# Connect TikTok and YouTube through Zernio

> Available from Social Quack 1.3.

TikTok and YouTube are the two platforms where connecting your own developer app means a review by TikTok or Google first (a form, a screen recording, days of waiting). If you'd rather skip that, Social Quack can post **through Zernio** (zernio.com), a service that already holds approved TikTok and YouTube apps. You paste one key, sign in once, and post. A few minutes, no review.

**What it costs.** Zernio bills per connected social account: the first **2 accounts are free** (no card needed), then $6 per account per month. Social Quack itself stays a one-time purchase. Your posts, schedule and media stay on your Mac; Zernio only receives each post at the moment it goes out.

**What you give up.** Nothing in Social Quack. The consent screen says "Zernio" instead of your own app name, and Zernio can see the posts it publishes for you. If you'd rather keep everything under your own developer accounts, the native [TikTok guide](/guides/tiktok) and [YouTube guide](/guides/youtube) are still there — the same TikTok or YouTube card offers both routes.

## Steps

1. Create a free account at **https://zernio.com/signup**.
2. In the Zernio dashboard open **API keys** (`https://zernio.com/dashboard/api-keys`) → **Create API key**. Copy it (it starts with `sk_`).
3. In Social Quack go to **Channels → Add a channel**, and on the **TikTok** or **YouTube** card click **Set up keys ▾ → Set up Zernio key** (it is the first, recommended option; *Set up app keys* is the do-it-yourself route). Paste the key and click **Save & verify**. The key belongs to that card (TikTok or YouTube) in the workspace you have selected; the other card and other workspaces paste their own. The same key is fine — or use a key from a second Zernio account, so each channel sits on its own Zernio free plan.
4. Social Quack goes straight on to **Connect**: your browser opens TikTok's or Google's sign-in page with Zernio's app; approve. Back in Social Quack the account appears under *Connected* with a small **via Zernio** tag.
5. Post from **Compose** as usual. The TikTok options panel (who can see the post, comments / duet / stitch, commercial-content disclosure) and the YouTube panel (title, visibility, tags, made-for-kids) work exactly as for a direct connection. Claude and ChatGPT see the channel like any other.

## Good to know

- **TikTok publishes public only.** TikTok's rule for the app Zernio uses: videos go out as "Everyone". Want another audience? Turn on **Send to TikTok drafts** in the TikTok options: the video lands in your TikTok inbox and you pick the audience and post it from the TikTok app. Any other choice is refused when you schedule, with a clear message.
- **TikTok takes a minute.** TikTok processes the upload after Zernio hands it over; Social Quack waits for that (up to three minutes) before marking the post published, and the link can appear a little later.
- **One TikTok account per workspace** through Zernio. Connecting a different TikTok account in the same workspace replaces the first one on Zernio's side; use another workspace for a second TikTok account.
- **TikTok daily capacity.** TikTok limits how many posts an account may send through an app per day (15 videos and 15 photo posts per rolling 24 hours on Zernio). If the limit is reached, Social Quack tells you and retries the post later.
- **Duplicates.** Zernio refuses the same text + media to the same account within 24 hours. Change the caption if you really want to repost.
- **No media hosting needed.** Videos and photos are uploaded to Zernio when the post goes out.
- **Reconnecting.** If Zernio reports the account as disconnected, the channel card shows **Sign in again**; it is the same two clicks and everything queued stays put.
- **Removing.** Channels → Remove deletes the channel in Social Quack. To stop being billed, also remove the account in the Zernio dashboard.
- **One key per card.** TikTok and YouTube each keep their own Zernio key, so two Zernio accounts (one key each) work as well as one account with both. Handy if Zernio ever changes how many accounts are free.
- **Clearing the key.** *Set up keys ▾ → Edit Zernio key → Clear saved key* removes it from that card in the workspace. Channels already connected keep posting (each carries its own copy); you only need the key again to connect another account.

## Troubleshooting

| Message | Meaning |
|---|---|
| "Zernio did not accept the API key" when saving | Copy the full key from the Zernio dashboard; it starts with `sk_`. |
| "your Zernio plan has no room for another account" / "needs a payment method" after approving | You're past Zernio's free 2 accounts; add a card in their dashboard (link in the message). |
| "this must be a professional (Business or Creator) account" | TikTok needs a *creator* or *business* account for API posting. Switch the account type in the TikTok app, then connect again. |
| "TikTok did not grant every permission" | Connect again and accept every permission on TikTok's screen. |
| Post retried with "direct-post daily limit" | See *TikTok daily capacity* above. |
| Post failed "refused this as a duplicate" | See *Duplicates* above. |
| "Zernio says the account is disconnected" | Channels → **Sign in again** on that channel. |