To share a Pinterest board, open the board, click the plus circle icon below the board name, then either invite people by name, username or email address, or click Copy link and send the link to them. Invited people become collaborators who can add Pins, and the board becomes a group board.
There are really two kinds of sharing on Pinterest. One is showing someone a board. The other is inviting them to build it with you. They look similar in the menu, but they give people very different powers, so it's worth knowing which you're doing before you hit send.
Show a board or build it together?
| What you want | What to do | What they can do |
|---|---|---|
| Let someone see a public board | Send them the board's link | View and save its Pins |
| Plan something together | Invite them as a collaborator | Add and organise Pins, depending on your settings |
| Share a private board | Invite them as a collaborator, or make the board public | Only people you invite can see it |
Pinterest's help pages describe public boards as visible on your profile and in search, private boards as visible only to you and anyone you invite, and group boards as boards with collaborators, which can be public or private.
How to invite people to a board on a computer
- Log in, then click your profile picture in the top right to open your profile.
- Click the board you want to share.
- Click the plus circle icon below the board name.
- Search by first and last name, username or email address, then click Invite next to each person. Or click Copy link and send it to them.
Pinterest says your friends will get an email or notification about the invite.
How to invite people in the app
- Open the Pinterest app and tap your profile picture at the bottom right.
- Tap the board to open it.
- Tap the plus circle icon below the board name.
- Pick a recommended person or search by name, username or email address, then tap Invite. Or tap Copy link and send it.
Set what collaborators can do before you invite them
This is the step most people skip. As the board owner, you decide what collaborators can do. Open the board, tap the plus circle icon, then the arrow next to Collaborators can, and choose:
- Do (almost) everything: add, move and delete Pins and sections, plus comment and react.
- Save and comment: save and organise Pins, comment and react, but not delete.
- Invite other people: let collaborators invite others to the board.
- Board requests: let people request to join the board.
If you're sharing a board with a client or a supplier, Save and comment is usually the safer choice. Nobody can delete your Pins by accident, and you stay in control of who else joins.
Sharing a private board
Pinterest says that if you want to share a private board, you can either invite friends to collaborate or make the board public. Inviting keeps it hidden from everyone else, which is ideal for surprise parties, gift lists or early project plans.
To make a private board public instead, open the board settings and turn off Make this board private. If you'd like to go the other way and keep a board just for you and a few others, here's how to make a secret board on Pinterest.
If someone can't see the board you shared
When a link doesn't work for the person you sent it to, it's nearly always one of these:
- The board is private: a private board is only visible to you and the people you've invited, so a copied link on its own won't open it for anyone else. Invite them instead, or make the board public.
- They haven't accepted the invite: invitations arrive by email or notification, and they need to accept before they can add Pins.
- Your collaborator settings are tight: if they can see the board but can't add anything, check what Collaborators can is set to.
If none of those explain it, my guide to Pinterest not working covers app and login problems that can stop boards loading.
Good uses for a shared board
- Client mood boards: gather ideas before a brand or website project, with the client adding examples they like.
- Team content planning: one board per campaign so everyone saves references in one place.
- Events: venues, décor and menus planned with the people involved.
- Home projects: share a private board with a partner or a builder.
Group boards also let you mark favourite Pins with a star and filter the board to see all Pins, favourites or Pins added by one collaborator, which makes a busy board much easier to review. Before you share, it's worth giving the board a clear cover so people recognise it instantly, and I've shown how to change a Pinterest board cover on every device.
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My advice
Decide first whether people are looking or building. For looking, send the link. For building, set Collaborators can to Save and comment before you invite anyone, then loosen it if you need to. And if a shared board grows into something you'd like to keep separate later, you can always merge or reorganise Pinterest boards once the project's done.
Frequently asked questions
How do I send someone a link to my Pinterest board?
Open the board, click the plus circle icon below the board name and choose Copy link, then paste it into a message or email.
Can I share a private Pinterest board?
Yes. Invite people as collaborators to keep it private, or make the board public by turning off Make this board private in its settings.
What's a group board on Pinterest?
A group board is a board with collaborators. Everyone invited can add and organise Pins, and the board can be public or private.
Can I stop collaborators deleting Pins?
Yes. As the owner, set Collaborators can to Save and comment, so they can save and organise Pins but not delete them.
Can people ask to join my Pinterest board?
Yes, if you allow it. In the collaborator settings, turn on Board requests so people can request to join the board.
Can I favourite Pins on a group board?
Yes. Pinterest says you can star favourite Pins on a group board, then filter to see all Pins, favourites or Pins added by one collaborator.
Do people get notified when I invite them to a board?
Yes. Pinterest says invited friends get an email or notification about your invite.
