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 auto-publishes on Agency.
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 Content Drifter does for TikTok
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.
Platform specs we handle
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.
How it works in 3 steps
- 1
Connect your TikTok account
Open Platforms in your dashboard and complete OAuth. Disconnect anytime from the same screen.
- 2
We generate + format to TikTok's spec
Voice-Match drafts platform-native copy. Final Review validates character limits, media size, hashtags, and platform-specific rules before anything ships.
- 3
Auto-publish at your best time
Pick a Gold Slot or custom schedule. QStash jobs plus a safety-net cron fire the publish through the canonical pipeline when the slot arrives.
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?
Agency ($149/mo) — TikTok is the Agency-exclusive ninth network. Pro ($49/mo) covers YouTube, Pinterest, and Bluesky; Starter covers Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn; Free covers X and Threads.
Related resources
Connect your TikTok account in 60 seconds
Free plan includes X + Threads auto-publishing. Upgrade when you need TikTok on your schedule — no credit card to start.