Your campaign is scheduled, the budget is set, but suddenly you see the dreaded red status: “TikTok Ads Not Approved”. Is your campaign stuck at $0 spend because of a vague rejection notice? We know the panic. Every hour your ad sits in rejection is wasted revenue and missed trends. Is it the music? The landing page? Or a hidden policy update regarding AI content?
Don’t let a rejection stop your growth. In this guide, Mega Digital will show you 9 reasons behind the rejection, how to fix it quickly, and how to avoid it in the future!
QUICK SUMMARY
- TikTok ads often face rejection due to common policy violations involving inappropriate content, low-quality visuals, misleading claims, or copyright infringement.
- New regulations for 2026 mandate the clear labeling of all AI-generated content and synthetic media to prevent immediate campaign disapproval.
- A fully functional landing page that matches the ad creative is essential for passing the strict automated and manual review processes.
- This comprehensive guide analyzes nine specific reasons for disapproval and offers practical steps to fix issues and restore active status.
- Mega Digital recommends using a TikTok Agency Account to access priority support and expert guidance for navigating complex advertising policies.
What happens when your ads is not approved?
When your TikTok ad is not approved, your campaign won’t start, and you won’t spend any budget. You might see the status of the ad under TikTok Ads Manager as being “Not Approved,” usually with a note stating the reason. However, the note could be vague (e.g., “Ad Creative Violation”), making it hard to pinpoint the exact issue.
This disapproval then might affect your launching schedule, performance goals and promotion plans, especially where time-sensitive offers are your main focus. That’s why it’s important to quickly understand the issue, fix it, and get your ad back into review.
Why are your TikTok Ads not approved?
TikTok’s advertising policies are strictly enforced to protect user experience. Here are the 9 most common reasons why your TikTok ads are rejected in 2026:
1. Inappropriate content or imagery
TikTok has strict guidelines when it comes to inappropriate or offensive content. The most common examples of inappropriate content that could lead to ad rejection include explicit language, sexual content, and violence.
For instance, if you are advertising a beauty product, you cannot use sexualized or suggestive images in your ad. Similarly, if you are promoting a violent video game, you cannot show graphic depictions of violence.
How to solve
The review process can lead up to 24 hours; therefore, it is important that advertisers should check out TikTok Ad review checklist before making creatives. You can also visit the TikTok Creative Center to get ideas and examples of how a high-functioning ad works.
Mega Digital Case Study: Mr. S (Marketing Agency)
- Challenge: Mr. S managed a large volume of client accounts but faced recurring ad rejections and workflow inefficiencies that impacted campaign performance.
- Solution: Mega Digital provided a “Survival Kits Template”, a comprehensive guide including steps and best practices to troubleshoot and resolve common rejection issues.
- Result: Successfully streamlined workflow for the team and achieved consistent performance with a 2.8x ROAS.
2. Intellectual Property Policy
One major reason behind TikTok Ads Not Approved is violating intellectual property rights. TikTok ads cannot feature copyrighted and trademarked content without authorized approval.
Hence, ads with unlicensed music playing in the background, logos of brands, unauthorized photos of celebrities or other companies, or voiceovers of these are prohibited. Even having the TikTok logo or terms like “TikTok trending” in an ad without permission can also lead to rejection.
How to solve
To resolve this issue, review your ad creatives and landing page for any third-party content:
- Remove or replace copyrighted music, logos, brand mentions, or visuals you don’t own or have licensed.
- If you do have the rights, upload documentation in TikTok Ads Manager as proof. Stick to original content or use assets from TikTok’s Commercial Music Library to stay compliant.
3. Misleading claims or information
Another frequent cause of “TikTok Ads Not Approved” is exaggerated or deceptive messaging. Violations include promising unrealistic results (e.g. “Lose 10kg in 3 days”), using clickbait phrases that don’t reflect the actual product, displaying before-and-after images without evidence, or claiming health, financial, or performance outcomes that can’t be proven.
Even if the product works for some, overpromising or implying guaranteed success can lead to disapproval.
How to solve
- Double-check your ad copy and visuals for any exaggerated language, false guarantees, or misleading imagery.
- Remove words like “instant,” “guaranteed,” or “risk-free” unless you can legally back them up.
- Avoid using dramatic transformations or unverifiable claims.
- Keep your messaging transparent, supported by data.
4. Low-quality ads
TikTok may reject ads that are considered low quality. Even if your content is technically compliant, TikTok may consider its poor quality as untrustworthy or spammy, leading to disapproval.
This includes ads with blurry visuals, poor lighting, pixelated graphics, shaky camera work, distorted audio, or text that’s too small to read.
Expert Insight: TikTok prioritizes user experience above all else. If your ad looks like a resized TV commercial or spammy banner, it will likely be rejected. Spark Ads are often the safest route as they leverage organic, native-looking content that naturally fits the platform.
How to solve
- Make sure the footage is sharp, well-lit, and stable, with clear sound and legible on-screen text.
- Remove any jarring transitions, visual noise, or confusing edits.
- Use native-style video formats (9:16 vertical) that feel organic to TikTok’s feed.
Mega Digital Case Study: TikTap Challenge
- Challenge: The brand’s generic creatives were flagged as “Low Quality” (non-native, salesy), causing poor delivery and engagement on the For You Page.
- Solution: Mega Digital implemented Smart+ Campaigns with tROAS bidding and collaborated with TikTok One creators to scale native UGC production.
- Result: Day-0 ROAS reached 60–100% and the game achieved break-even by Day 4 (3 days ahead of schedule).
5. Invalid or Incomplete Website
All ads linking to external sites must direct users to valid, fully functioning, and mobile-friendly websites according to the TikTok Advertising Policy. If your URL leads to a 404 error, loads incorrectly on mobile, or in a state of disrepair or construction, it will likely be rejected.
A website that does not even provide essential information such as contact details, privacy policy, or return and refund policy is also deemed incomplete.
How to solve
- Check that it loads quickly and displays correctly on all devices.
- Include essential pages like Contact Information, Privacy Policy, and Return & Refund Policy, especially if you’re promoting a product or service.
- Avoid using placeholder sites, and double-check that the URL you provide is correct and working at the time of submission.
6. Ad creative inconsistency
“TikTok Ads Not Approved” can also happen when there’s a mismatch between your ad creative and the offer shown on your landing page. This inconsistency may be seen as deceptive because TikTok wants users to see a seamless and honest journey from ad to action.
Note for E-commerce: If you are running Video Shopping Ads (for TikTok Shop), ensure that the product showcased in the video matches the exact SKU pinned in the product anchor link. A mismatch between the video visual and the Product Detail Page (PDP) is a top reason for Shop ad rejection.
How to solve
- Make sure your ad visuals, messaging, and offers match exactly with what’s on your landing page. If you show a 50% discount, the same deal must be visible and accessible on the website.
- Align every element of your ad, from headline to CTA, with the user’s next step to maintain transparency and stay compliant.
7. Restricted or prohibited products/services
‘TikTok ads not approved’ is also a problem for ad creatives including or promoting restricted products. It’s important to understand that advertising certain types of products or services may not be allowed on the platform, such as tobacco, drugs, weapons, and adult content.
If your ad promotes any of these products or services, it is likely to be rejected, banned, or can even lead to the issues of your TikTok ad account suspended.
How to solve
- First, check TikTok’s advertising policies to see if your product is allowed. If it’s fully prohibited, you won’t be able to advertise it on the platform.
- If it’s restricted (e.g., Finance, Healthcare), you may still run ads but must follow specific rules. Contact Mega Digital for assistance with whitelisting restricted categories.
8. Language and Targeting Mismatch
If your ad uses a language that does not match your target audience, TikTok will most likely reject it. An ad written in Vietnamese but targeted towards U.S. users can be flagged. The same goes for slang, subtitles, or simply some phrases that do not seem to make sense to the local audience. TikTok considers this mismatch a violation of the localization rules.
How to solve
- Use the same language in the ad as the one spoken in the target region.
- If you are running ads in more than one country, make different ad versions for every language.
- Avoid mixing languages or using untranslated text.
9. Unlabeled AI-Generated Content
With the rise of Generative AI, TikTok has updated its policy to require transparency. Ads containing AI-generated content (AIGC) or “synthetic media” that depict realistic scenes must be clearly labeled.
Official Policy Insight: To ensure transparency, TikTok requires creators and advertisers to label AI-generated content (AIGC) that depicts realistic scenes. Failure to disclose synthetic media can result in immediate ad rejection or account suspension – TikTok Advertising Policy (2026 Update)
How to solve:
- Toggle the Label: When uploading your creative in Ads Manager, ensure you toggle the “AI-generated content” label if you used AI tools to create realistic visuals or audio.
- Avoid Deepfakes: Never use AI to simulate public figures or real people without their explicit consent.
This video explains the main reasons why your TikTok ads get rejected and how to get quick approval in 2026.
Tips to prevent and resolve TikTok ads’ rejection
If you find yourself on the wrong side of ad approval, Mega Digital gonna give you some tips to get through the problem of ‘TikTok ads not approved’:
1. Review and modify your ad content
It is crucial to review and modify your ad content to ensure it complies with TikTok’s policies and guidelines. Start by carefully reviewing your ad content and checking for any potential policy violations or inaccuracies.
You can then make the necessary changes to address these issues, such as removing prohibited content or rephrasing misleading claims. Additionally, consider testing different ad formats, creative elements, and targeting options to optimize your ad performance and improve your chances of approval.
Mega Digital’s advice: Do not target multiple countries in the same ad group. Policy varies between countries, so an ad may be approved in one country but rejected in another.
2. Refine your targeting
Refining your targeting can increase the relevance of your ad, which can lead to higher engagement and conversion rates. Make sure you’re targeting the right audience based on their demographics, interests, behaviors, and location.
You can also exclude certain groups of people who are less likely to be interested in your product or service. Use TikTok’s audience insights to get a better understanding of your target audience and adjust your targeting accordingly. Additionally, you can use lookalike audiences to find new users who are similar to your existing customers.
>>> Read more: TikTok Ads Audience Targeting: Detailed Guide for Newbies
3. Check your ad format and specifications
To increase your chances of getting your TikTok ads approved, it’s crucial to make sure your ad format and specifications meet the platform’s requirements. Start by checking the ad format you’re using – whether it’s a video ad or an image ad – and ensure it meets the TikTok ad formats and specs.
4. Submit appeals and contact TikTok support
Don’t quit just because your TikTok ad was rejected. You can file an appeal to have your ad examined by TikTok’s team again. Make sure to include specifics about your ad and explain why you think it should be accepted. You can also contact TikTok support for help and clarification on the ad guidelines. Keep in mind that a response may take some time, so be patient.
5. Use TikTok Agency account
TikTok Agency Account is a powerful tool that can help advertisers manage and optimize their TikTok ad campaigns more effectively. As only TikTok official partners like Mega Digital have the priority to distribute this account, they will also help you resolve any issues with ad approval.
Mega Digital Case Study: Max (TikTok Pioneer)
- Challenge: Max, a Facebook Ads expert, faced the challenge of adapting his strategies to TikTok while maintaining profitability and scaling his e-commerce business efficiently.
- Solution: Mega Digital provided Whitelisted Features and exclusive insights, unlocking advanced functionalities reserved for top-tier advertisers to boost performance.
- Result: Max achieved a 3.8x ROAS, established his own media buying team, and successfully launched dropshipping courses. Read full story
FAQ
Your TikTok ad account may not be approved because it violates TikTok’s ad policies or incomplete business verification. Common reasons include using prohibited content, mismatched billing information, or linking to a low-quality landing page. Sometimes, suspicious payment activity or failure to verify Business Center documents can cause this.
If TikTok won’t approve your ad promotion, it’s usually due to non-compliance with TikTok’s ad review rules. Ads that contain misleading claims, unsafe products, or inappropriate visuals often get flagged. Another common cause is unlabeled AI content (AIGC). Ensure you toggle the AI label if your ad uses synthetic media.
TikTok typically reviews and approves ads within 24 hours, but in some cases, the process can take up to 48 hours. Delays may happen during high-volume campaign periods (like Black Friday) or if your ad triggers a manual review.
Final word
Getting the problem of TikTok ads not approved is a challenging case that can happen to newbies or even experienced advertisers. Therefore, remember to always be transparent, accurate, and consistent in your ad content, and never try to deceive or mislead your audience.
If this issue still persists, the optimal solution is to connect with trusted TikTok agencies like Mega Digital for more expert help!
With our TikTok advertising services, you will get timely support from AM or Sales Representative to adjust your campaign effectively. So let us walk you through and help you leverage the power of TikTok Ads today!
