How TikTok Photo Mode Works: 35 Photos and Two Caption Fields

What is TikTok photo mode?

A post made in TikTok photo mode is a set of up to 35 still images published as one post, with an optional sound, text and stickers added in the editor. TikTok's help centre files it under "How to post a photo on TikTok" in the Making a post article, and the Content Posting API calls it a photo post with media_type set to PHOTO. People searching for a "TikTok carousel" mean the same format. If you plan these posts, work from the two sources below, because they do not cover the same ground.

Limit	In the TikTok app (help centre)	Through the Content Posting API
Photos per post	"You can add up to 35 photos."	photo_images: "up to 35 photo content URLs"
Image formats	Not stated	WebP, JPEG
Image resolution	Not stated	"Maximum 1080p"
File size per image	Not stated	"Maximum of 20MB for each image"
Title	Not stated	90 UTF-16 runes
Caption (description)	Not stated	4000 UTF-16 runes
Cover	"Edit cover" step	photo_cover_index, counted from 0

The help centre explains how to make the post. The API reference gives every number. Where the help centre is silent, the API figures are the only published ones.

How many photos can a TikTok photo post have?

A TikTok photo post holds a maximum of 35 photos, and both TikTok sources agree on that number. The help centre says it in step 2 of the photo instructions: "Tap Photo, then tap Upload to select photos from your device. You can add up to 35 photos." The API reference describes photo_images as "An array containing up to 35 photo content URLs."

The API marks photo_images as required, and its own example sends two images. The cover is picked by position in that array, counted from 0, so photo_cover_index: 1 makes the second image the cover, not the first. Get that index wrong and the post goes out with the wrong image as its cover.

What image formats and sizes does TikTok accept for photo posts?

TikTok's Content Posting API accepts photo post images in WebP and JPEG only, at "Maximum 1080p" and a "Maximum of 20MB for each image," according to the Image restrictions section of the Media Transfer Guide. PNG is not on the list. Convert PNG exports to JPEG or WebP before you send them to any tool that posts through the API.

Three points are missing from that section:

• TikTok does not say whether "1080p" means 1080 pixels on the short side, the long side or the height.
• TikTok gives no aspect ratio for photos. The video section of the same guide lists minimum and maximum dimensions, and the image section has nothing like it.
• The help centre lists no format or size rules for photos uploaded in the app.

A 1080 by 1920 portrait JPEG fits every rule TikTok does publish.

How long can a TikTok photo post caption be?

A TikTok photo post carries two text fields through the API: a title of up to 90 UTF-16 runes and a description of up to 4000 UTF-16 runes. The reference states both word for word: "The maximum length for photo posts is 90 in UTF-16 runes" for the title, and "The maximum length for photo posts is 4000 in UTF-16 runes" for the description. A video post has one field, title, capped at 2200.

The help centre gives no character count for photo post descriptions typed in the app. Its steps say "Add description" and "Add hashtags" and nothing about length.

The unit matters for emoji. TikTok never defines a UTF-16 rune, and one emoji can count as more than one unit, as covered in why the TikTok caption character limit is measured in UTF-16 runes. Keep the title short and plain. Put hashtags and mentions in the description, which is where TikTok's own example puts them: "this will be a #funny photomode on your @tiktok #fyp".

Text field limits, in UTF-16 runes

Photo title90

Photo description4000

Video title2200

How do you post in photo mode from the TikTok app?

You post in photo mode from the TikTok app through the Add post button, and the help centre gives five steps:

1. Tap the Add post + button at the bottom.
2. Tap Photo, then tap Upload and select up to 35 photos from your device.
3. Tap Next. Swipe to switch photos and edit them: add a filter, sound, text or stickers, or crop them.
4. Tap Your Story to post to Stories, or tap Next to edit the cover, add a description and hashtags, tag people, add a location or link, and set privacy.
5. Tap Post to publish, or Drafts to save it. Drafts are visible only to you.

The same article describes a separate live photo flow, where you tap Record to take the photo inside the app. New posts keep the privacy setting of your last post, so check the audience before step 5 if your previous post was "Only you."

How does the TikTok API publish a photo post?

The TikTok Content Posting API publishes photo posts through POST /v2/post/publish/content/init/, with media_type set to PHOTO and post_mode set to either DIRECT_POST or MEDIA_UPLOAD. The two modes behave differently:

Setting	DIRECT_POST	MEDIA_UPLOAD
Where the post lands	Straight on the profile	The creator's TikTok inbox, to finish in the app
Scope needed	video.publish	video.upload
privacy_level	Required	Not required
auto_add_music	Works	Ignored ("Only works for post_mode = DIRECT POST")
Title and description	Sent	Sent, and shown in the editing flow
App version check	None listed	TikTok app 31.8 or later, or app_version_check_failed

The only allowed source is PULL_FROM_URL. TikTok downloads each image itself, and "The URLs must be publicly accessible and verified by your app." An unverified host returns url_ownership_unverified, which is the check explained in TikTok API pull_from_url domain verification. No file upload route exists for photos.

auto_add_music fills the music slot: "recommended music will be automatically added to photos, and users can later choose to change the post's music in TikTok." With MEDIA_UPLOAD, the creator adds any sound while finishing the post in TikTok's editing flow.

What can a TikTok photo post not do that a video can?

A TikTok photo post has no Duet or Stitch, and TikTok's Content Sharing Guidelines say so directly: "Duet and Stitch features are not applicable to photo posts. So, for Photo Posts, only 'Allow Comment' can be displayed in the UX." The creator info endpoint marks duet_disabled and stitch_disabled with "IGNORE if your client only sends photo media through this API."

The other rules match video posts:

• An unaudited API client posts only as SELF_ONLY, and only 5 users can post through it in a 24 hour window. The audit is covered in why your app needs approval to post to TikTok.
• Direct Post has a per-creator daily cap shared across every API client. TikTok says the limit "may vary among creators (typically around 15 posts per day/ creator account)." Past it, the API returns spam_risk_too_many_posts.
• Commercial content toggles apply, and the required label text names both formats: "Your photo/video will be labeled as 'Promotional content'."
• Setting is_aigc to true labels the post as AI-generated content.

Video length rules do not apply. max_video_post_duration_sec limits videos only, as the TikTok creator_info duration field explains.

Can you schedule TikTok photo mode posts?

AdaptlyPost schedules TikTok photo mode posts alongside videos: its TikTok post scheduler lists Photo Mode, "Photo slideshows with music for storytelling without filming a single clip," next to standard videos, direct posting and Send to Drafts, which pushes scheduled content to TikTok drafts for last-minute edits on the phone. You connect TikTok through OAuth, add the photos, write the caption and pick the publish time. AdaptlyPost's pricing lists image, video and carousel posts as a plan feature. TikTok's API limits still apply to every scheduled photo post: 35 photos, JPEG or WebP, 20MB each, and the 90 and 4000 rune text fields. Prepare the images to those rules before you schedule. The wider workflow is in how to schedule TikTok posts.

Frequently asked questions

How many pictures can you put in a TikTok photo mode post?

You can put up to 35 pictures in a TikTok photo mode post. TikTok's help centre says "You can add up to 35 photos," and the Content Posting API accepts up to 35 URLs in photo_images. The cover is one of those photos, picked by its position.

Can TikTok photo posts use PNG images?

PNG is not accepted through the TikTok Content Posting API, which lists only WebP and JPEG for images. The help centre does not list formats for photos uploaded in the app. Convert PNG files to JPEG or WebP before you schedule them.

What is the caption limit for a TikTok photo post?

The caption limit for a TikTok photo post is 4000 UTF-16 runes in the description field, with a separate title of up to 90 UTF-16 runes. Both numbers come from the photo post API reference. TikTok publishes no caption limit for photo posts made in the app.

What size should TikTok photo mode images be?

TikTok photo mode images sent through the API must be no larger than 1080p and 20MB each. TikTok does not publish an aspect ratio for photos or say which side the 1080p applies to. A 1080 by 1920 portrait JPEG fits every published rule.

Can you add music to a TikTok photo post through the API?

You can add music to a TikTok photo post through the API with auto_add_music set to true, which adds recommended music the creator can change later in TikTok. The flag works only with DIRECT_POST. With MEDIA_UPLOAD, the creator picks the sound when finishing the draft in the app.

Can you Duet or Stitch a TikTok photo post?

You cannot Duet or Stitch a TikTok photo post. TikTok's Content Sharing Guidelines say "Duet and Stitch features are not applicable to photo posts," so the only interaction setting a posting tool shows for photos is Allow Comment.

Can you post a TikTok photo mode post to your Story instead of the feed?

In the app, you can tap "Your Story" instead of "Next" at the same publishing step, which sends the photos to your TikTok Story rather than the main feed. This option sits inside the same flow as a normal photo mode post.

What happens if your TikTok API app has not been audited yet?

An unaudited API client can only publish with SELF_ONLY visibility, and only 5 users can post through it in any 24 hour window. These limits apply to photo posts and video posts alike.

Is there a daily limit on TikTok posts published through the API?

Yes. Direct Post carries a per-creator daily cap shared across every API client, and TikTok says it "may vary among creators (typically around 15 posts per day/ creator account)." Going past it returns the error spam_risk_too_many_posts.

Does AdaptlyPost support scheduling TikTok photo mode posts?

AdaptlyPost lists Photo Mode among its TikTok scheduling options, alongside standard videos, direct posting and Send to Drafts. You connect TikTok through OAuth, add the photos, write the caption and pick a publish time, and the same API limits apply to every scheduled post: 35 photos, 20MB each, and the 90 and 4000 rune text fields.