How To Delete A Pinterest Account

Whatever your reasons, to delete (or ‘close’) your Pinterest account whether via the website or mobile app, look no further. Simply follow our steps below and you can be rid of your unwanted account in no time. 

Firstly though, we suggest making sure you are absolutely certain you want to delete it. If you’re not, and just want to take a break from using Pinterest, we recommend deactivating your account instead. Doing so hides all of your boards and pins, but keeps them safe for you until you reactivate your account by logging in. To deactivate your account instead of closing it we’ll give you a walkthrough below.

For all other queries and additional information, see the FAQs at the end of this article.

How to deactivate your Pinterest account (desktop website)

1. Open up your preferred web browser and navigate to the Pinterest website. When prompted, sign in.
2. In the top-right corner, click the three horizontal dots to access the menu, and from the drop-down menu, select ‘Edit settings’
3. From the left-hand sidebar, choose ‘Account settings’
4. Next, scroll down and click on ‘Deactivate account’, then click ‘Next’
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish deactivating your account. You can reactivate it at any time on the website or app by simply logging back into your account. 

How to deactivate your Pinterest account (mobile app)

1. Open up the Pinterest app on your mobile or tablet device, and if prompted, sign in
2. Tap the cog-shaped Settings icon up in the top of the app
3. On the Settings page, tap ‘Edit settings’
4. Next, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and tap ‘Deactivate account’
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to finish deactivating your account. You can reactivate it at any time on the website or app by simply logging back into your account. 

How to delete (‘close’) your Pinterest account (desktop website)

1. Open up your preferred web browser and navigate to the Pinterest website. When prompted, sign in.
2. In the top-right corner, click the three horizontal dots to access the menu, and from the drop-down menu, select ‘Edit settings’
3. From the left-hand sidebar, choose ‘Account settings’
4. Next, scroll down and click on ‘Close account’
5. You’ll be asked to give a reason for why you’re leaving, do so now, and then click ‘Next’
6. Select ‘Send Email’ and Pinterest will send an email to the email address associated with your Pinterest account. 
7. Navigate to your email, open up the email from Pinterest, and follow the instructions provided to finalise closing your account.

How to delete (‘close’) your Pinterest account (mobile app)

1. Open up the Pinterest app on your mobile or tablet device, and if prompted, sign in
2. Tap the cog-shaped Settings icon up in the top of the app
3. On the Settings page, tap ‘Edit settings’
4. Next, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and tap ‘Close account’
5. You will be prompted to confirm the decision, do so by tapping ‘Close account’ again on the next screen. You will be logged out immediately.

And there you have it! Whether on desktop or mobile, deactivating or finally closing your account, our tutorial takes you through the steps from beginning to end. For all other information and additional queries, see our FAQs below.

Frequently asked questions

What is Pinterest?

Pinterest is an American image sharing social networking service, which allows its users to create unique ‘boards’ on which they can ‘pin’ images which they have uploaded, created, or discovered on the app. It is greatly beloved by millions of users across the globe, and has even attracted businesses, so that now Pinterest Pro is a service businesses can utilise to attract potential customers to their own pages, via images related to products they sell, or services they provide. It is a really nifty app to use if you’re planning to do some home decoration, say, as you can create boards for each room, and pin images of furniture, colour palettes, etc. for each, in preparation. Maybe you want to save cool tattoos you’ve seen to show your tattoo artist for reference, or you’re just a massive Harry Potter fan, and want to share with other users your ‘Slytherin’ board. Who knows? The possibilities are endless!

Why would I want to delete my Pinterest account?

There are many reasons why you might want to delete an account. Perhaps you no longer use Pinterest, or simply spend too much time on it. Maybe you’ve started a new account, in an attempt to wipe the slate clean, and you want to delete your old one. Whatever your reason, this is the How To page for you! Just follow the tutorials above.

Can I recover a deleted Pinterest account?

Yes, thankfully you can. When you delete (or ‘close’) your Pinterest account, there is a holding period of 14 days before all information pertaining to that account is deleted forever. If you delete your account but change your mind within 2 weeks/14 days, you can simply log back into your account, and Pinterest will send you a reactivation link to the email associated with your account. Once the 14 day grace period is over, however, your account will be permanently deleted, with no means of recovery.

What happens to my boards and pins when I delete a Pinterest account?

For 14 days, nothing, but after those 14 days (if you haven’t reactivated your account as discussed in the previous FAQ) all of your saved boards and pins will be deleted, meaning that anyone who had saved your board/followed it, will no longer be able to access it, and those boards are gone forever. Any images which you personally uploaded and were pinned by others will also be removed from Pinterest. Of course, all and any images which you pinned which weren’t yours, will still be on the site.