How to use TikTok's Direct Post API without doing your own app audit

Step by step

1. Create a free PostWire account

   Open postwire.io/dashboard.html, type your email and press Create my free account. PostWire emails you a link to confirm the address; connecting accounts and publishing unlock once it is confirmed. No password and no card (free plan: 1 business, 20 posts a month, 5 AI drafts a day (about 20 a month), 2 networks per post, 3 scheduled posts at a time — every network connects free, no card).

2. Connect the TikTok account

   For your own account: Accounts → Connect → Continue to TikTok. For a client or end user: create a one-hour connect link (POST /api/connect-link, or the dashboard's Generate connect link) and send it — they sign in on TikTok, never sharing a password.

3. Copy your API key

   In the dashboard, open API & MCP and press Copy key on the API key card. It is sent as Authorization: Bearer pw_live_… (the X-API-Key header also works). Keep it server-side.

4. Upload the video (or use a public URL)

   Files over 50 MB upload in parts. Up to 1 GB.

   POST /api/media/upload-url   {"content_type":"video/mp4","size_bytes":48211234}
   → {"path":"…","upload_url":"…"}         # then PUT the bytes to upload_url
   GET  /api/media/finalize?path=…
   → {"ok":true,"media_url":"https://postwire.io/m/…"}

5. Publish publicly with Direct Post

   Set privacy explicitly; without it the post is private (SELF_ONLY).

   curl -X POST https://postwire.io/api/post \
     -H "Authorization: Bearer pw_live_…" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
     -d '{"platforms":["tiktok"],"video_url":"https://postwire.io/m/…","text":"Three steps instead of nine.","privacy":"public","options":{"tiktok":{"disable_duet":false,"disable_stitch":false}}}'

6. Poll until TikTok finishes processing

   GET /api/post/status?platform=tiktok&id=… returns the state and, once live, the link. Add "instagram", "youtube" or "linkedin" to platforms to send the same post to those networks in the same call.

TikTok's Direct Post rules still apply to every post: the creator's privacy options, comment/duet/stitch settings, and the disclosure toggles (brand_organic_toggle, branded_content_toggle — branded content can't be private). PostWire also accepts TikTok photo posts of up to 35 images.