When TikTok sends you a promotional code by email, that code does nothing on its own until you manually activate it inside TikTok Ads Manager. Only spend that happens after activation counts toward the offer threshold. Any advertising spend you made before entering the code is excluded and will not be credited.
The activation window is 14 days from the date you receive the code. If you do not activate it within that period, the code expires unused.
What a TikTok Email Promotional Code Looks Like
TikTok sends promotional codes directly to advertisers via email in certain markets, including Vietnam, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand, as well as through managed sales relationships in other regions. The email will include:
- A promotional code string (a combination of letters and numbers)
- The offer details (for example, “Spend 10,000 JPY, Get 10,000 JPY”)
- The activation deadline (14 days from receipt)
- The spending window (how long you have after activation to meet the threshold)
Read the offer terms in the email carefully before activating. The spending window starts from the moment you activate the code, not from when the email was sent.
Before You Activate: What You Need Ready
Two things must be in place before you can successfully activate a promotional code in Ads Manager:
1. A funded ad account with a valid payment method
TikTok only issues promotional codes to advertisers who pre-load or credit their ad accounts in advance. Your account needs a positive cash balance before the code can be activated and before any qualifying spend can accumulate.
TikTok recommends funding your account with more than the minimum spend threshold. If your account balance drops to a point where it cannot cover your bid amount (for example, your bid is $3 but only $2 remains), TikTok will pause your ads before the full balance is spent. This could prevent you from reaching the qualifying threshold.
2. An approved, active Ads Manager account
Your account must be approved and in good standing. Promotional codes cannot be redeemed on accounts that are pending review, suspended, or in violation of TikTok’s advertising policies.
Step-by-Step: How to Activate Your Email Promotional Code
- Log in to TikTok Ads Manager
- Hover over the Tools tab at the top of the screen
- Click Payments under the Settings column
- On the Payment page, click the Redeem Coupon button in the upper-right corner
- Type or paste your promotional code exactly as it appears in the email
- Click Activate
If the code is valid, you will see a confirmation, and a progress bar will appear on your Ads Manager dashboard showing your qualifying spend tracking in real time.
What Happens Immediately After Activation
Once the code is activated:
- A progress bar appears on your Ads Manager homepage or in the coupon card (accessible via the ticket icon in the upper-right corner)
- Spend tracking begins at that exact moment
- Only advertising spend incurred after activation counts toward the offer threshold
- The Promotions page (Tools, Payments, Promotions) will show your coupon in the Available tab with its details, including the earning window and reward amount
Allow several hours for the spend calculations to catch up. If you have already met the spend threshold but have not yet received your credit, TikTok notes that calculation timing can cause a delay of several hours. The credit will appear in your account within one day of meeting the requirement.
How to Confirm Activation Was Successful
After entering the code, confirm it worked:
- Go to Tools, click Payments, then click the Promotions tab
- Click the Earning tab inside Promotions
Your coupon should appear here with your current qualifying spend progress. If the coupon is not visible in the Earning tab, the code may not have been accepted. Double-check for typos in the code string and retry.
You can also click the ticket icon in the upper-right corner of the Ads Manager dashboard. If the icon is visible and shows a coupon card, activation was successful.
Important Rules That Apply After Activation
Spending before activation does not count. This is the most important rule to understand. If you spent money in your account before entering the code, that spend is not retroactively credited. Only spend after the moment of activation is counted toward your offer.
You must activate before the 14-day deadline. The code is valid for 14 days from the date you receive it. After that, it expires and cannot be reactivated.
The spending window begins at activation. The window in which you must meet the threshold (commonly 30 or 31 days) starts from the moment the code is activated, not from when TikTok sent the email.
One code per account. Each promotional code can only be redeemed once per TikTok for Business account. If the account has already received a coupon, a new promotional code cannot be applied.
The offer is personal and non-transferable. Per TikTok’s coupon terms, the offer is valid only for the original recipient. Codes that have been forwarded or shared are not eligible.
Your account must remain compliant. If your account violates TikTok’s advertising policies after activation, TikTok reserves the right to withhold or withdraw the credit, even if you have already met the spend threshold.
After the Spend Threshold Is Met: Receiving Your Credit
Once your qualifying spend is confirmed:
- The credit typically appears in your Ads Manager account within one business day
- You will see it in the Payment page balance and in the Promotions page under the Available tab
- For manual payment accounts, the credit is applied before your cash balance on future campaign charges
- For automatic payment accounts, the credit is applied before your card is charged on the next campaign
You will not receive a notification when the credit is applied. Check the Promotions page to confirm it has arrived.
What to Do If the Code Is Not Working
If your promotional code is not activating:
- Confirm you are entering it within 14 days of receiving the email
- Check for any spaces, dashes, or formatting differences between the code in the email and what you typed
- Confirm your account is approved and your payment method is verified
- Make sure this is your first promotional code on this TikTok for Business account
- Try using a different browser if the Redeem Coupon button is unresponsive
If the code still does not activate after checking these points, contact TikTok Business Support with your account ID, the promotional code, and the original email you received.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does spending before code activation count toward the offer?
No. TikTok only counts advertising spend that occurs after the code is activated. Spend before activation is excluded from the qualifying threshold, even if it happened on the same day.
How long do I have to activate the code after receiving it?
You have 14 days from the date you received the promotional code email. After that, the code expires and cannot be redeemed.
Where is the Redeem Coupon button in Ads Manager?
Go to Tools, click Payments under the Settings column, and look for the Redeem Coupon button in the upper-right corner of the Payment page.
Can I activate a TikTok promotional code on a Business Center-created account?
No. Promotional credit programs for new advertisers are only available on self-serve SMB accounts created directly through TikTok Ads Manager. Business Center-created or Agency-created accounts are not eligible.
How do I know if my code worked?
After activation, go to Tools, Payments, Promotions, and click the Earning tab. Your coupon should appear there with your spending progress. You can also check for the coupon icon (ticket symbol) in the upper-right corner of your Ads Manager dashboard.
Can the same code be used on more than one account?
No. Each promotional code can only be redeemed once per TikTok for Business account. Codes that have already been applied to an account cannot be reused on a different account or a new ad account under the same login.
Source: How to Activate TikTok Ads Promotional Codes | TikTok Ads Promotional Codes | Promotions and Credits FAQ | TikTok Coupon Terms | New Advertiser Incentive Program
