A screen full of ideas gives you plenty to look at, but where do you start? On Pinterest, each piece of content is a Pin, and boards hold the Pins you save. Start with finding and saving your first idea, then learn how to organize your collection, post your own content, and choose who can see it.
Start with a personal account
Open Pinterest’s website, or install the app from Google Play or the App Store. On Apple devices, check that the developer is Pinterest, Inc.
To sign up on the website, complete Email, Create a password, and Age. Select Continue, then Next. Complete the requested identity, language, and country or region choices. Choose at least five topics that interest you, then select Done.
In the app, enter your email address and tap Continue. Create a password and tap Next. Complete the requested personal details and interests, then finish with Done. Minimum-age and regional eligibility rules apply.
Already have an account? Open pinterest.com/login, enter your credentials, and select Log in. If signing in with your password fails, try Continue with Google for a connected Google account, or Continue with Apple for a connected Apple account on iOS.
Find an idea worth saving
Without a topic in mind, a screen full of Pins leaves you without a clear starting point.
Begin in the home feed by opening a Pin that interests you. Its content and related ideas give you somewhere to explore.
For a focused search on the website, enter a topic in the search bar and press Enter. Try something you want to do, such as “small balcony garden” or “easy weeknight dinners.”
In the app, tap the search icon. Enter your words in the search bar and submit the search. Select a suggested guide term to narrow the results without starting over. Open a promising Pin to inspect it.
For a Pin with a destination link, follow that link to the original recipe, article, or other content. Have a picture instead of search terms? On mobile, open the search icon, then the camera icon to use Pinterest Lens. Grant the requested camera or photo access, then photograph an object or select an existing picture.
On desktop, select the Lens icon in the search bar. Upload and submit an image to search with it.
Save your first Pin to a board
Once you find an idea to keep, save it to a board.
- 1.Open the Pin you want to save.
- 2.On mobile, tap Save. On the website, open the board selector beside Save.
- 3.Choose an existing board, or use the new-board option and enter a descriptive name, such as “Weeknight dinners.”
- 4.For a new private collection, turn on the board’s secret or private switch before selecting Create.
- 5.Finish saving to your chosen board. On the website, select Save; on mobile, choose the destination board.
Keep your saved ideas easy to find
Open your profile, then choose the board you want to revisit. On mobile, select All saves to see its saved Pins. To divide that board into smaller groups, select the plus icon.
Choose Section. A dinner board, for example, could have separate sections for soups and pasta. Enter a name for the section, then select Add on the website. On mobile, select Next.
Select the Pins to include in the section. On iOS, finish with Done.
To move existing Pins into a section on the website, select Organize within the board. Select the Pins you want to move, then select Move. Select Save beside the destination section.
For a single Pin that belongs on another board, open its editing controls. Change Board to the destination you want. Finish with Save on the website or Done on mobile.
Tip: Name boards and sections after what you will search for later, such as “Quick lunches” rather than “Things I like.”
Add a Pin of your own
Use Pin creation to upload your own image or video. Personal accounts support this on both the website and the app.
On the website, select Create. Upload your image or video, then complete the relevant Title, Description, Link, and Board fields. Finish any media edits with Done. Select Publish when the Pin is ready.
In the app, tap the plus icon, then select Pin. Choose your media or use the camera. Selecting multiple items on mobile combines them into a video. Tap Next.
Complete your media edits, then enter the Pin’s details. Tap Create to finish.
Choose who sees your ideas
A secret board, which Pinterest also calls a private board, is visible only to you and the collaborators you invite. When creating one, turn on the privacy switch. Depending on your version of Pinterest, it reads Keep this board secret or Keep this board private on the website, and Make this board secret or Make this board private on mobile. In the website’s save menu, it may simply read Secret.
For privacy across your personal profile, open the website’s bottom-left menu and select Settings > Profile visibility > Private profile. On mobile, tap your bottom-right profile photo, then your top-left profile photo, and open Profile visibility > Private profile. Visibility changes require you to be at least 16; younger teen profiles cannot be made public.
To share a Pin, board, or profile, open it and select the share control. Choose a recipient and select Send, or use Copy link or another app on mobile. Teen messaging limits apply.
To build a collection together, open the board and select the invitation control below its name. Search for someone and select Invite, or select Copy link to share an invitation.
Bring your feed back to your interests
Your activity, interests, boards, and followed accounts inform recommendations, including topics you have moved on from.
To give feedback on a recommendation, open the feed Pin’s ellipsis menu. On the website and iOS, select See more like this or See fewer like this. On Android, use See more or See less.
For broader changes on the website, open the bottom-left menu and select Refine your recommendations. Adjust the relevant entries under Activity, Interests, Boards, or Following.
On a personal mobile account, tap your bottom-right profile photo, then tap your top-left profile photo. Open Refine your recommendations to adjust the available preferences.
To reduce notifications on the website, open the bottom-left menu. Go to Settings > Notifications and choose a notification category. Adjust Push, Email, or In-app delivery, then select Save.
In the app, open your profile settings and select Notifications. Choose a category, then adjust its delivery types.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does saving a Pin download the image to my phone?
No. Saving keeps the Pin on a Pinterest board. To store an eligible image locally, open the Pin’s ellipsis menu and select Download image. Not every Pin permits downloading. If the option is unavailable in the app, try Pinterest in a desktop or mobile browser.
What is the difference between the heart and the star on a Pin?
The heart reacts to a Pin. The star marks a saved Pin as a favorite within its board. Save the Pin to a board before using the star.
Can I finish creating a Pin later?
Yes. On the website, open Create > Pin drafts and select your draft. In the app, tap the plus icon, select Pin, and open the drafts control. Drafts expire after 30 days and must be finished on the device where you started them.
Can I recover a Pin I accidentally deleted?
No. Deleted Pins cannot be recovered. To reorganize a collection without deleting a Pin, move it to another board or section.
