publish
- Video uploads only, no text-only or image-only posts. Content becomes the caption (2,200-char cap). 9:16 vertical, ~3s-600s, MP4/MOV up to 4 GB.
Publishing to TikTok, start to finish
- 1
Connect through the Content Posting API
TikTok authorises the account for direct posting and records what your account is permitted to publish, so a restriction shows up at connection time rather than as a failed post later.
- 2
Vertical video, checked before it queues
TikTok expects 9:16 and enforces duration and file size ceilings. Captions are counted against the platform limit with hashtags included, so a caption is never truncated at the point where the hook was.
- 3
Submitted, then confirmed after review
TikTok puts uploads through its own processing and review before they appear, so publishing is not instant. The pipeline submits at the slot and keeps polling until the post is live, and tells you if it is rejected instead of showing a success it cannot verify.
Frequently asked questions
How do I publish to TikTok automatically?
On Agency, connect TikTok via OAuth (managed keys, no developer app needed), attach a video (.mp4 / .mov, 9:16 vertical performs best), pick a privacy level or use your account default, and schedule or publish.
Is TikTok auto-posting allowed?
Yes, TikTok provides the official Content Posting API for authorized integrations. Content Drifter publishes through managed platform keys, and you can revoke access from your TikTok settings at any time.
Can I publish image or text-only posts to TikTok?
No, the Content Posting API used for third-party publishing is video-only. Content Drifter validates this before publish so a text-only TikTok post is caught at scheduling, not hours later at the API.
What are TikTok's video specs?
MP4 or MOV, up to 4 GB and 10 minutes via the API (practical minimum ~3 seconds). 9:16 vertical (1080×1920) is strongly preferred; other ratios get letterboxed. Captions cap at 2,200 characters including hashtags.
What plan includes TikTok auto-publishing?
Every plan. TikTok is not a paid add-on: it is on the free plan like all nine networks. The tier line is automation and volume, not networks. Hands-off auto-publishing of a scheduled video starts on Starter ($19/mo).
Related resources
Connect your TikTok account in 60 seconds
TikTok auto-publishing is included on the free plan, like every other network. Upgrade when you need more volume, not more platforms. No credit card to start.