TikTok API authentication: a deep dive

Working with the TikTok Content Posting API requires authentication via OAuth 2.0. In theory it's a standard flow: the user authorizes, we receive a token, we use it for requests.

In practice every platform adds its own specifics. TikTok requires certain scopes when registering the application, tokens have a limited lifetime and you need to implement refresh, and the refresh token also expires.

We went through several iterations before the flow worked reliably. The key point: store tokens securely and refresh them proactively, without waiting for a 401 in the middle of a publishing process.

TikTok's documentation is thorough, but needs to be read carefully — nuances are buried in the details.