How to Create a Pin on Pinterest From a Photo or Video

Saving other people's Pins is how most of us start on Pinterest, but creating your own is where it gets interesting. Your own Pin can carry your photo, your words and a link back to your website or shop, and it keeps working long after you post it. For small businesses and creators, that's what makes Pinterest feel different from feeds that forget you by teatime.

Here's how to make a Pin from an image or video on a computer and in the app, using the button names Pinterest's help centre gives, plus the details worth filling in and the settings people skip.

Creating a Pin on Pinterest from a computer

The desktop route gives you the most room to work, and it's where Pinterest lets you upload several files at once:

1. Log in to Pinterest in your browser.
2. Click Create at the top-left of the screen. On a business account, select the hamburger icon, then Create Pin under Create.
3. Click the arrow-circle-up icon to pick a file, or drag and drop it into the upload window.
4. Add your details: Title, Description, Link, Board and Tag related topics.
5. If you'd like to tweak the image, click the pencil icon at the top-right, make your edits and click Done.
6. Click Publish.

Pinterest's help says you can upload up to 10 images or up to 10 videos in one go on a computer, and each file becomes its own separate Pin. That's handy when you've got a batch of product shots to share.

Creating a Pin in the Pinterest app

On iPhone and Android the steps are the same, and you can shoot something new on the spot:

1. Open the Pinterest app and log in.
2. Tap the add icon at the bottom of the screen, then tap Pin.
3. Choose an image or video from your device, or tap the camera icon to take a photo or record a video. You may need to allow access to your photos first.
4. Tap Next.
5. Add your Title, Link, Description, Board and related topics. You can also tag products here.
6. Tap Create.

One difference to note: in the app, choosing several images and videos together stitches them into a single video Pin rather than separate Pins. If you want separate Pins, add them one at a time or use a computer.

Filling in your Pin details on Pinterest

The image gets the first glance, but the details help the right people find your Pin. Here's what each field does, based on Pinterest's help:

Field	What it's for
Title	A short, clear name for the idea
Description	A few lines on what the Pin shows and who it helps
Link	Optional: where people go to learn more, such as your blog post
Board	Which of your boards the Pin lives on
Tag related topics	Up to 10 topics that describe the Pin

I'd write the title and description the way someone would search for the idea, in plain words. If you're new to all this, my guide to getting started with Pinterest marketing explains how searchers use Pinterest, which makes these fields much easier to fill in.

Making a video Pin on Pinterest

Video Pins follow the same create flow with a couple of extra steps. On a computer, choose a thumbnail under Cover by selecting Edit cover. In the app, you'll use the editing menu along the bottom first, tap Next, then add your details, including Edit cover.

The app also shows a Mark as AI-Modified option for videos. If you've used AI tools to change a video, switching that on keeps things clear for the people watching.

Saving a Pin on Pinterest from a website

You don't always need to upload a file. Pinterest's help explains that you can create a Pin from a web page using the site's link or the Pinterest save button for your browser, and Pinterest includes a link back to the website so people can find the original. That's useful when you want to share your own blog post without downloading the image first.

Scheduling Pins and drafts on Pinterest

If you run a business account, you'll see Publish at a later date when you create a Pin. Pinterest's help says you can schedule up to 30 days in advance, which means a single session can line up a month of seasonal ideas.

Not ready to publish? Pinterest keeps drafts, but they don't last forever. According to its help centre, drafts expire 30 days after you first save them, so finish or delete them before then.

Pinterest Pin creation tips for small businesses

• Use your own photos of your products or work, rather than images you don't have the right to share.
• Link each Pin to the most useful page, not just your homepage.
• Create several Pins for one blog post, each with a different image and angle.
• Pick the board carefully, since it helps Pinterest understand what the Pin is about.

If you'd like to see how a brand turns this into a long-term plan, my breakdown of a winning Pinterest marketing strategy is a good read.

If you can't create a Pin on Pinterest

• Can't see Create on a business account? Look under the hamburger icon at the top-left instead.
• The app won't show your photos: check that Pinterest has permission to open your camera roll in your phone's settings.
• Your edits disappeared: if you didn't tap Done or Next after editing, the changes might not have saved.
• Still stuck: update the app, then try again on a computer.

Frequently asked questions

How do I create a Pin on Pinterest?

On a computer, click Create, upload an image or video, add a title, description, link and board, then click Publish. In the app, tap the add icon, tap Pin, choose your file, tap Next, add the details and tap Create.

How many images can I upload at once on Pinterest?

On a computer, Pinterest says you can upload up to 10 images or up to 10 videos at once, and each one becomes its own Pin. In the app, several files are stitched into one video Pin.

Is a link required on a Pinterest Pin?

No. The Link field is optional, but it gives people a place to learn more, such as your blog post or product page.

Can I schedule a Pin on Pinterest?

Yes, on a business account. Choose Publish at a later date, and Pinterest lets you schedule up to 30 days ahead.

How long do Pinterest drafts last?

Pinterest says drafts expire 30 days after you first save them, so publish or tidy them up before then.