# Upload mode — publishing content (https://clout.wtf/guide/upload-guide/) > **Note:** **Before each session.** Make sure the iPhone is unlocked, brightness is at 50% or higher, and the phone is charging in **portrait** orientation (not lying flat). StandBy interrupts uploads — confirm it's off in [device setup](https://clout.wtf/guide/device-setup/). ## What Upload is Upload is a **content publishing** mode for already-logged-in TikTok accounts: * takes the next media file from the configured folder * (optionally) adds music from a list of links * (optionally) sets a description (4 sources to pick from) * walks through the full TikTok upload flow * waits for the video to process * marks the file as used (move to `used/` or delete) * moves on to the next account ### When to use it * Accounts already logged in, TikTok installed — you just need to publish at a steady pace * You want to automate posting on a schedule or in a cycle * Content is ready and lives locally (videos or photos for carousels) > **Note:** If TikTok has to be installed first, the account logged in, the proxy switched — that's **Seeding**, not Upload. Upload only works with already-logged-in accounts and an installed TikTok. ## Two content types The template has a **Content Type — Video / Carousel** toggle. One template is locked to one type. | Type | What gets published | Music | | ------------ | ------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------- | | **Video** | One video file (mp4 / mov / m4v / avi / mkv) | Optional | | **Carousel** | A series of photos (1–35 items, jpg / png / heic) | **Required** for carousels | ## Template setup In the UI: **Templates → create template → Run Mode = Upload**. The template is built from cards: **Content**, **Music**, **Description**, **Publishing**, **Gallery**, **Debug**. Each card is covered below. ### "Content" card — content source #### For Video | Field | What it controls | | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Video Folder** | Absolute path to the video folder | | **Video Order** | `Sequential` (by name, natural sort) or `Random` | | **Move to 'used'** | After publishing, move the video into a `used/` subfolder (**on by default**) | | **Delete after upload** | Delete the file after publishing (takes priority over "Move to used") | Supported extensions: `.mp4`, `.mov`, `.m4v`, `.avi`, `.mkv`. #### For Carousel | Field | What it controls | | -------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Photo Folder** | Absolute path to the photo folder | | **Each subfolder = one carousel** | If on: each subfolder = one carousel. If off: photos get sliced into flat blocks of "Photos per carousel" | | **Photos per carousel** | How many photos per carousel in flat mode (1–35) | | **Move to 'used'** / **Delete after upload** | Same rules as for videos | Supported extensions: `.jpg`, `.jpeg`, `.png`, `.heic`. For folder layout details see the [Folder structure guide](https://clout.wtf/guide/folder-structure-guide/). ### "Music" card — background music #### When it's required * For **carousels music is required** (TikTok requirement). Without music, the thread will fail. * For **videos music is optional**. #### Fields | Field | What it controls | Default | | ---------------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ------- | | **Add music** | Toggle music on/off | off | | **Music links** | List of track links, one per line | empty | | **Adjust volume** | Toggle volume adjustment | off | | **Music volume** | Music volume 0–100 | 10 | | **Video volume** | Original audio volume 0–100 | 50 | | **Search results wait time** | Seconds to wait after the track search | 3 | #### Accepted link formats * Full TikTok link: `https://www.tiktok.com/music/track-name-7123456789012345` * App track link: `snssdk1233://music/detail/7123456789012345` * Just the ID: `7123456789012345` > **Note:** **How to get a link:** in TikTok open the track → Share → Copy link. > **Business accounts.** TikTok for Business blocks licensed music (Disney, majors). On a business account only "Recommended sounds" / "Commercial Sounds" are visible. The app **detects this automatically** and skips music and volume steps. On such accounts prefer commercial-only links or turn off the **Add music** toggle. #### How a track is picked From the full list, the app **picks one randomly** per publication. If a link is broken (track removed / not found) — it tries the next one. When all links are exhausted — it publishes without music and returns to the TikTok home screen. ### "Description" card Dedicated guide: [Set Description](https://clout.wtf/guide/set-description-guide/) — covers the 4 sources (text / file / json / sidecar), file formats, and pitfalls. In short: | Source | When to pick | | ------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Text** | One-or-two variants for all posts, separated by `;` directly in the template | | **TXT file** | 10+ simple captions in an external `.txt` | | **JSON file** | Need titles (for carousels) or strict sequential order | | **Sidecar** | Each media file has its own unique caption | > **Note:** For **videos** the title is **ignored** — TikTok has no Title field for videos. For **carousels** the title is filled in if non-empty. > **Limit: 2200 characters.** Hashtags and mentions go **directly inside** the description text: `"My caption #travel @user"`. ### "Publishing" card — publication parameters | Field | What it controls | Default | | ------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | | **Publications per account** | How many publications one account makes per pass. `0` = no limit, until content runs out | 1 | | **Pause between publications** | Pause between publications on the same account (if Publications per account > 1), in seconds | 0 | | **Wait after publish** | Pause after returning to the home screen — the video is still uploading in the background, in seconds | 360 | > **Note:** **Wait after publish** is critical. The video is still uploading in the background after Post is tapped. If you switch off TikTok / move to the next account too quickly, the publication gets stuck in "Posting…" and never reaches the feed. > **Rule of thumb:** 1 minute per 50 MB of file size + a buffer for slow proxy. For a 100 MB video over VPN, set 360–600 seconds. ### "Gallery" card — device gallery handling iPhone stores TikTok-uploaded media in its photo gallery. Options: | Field | What it does | Default | | ----------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------- | | **Clear before upload** | Delete ALL photos/videos from the device gallery before uploading new content | off | | **Delete after upload** | Delete the just-published media from the gallery | off | > **Note:** For **carousels we recommend turning Clear before upload on** — otherwise old photos blend with new ones during gallery selection, and TikTok will assemble the wrong carousel. > During cleanup iOS shows a system dialog "Allow … to delete N photos?" — the app accepts it automatically. ### "Debug" card — diagnostics | Field | What it does | | -------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Save screenshots** | Save screenshots at each automation step into `debug_screenshots/` for error analysis and support bundles | > **Note:** **On by default** — critical for support. Disk is auto-managed: cleaned at > 7 days or > 1 GB (oldest first). ## What's set in the thread, not the template Some parameters live in the **Threads → Add Configuration** tab: | Field | Where it lives | What it controls | | -------------------------- | -------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Account List** | Thread config | List of accounts to publish on | | **Devices** | Thread config | One or more devices | | **Proxy** | Thread config | None / Manual / Stash / Happ / System | | **Cyclic Upload** | Thread config | Looped run (after going through all accounts — start over) | | **Pause between accounts** | Thread config | Seconds to wait between accounts | | **Pause between cycles** | Thread config | Minutes to wait between cycles | | **Reupload Cycles** | Thread config | How many times to re-publish the same content across new cycles | | **Schedule** | Thread config | Scheduled run (tied to the target region's time zone) | ## Double-publish protection across multiple devices You can **safely run 5–25 devices off the same content folder** — the app coordinates them through a hidden `.publish_history.json` file next to the media, and each file goes to TikTok exactly once. **Don't delete that file manually** — already-published content may otherwise get re-uploaded. ## Common errors | Symptom | Cause | Solution | | ------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | "TikTok not installed" | No TikTok on the device | Install TikTok via App Store, restart. Upload doesn't install — that's Seeding's job | | "No content" at start | Folder empty or all files already published | Add files or delete `.publish_history.json` | | "Outdated client app" | Clout App on the iPhone is older than required | On the Devices page, reinstall Clout App via Xcode | | Publications stuck in "Posting…" | "Wait after publish" too small | Push to 360–600 sec for large files over VPN | | Carousel uses the wrong photos | Old photos in the device gallery | Turn on **Clear before upload** in the Gallery card | | Music not picked up on a business account | TikTok Business blocks licensed music | Use commercial tracks or turn off **Add music**. Business accounts are auto-detected | | Caption truncated | > 2200 characters | Trim it; see the [Set Description guide](https://clout.wtf/guide/set-description-guide/) | | One file goes to multiple devices | Wiped or corrupt `.publish_history.json` | Don't delete it manually; let the app rebuild it. Make sure the folder is the same across devices | | Thread fails on "Edit Profile did not load" | Multi-device + slow proxy + missing settle | A short settle pause is already built in — check the device-recovery logs | | "Proxy error" | Proxy not assigned / unreachable / dropped | Check Stash API / Happ / System VPN profile | ## Recommended presets ### "Safe stream on 1 device, 3 accounts" ``` Content: Video, Move to used = on Music: on, 3–5 links Description: TXT file, 20–30 variants Publications per account: 1 Wait after publish: 360 sec Gallery: Delete after upload Pause between accounts: 60 sec Cyclic Upload: off ``` ### "Carousels at a calm pace" ``` Content Type: Carousel Photo Folder: subfolders, Each subfolder = one carousel = on Music: on (required for carousels) Description: Sidecar (content.json in each subfolder), fallback = none Publications per account: 1 Wait after publish: 480 sec (photos process slower) Gallery: Clear before upload = on (required for carousels) Cyclic Upload: off ``` ### "Multi-device stream from one folder" ``` Content: Video, Move to used = on Description: JSON file with 200+ variants, content_order = random Music: on, 10+ links (so the track rotates) Publications per account: 1 Wait after publish: 420 sec (slow-proxy buffer) Pause between accounts: 30 sec Reupload Cycles: 0 Cyclic Upload: on Pause between cycles: 30 minutes ``` `.publish_history.json` guarantees one file goes to exactly one device. ## "Upload configured correctly" checklist * [ ] Template created with Run Mode = **Upload** * [ ] Content Type picked: Video or Carousel * [ ] Absolute path to media folder set * [ ] Files in the folder are in supported formats (video/photo extensions from the list) * [ ] Move to used **on** (so the same file isn't reused) * [ ] For **carousels**: Music on and filled; Clear gallery before upload on * [ ] Description configured for the right source (see the [Set Description guide](https://clout.wtf/guide/set-description-guide/)) * [ ] Wait after publish ≥ 240 sec (or higher for large files / slow proxies) * [ ] Accounts in Account List already logged into TikTok on the device * [ ] TikTok installed on the device (Upload doesn't install it) * [ ] (Optional) proxy attached * [ ] (Optional) schedule ## FAQ ### Does Clout Uploader post through the TikTok API? No. Publishing happens on a physical iPhone: the app walks through the same upload flow a person would, in the real TikTok app. No API upload endpoints are involved. ### What content types can I publish? Videos (mp4 / mov / m4v / avi / mkv) and photo carousels of 1–35 images (jpg / png / heic). One template is locked to one content type; carousels require music. ### Can several devices post from the same content folder? Yes — 5–25 devices can safely share one folder. Publish history is coordinated through a hidden file next to the media, so each file goes to TikTok exactly once. ### How does scheduled posting work? The template defines *what* to publish; the thread defines *when* and *for whom* — accounts, device, and the cycle it runs on. Set up the thread schedule and Upload fills it without manual launches. ## Related guides * [Folder structure](https://clout.wtf/guide/folder-structure-guide/) — folder layout for Upload (videos, carousels in subfolders or flat). * [Set Description](https://clout.wtf/guide/set-description-guide/) — captions in detail (text / file / json / sidecar). * [Account warm-up](https://clout.wtf/guide/warmup-guide/) — warm-up mode that runs before Upload. ## Further reading on the blog * [How to Bulk Upload Videos to TikTok: Tools, Limits, and Workarounds](https://clout.wtf/blog/tiktok-bulk-upload-videos/) * [Seeding Mode — Step-by-Step Guide to Mass Publishing on TikTok](https://clout.wtf/blog/seeding-mode-guide/)