How to Change a Pinterest Board Cover (Desktop, iPhone, Android)

A board cover is the first thing people see on your profile, so it's worth choosing one that tells them what the board is about. If you use Pinterest for your business, a tidy set of covers makes your profile look planned rather than thrown together.

I've followed Pinterest's own help centre for this. It draws a clear line between a board cover and a header image, and the two work differently depending on your device, so it's worth getting that straight first.

Board cover versus header image on Pinterest

The help page describes them like this. The board cover is the largest image when viewing the board from your profile. The header image is a featured image at the top of the board, and you need at least one Pin saved to the board before you can add one.

Setting	What it means	Where you can change it
Board cover	Largest image when the board is viewed from your profile	iOS app and desktop
Header image	Featured image at the top of the board (needs at least one saved Pin)	Android and iOS apps

Changing your Pinterest board cover on desktop

1. Log in to your Pinterest account on a computer.
2. Click your profile photo at the top right of the screen.
3. Click Boards.
4. Click the board to open it, then click the ellipsis icon next to the board name.
5. Select Edit board.
6. Click the plus icon to update your board cover.
7. Click Done.

Changing your Pinterest board cover on an iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Pinterest app and log in.
2. Tap your profile picture at the bottom right.
3. Tap Boards at the top of the screen.
4. Tap the board to open it.
5. Tap the ellipsis icon at the top right.
6. Tap Edit board and header image.
7. Tap the plus icon to update your board cover.
8. Tap Done at the top right.

Pinterest's help text on this screen also lets you edit the board name or description at the same time, so it's a good moment to tidy those up too.

What to do on Android if you want a new board look

Pinterest says you can only update the board cover on iOS or desktop. On Android, the same Edit board and header image screen lets you update the header image with the pencil icon instead. If you specifically need a new cover, the practical route is to do it from the desktop site or an iOS device while logged in to the same account.

1. Open the Pinterest app on your Android device and log in.
2. Tap your profile picture at the bottom right, then Boards.
3. Open the board and tap the ellipsis icon at the top right.
4. Tap Edit board and header image.
5. Tap the pencil icon to update the header image.
6. Tap Done at the top right.

Picking a board cover that works for your audience

Pinterest doesn't set rules on the style of a cover in the help page I read, so this part is my own advice for creators and small businesses:

• Choose an image that says what the board is about at a glance, since it shows at a small size.
• Keep a consistent look across your boards so the profile feels like one brand.
• Use the Pin that best represents the topic, not just the most recent one.
• Review the cover after changing it by viewing your profile as a visitor would.

Updating the header image as well as the cover on iPhone

The iPhone and iPad route is the most complete one, because the same Edit board and header image screen offers both. Pinterest's steps show a pencil icon for the header image and a plus icon for the board cover, so it's easy to mix them up. If the board looks wrong afterwards, go back in and check which icon you used.

• Pencil icon: updates the header image at the top of the board.
• Plus icon: updates the board cover people see from your profile.
• Name and description: both can be edited on the same screen before you tap Done.

Take a moment to open your profile afterwards and look at it the way a visitor would. A cover that looked fine on its own can look off next to the others, and it only takes a minute to swap it.

Planning a matching set of Pinterest board covers

If you have more than a handful of boards, it's worth deciding the look before you start changing them one by one. A simple plan keeps the job short:

1. List the boards in the order you want people to notice them.
2. Choose one Pin from each board that sums up its topic.
3. Change the covers on desktop or iOS, one board at a time.
4. Open your profile and check the whole set together.

If you can't find the Pinterest board cover option

1. Check you're on the Edit board screen, reached through the ellipsis icon next to the board name.
2. On Android, remember the cover can't be changed there. Use the desktop site or iOS.
3. Make sure the board has at least one Pin saved if you're after a header image.
4. Update the Pinterest app and log out and in again.
5. If the board itself has gone missing, my guide to deleting a Pinterest board and restoring it explains the seven-day window Pinterest gives you.

Other Pinterest board changes worth knowing

While you're on the edit screen, think about whether the board is public or private. If you're preparing a board you aren't ready to share, my guide to making a secret board on Pinterest covers that. And if two boards overlap, merging Pinterest boards saves your Pins from being split across them.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change a Pinterest board cover?

Open the board, click or tap the ellipsis icon, choose Edit board, use the plus icon to update the board cover and then choose Done. Pinterest says this works on iOS and desktop.

Can I change a Pinterest board cover on Android?

Pinterest's help page says you can only update the board cover on iOS or desktop. On Android you can update the board header image instead.

What's the difference between a board cover and a header image?

Pinterest says the board cover is the largest image when viewing the board from your profile, while the header image is a featured image at the top of the board.

Do I need a saved Pin to add a header image?

Yes. Pinterest says you need at least one Pin saved to the board in order to add a header image.

Can I rename my board at the same time?

Yes. The same Edit board screen lets you change the board name and description.