Last updated: August 14, 2025
Having trouble with your TikTok Ads integration? This guide will help you diagnose and resolve the most common issues.

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TikTok Server Instability

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Understanding TikTok’s API Limitations

Error message: “⚠️ TikTok servers are experiencing high load”
TikTok’s API can become unstable when processing certain types of data requests, particularly: Large Data Requests:
  • Ad-level data with extensive timeframes
  • Hourly or daily aggregations over long periods
  • Multiple accounts with detailed breakdowns

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Quick Solutions

When you encounter this error, try these solutions in order:
1

Reduce Timeframe

Start with a smaller date range:
  • Instead of 6 months, try 1 month
  • For hourly data, limit to 7 days
  • For daily data, limit to 30 days
2

Switch to Campaign Level

Use higher-level aggregations:
  • Campaign level instead of Ad level
  • Ad Group level instead of Ad level
  • This significantly reduces API load
3

Change Time Aggregation

Adjust your time grouping:
  • Switch from “Hourly” to “Daily”
  • Switch from “Daily” to “All Time”
  • Use “Weekly” or “Monthly” for long timeframes
4

Split Your Query

For large datasets, create multiple queries:
  • Split by date ranges (e.g., monthly queries)
  • Split by account (one account per query)
  • Combine results afterward in your spreadsheet
Still having issues? If none of these solutions work, please try again in a few hours. These server instability issues typically last from a few hours to 24-48 hours in the most extreme cases.

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Why This Happens

TikTok’s API has several limitations that can trigger this error:
FactorImpactSolution
Random TikTok instabilityTikTok’s servers occasionally fail to process requests regardless of query complexityWait and retry in a few hours
Ad-level complexityEach ad requires multiple API callsUse Campaign or Ad Group level
Long timeframesExponentially more data to processLimit to 30-90 days
Granular time aggregationHourly/daily creates more data pointsUse weekly/monthly for long periods
Multiple breakdownsEach dimension multiplies data volumeReduce dimensions temporarily (e.g., age, gender, country, platform, device)

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Best Practices to Avoid This Error

To avoid encountering this instability, we recommend implementing a Historical + Dynamic sheet strategy:

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The 3-Sheet Strategy

Set up three sheets to separate your data:
  1. “TikTok Ads Combined” - Your main reporting sheet with all data
  2. “TikTok Ads Dynamic” - Recent data that updates daily
  3. “TikTok Ads Historical” - Archived data that doesn’t change

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How to Implement This Strategy

1

Create Your Historical Sheet

Export all your historical data (e.g., all 2024 data and 2025 data up to the previous month) to the “TikTok Ads Historical” sheet. This data is “golden” - it won’t change because TikTok’s attribution windows are typically shorter.
2

Set Up Your Dynamic Query

Create a smaller query in “TikTok Ads Dynamic” that only pulls recent data (from the previous month onwards). This smaller timeframe rarely triggers TikTok’s instability errors.
3

Combine Both Sheets

In your “TikTok Ads Combined” sheet, use this formula to merge both datasets:
=QUERY({
  'TikTok Ads Historical'!A2:Z;
  'TikTok Ads Dynamic'!A2:Z
}, "SELECT * WHERE Col1 is not null", 0)
This gives you complete data without the load issues.
4

Maintain Your Setup

Every 6 months, or when you notice instability errors becoming more frequent, move older data from Dynamic to Historical. This keeps your dynamic query small and fast.
Example: If you have a 2-year ad-level daily query that fails:
  • Historical sheet: All data up to June 2025
  • Dynamic sheet: July 2025 onwards
  • Combined sheet: Merges both for complete reporting
When you encounter issues again in 1-2 years, simply repeat this optimization process.
Need help implementing the 3-sheet strategy? Our support team can guide you through the setup process and help optimize your TikTok Ads queries for maximum stability. Reach out to support@detrics.io with your specific use case and we’ll provide personalized recommendations.

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Common Issues & Solutions

Problem: Can’t connect TikTok Ads account Solutions:
  • Ensure you have admin access to the TikTok Ads account
  • Check if your TikTok Ads account is active and not suspended
  • Try disconnecting and reconnecting your account
Problem: Some metrics or dimensions are missing Solutions:
  • Verify your account has the necessary permissions
  • Check if the data exists in TikTok Ads Manager first
  • Some metrics may not be available for certain time periods
Problem: Getting rate limit errors Solutions:
  • Reduce the frequency of your scheduled queries
  • Split large queries into smaller ones
  • Wait a few minutes between manual query executions
Problem: Can’t pull data for certain date ranges Solutions:
  • TikTok has a 30-day limit for daily aggregation
  • Hourly data is limited to 1 day
  • Use “All Time” aggregation for longer periods
Need help? If errors persist after following these steps, please reach out to support@detrics.io