How to Add a Pinterest Widget (Phone Home Screen and Website)

People search for a Pinterest widget meaning two different things: a small tile on their phone's home screen, or a box on their own website that shows their Pins. Pinterest has official help for both, so I've covered both here and kept them separate.

Everything below follows Pinterest's help centre. Phone menus change between software versions, so if a button is named slightly differently on your device, go with the closest match.

What a Pinterest home screen widget shows

Pinterest says its widgets let you see your favourite Pins at a glance on your device's home screen. They're available only on Android and iOS, and the Pins that appear are selected automatically, so you can't hand-pick individual ones.

Widget type	What it displays	Where it's available
Home feed widget	Pins from your home feed	iOS and Android
Boards widget	Pins saved to a board you choose, yours or one made by a Pinner you follow	iOS only
Interests widget	Pins based on a topic such as home decor, quotes, beauty, food or fashion	iOS only

Adding a Pinterest widget on an iPhone

Download or update the Pinterest app first, then:

1. Touch and hold an empty space on your home screen until the apps start moving.
2. Tap Edit at the top left of the screen.
3. Tap Add Widget.
4. Type Pinterest into the widget search bar and tap Pinterest.
5. Swipe to choose the widget type and size you want, then tap Add Widget.
6. Tap Done at the top right of your home screen.

To customise it later, touch and hold the widget and tap Edit Widget. You can also drag it somewhere else on your home screen.

Adding a Pinterest widget on an Android phone

1. Download or update the Pinterest app.
2. Touch and hold the Pinterest app icon until its menu appears.
3. Tap Widgets.
4. Tap the widget you'd like.
5. Tap Add.

Pinterest adds that you can touch and hold a widget to create a stack, remove it or move it.

Choosing which board your Pinterest widget shows

The boards widget is the useful one for planning. Pinterest says that on iOS you can choose Pins from your own board or from a board made by someone you follow. After adding the boards widget:

1. Touch and hold the widget on your home screen.
2. Tap Edit Widget.
3. Tap Choose next to Board.
4. Pick a board, or type its name in the search bar and tap it when it appears.

If you're tidying up what's available to choose from, my guide to merging Pinterest boards shows how to combine overlapping ones first.

Moving, resizing or removing your Pinterest widget

• To remove it: touch and hold the widget and tap Remove.
• To move it: touch and hold, then drag it to another place on your home screen.
• To resize it: touch and hold, release to enter edit mode, drag the anchor points, then tap outside the widget when you're done.

If your Pinterest widget looks wrong or blank

Pinterest lists these fixes for a widget that isn't displaying correctly, in this order:

1. Open the Pinterest app and make sure you're logged in.
2. Update the Pinterest app to the latest version.
3. Make sure Background App Refresh is enabled for the Pinterest app.
4. Restart your device and check it's on the latest iOS software.
5. Remove the widget and create a new one with the steps above.
6. Uninstall and reinstall the Pinterest app.

Pinterest says you'll need to log in again after reinstalling, and your data will be saved, with the exception of Pin drafts, which are stored locally on your device. So publish or finish any drafts first if you can.

Adding a Pinterest widget to your website

If you run a blog or a small shop site, Pinterest calls the website version an add-on. Its business help centre says the Follow, Pin, Profile and Board add-ons give people more ways to interact with your Pinterest account from your website, and you build them with Pinterest's add-on builder.

• Follow add-on: go to the Follow add-on builder and enter your profile URL.
• Pin add-on: go to the Pin add-on builder and enter the URL of the Pin.
• Profile add-on: enter your Pinterest profile URL, then use the arrow under Size to adjust the size and shape.
• Board add-on: enter your board URL, then use the arrow under Size in the same way.

For each one, Pinterest says to copy the code the builder gives you and paste it onto your website page where you want it to appear. Pinterest also lists instructions for popular site builders including WordPress, Blogger, Wix and Tumblr. If you're building a Pinterest presence from scratch, my walkthrough of creating a Pin on Pinterest is a good first stop so there's something worth showing.

Choosing the right Pinterest widget for what you want

A quick rule I use: phone widget if you want Pinterest inspiration on your own screen, website add-on if you want visitors to see or follow your Pins. They don't connect to each other, so setting up one won't create the other.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add a Pinterest widget to my iPhone home screen?

Touch and hold an empty space on the home screen, tap Edit, tap Add Widget, search for Pinterest, choose a type and size, then tap Add Widget and Done.

How do I add a Pinterest widget on Android?

Touch and hold the Pinterest app icon until the menu appears, tap Widgets, tap the widget you want and tap Add.

Can I choose which board my Pinterest widget shows?

On iOS, yes. Pinterest says the boards widget can show Pins from your own board or a board made by someone you follow. Touch and hold the widget, tap Edit Widget and choose a board.

Why is my Pinterest widget blank or wrong?

Pinterest suggests logging in, updating the app, enabling Background App Refresh, restarting your device, recreating the widget or reinstalling the app.

Can I put a Pinterest widget on my website?

Yes. Pinterest's add-on builder creates Follow, Pin, Profile and Board add-ons. Copy the code it gives you and paste it into your page.