TikTok Error Library
A complete reference of TikTok error codes in Publlish. Find out what each error means when a TikTok post fails and get step-by-step fixes for video upload failures, music errors, connection issues, and more.
TikTok has some of the most specific technical requirements of any platform — video specs, music licensing, and account type restrictions all create unique error scenarios. When a TikTok post fails in Publlish, this library tells you exactly what went wrong and how to fix it.
How to Find Your Error
Go to your Queue or Calendar in Publlish. Failed posts are flagged with a red error indicator. Click the failed post to see the full error message and any associated error code.
Authentication and Connection Errors
"TikTok access token invalid or expired"
What it means: Publlish's connection to your TikTok account has broken. TikTok tokens expire and need to be refreshed periodically.
Fix: Go to Channels, find your TikTok account, and click Refresh. You'll be redirected to TikTok to re-authorise Publlish. How to refresh a channel →
"Account not authorised — Business or Creator account required"
What it means: You're trying to connect or publish from a personal TikTok account. TikTok's API only supports Business and Creator account types for third-party publishing.
Fix: Switch your TikTok account to Business or Creator:
- Open TikTok app → Profile → hamburger menu → Settings and Privacy
- Tap Account → Switch to Business Account (or Creator Account)
- Complete the switch, then reconnect in Publlish
"Permission denied — insufficient scope"
What it means: When connecting TikTok, some permissions weren't granted to Publlish, leaving it without the access needed to publish.
Fix: Disconnect your TikTok account from Publlish and reconnect it. During the TikTok authorisation step, make sure you allow all permissions Publlish requests — don't skip or deny any.
Video Upload and Format Errors
"Video format not supported"
What it means: The video file format isn't accepted by TikTok's API.
Fix: Convert your video to MP4 format using H.264 video codec and AAC audio codec. This is TikTok's preferred format and the most reliable for publishing through Publlish.
"Video resolution too low"
What it means: Your video doesn't meet TikTok's minimum resolution requirement.
Fix: TikTok requires a minimum resolution of 720p. 1080p (1080 x 1920px for vertical video) is recommended. Re-export your video at a higher resolution before uploading.
"Video aspect ratio not supported"
What it means: TikTok strongly prefers 9:16 vertical video. While 1:1 is supported, other ratios may be rejected or displayed incorrectly.
Fix: Re-edit your video to a 9:16 (1080 x 1920px) aspect ratio. This is the standard TikTok format and will perform best on the platform. Use a video editor to crop or add background blur to fill the frame.
"Video file too large"
What it means: Your video exceeds TikTok's file size limit.
Fix: TikTok supports videos up to 1GB via API. If your file is larger, compress it using a video compression tool. Reducing bitrate or exporting at 1080p instead of 4K will significantly reduce file size without visible quality loss. Video troubleshooting guide →
"Video duration too short" or "Video duration too long"
What it means: Your video falls outside TikTok's duration limits for API publishing.
Fix:
- Minimum: 3 seconds
- Maximum via Publlish API: 10 minutes (though TikTok native allows up to 60 minutes for some accounts)
Trim your video to fit within these bounds before uploading.
"Video upload timeout"
What it means: The video file took too long to upload, and the connection timed out before it completed.
Fix:
- Check your internet connection speed — large video files require a stable, reasonably fast connection
- Try compressing the video to reduce file size before uploading
- If the problem persists, try uploading at a different time when your connection is less congested
"Video processing failed on TikTok's end"
What it means: The video uploaded to Publlish successfully but TikTok failed to process it on their side. This is a TikTok-side error, not a Publlish issue.
Fix: Wait a few minutes and try resubmitting the post. If the error persists, try re-exporting the video from your editing software and uploading the fresh file. Check TikTok's status page if you suspect a platform outage.
Music and Audio Errors
"Sound not available for Business Accounts"
What it means: The TikTok sound or music track you've selected is only available for personal accounts — not Business Accounts. TikTok has a separate Commercial Music Library for Business Accounts.
Fix: Switch to a sound from TikTok's Commercial Music Library, which is available for Business Account use. Alternatively, use original audio (your own recorded sound) which has no licensing restrictions.
This is one of the most common TikTok errors for agency and brand accounts. Build a habit of only using Commercial Music Library sounds for client content.
"Audio track unavailable in this region"
What it means: The sound you've selected isn't licensed for use in the region where your TikTok account is based.
Fix: Select a different sound that's available in your account's region. Music licensing on TikTok is territory-specific — a sound available in the US may not be available in the UK or India.
"Original audio only — music not permitted"
What it means: Your TikTok account type or category doesn't permit the use of copyrighted music. This can happen with certain Business Account categories.
Fix: Use original audio only for this account. If music is important for your content strategy, review your TikTok Business Account category — some categories have broader music access than others.
Caption and Content Errors
"Caption too long"
What it means: Your TikTok caption exceeds the platform's character limit.
Fix: TikTok captions support up to 2,200 characters via API. Shorten your caption and reschedule. Note that while 2,200 characters is the limit, captions over 150 characters are truncated in the feed — shorter captions generally perform better.
"Hashtag count exceeded"
What it means: You've used more hashtags than TikTok allows in a single post.
Fix: Reduce your hashtags. TikTok's practical limit via API is around 30 hashtags, but best practice for engagement is 3–6 highly relevant hashtags rather than the maximum.
"Content policy violation"
What it means: TikTok's content moderation has flagged the video or caption as potentially violating its Community Guidelines.
Fix: Review your content against TikTok's Community Guidelines. Common triggers include:
- Content featuring regulated products (supplements, financial products)
- Political content
- Content featuring minors
- Misleading or false claims
If you believe the flagging is in error, you can appeal through TikTok directly. Publlish cannot override TikTok's content decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my TikTok post keep failing in Publlish? The most common causes are: expired connection token (fix: refresh the channel), wrong video format (fix: use MP4 at 9:16), or a music licensing error (fix: use Commercial Music Library sounds). Check the specific error message in your queue for the exact cause.
How do I fix "sound not available for Business Accounts" on TikTok? Switch to a sound from TikTok's Commercial Music Library. Personal account sounds (including many trending sounds) are not licensed for Business Account use. Using TikTok with Publlish →
Can I post TikTok videos longer than 60 seconds through Publlish? Yes — TikTok allows up to 10 minutes via the API. Videos under 60 seconds are classified as standard TikToks; longer videos are also supported.
My TikTok account is connected but videos aren't publishing — what do I do? Try refreshing the channel connection first. If that doesn't work, check the specific error code in your failed post and refer to this library. If you're not seeing an error code, contact Publlish support. Refreshing a channel →
Why is my TikTok connection breaking frequently? TikTok token expiry is more aggressive for personal accounts than Business or Creator accounts. If you're on a personal account, switching to Business will result in more stable connections. Best practices for keeping channels connected →