How to Download Images from Pinterest on a Phone or Computer

You can also do it straight from your home feed without opening the Pin, which saves a tap when you're scrolling for ideas. And if the option isn't there, Pinterest has a short list of things to try before you give up.

Here's the full process for each device, the difference between saving and downloading, and the fixes from Pinterest's help centre.

On a computer

1. Open pinterest.com and select the Pin you want.
2. Click the ellipsis icon next to the image.
3. Click Download image.

You can skip opening the Pin. In the home feed, click the ellipsis icon at the bottom right of the image and choose Download image from the menu.

On an Android phone

1. Open the Pinterest app and tap the Pin.
2. Tap the ellipsis icon underneath the Pin.
3. Tap Download image.

Pinterest saves the image to the Gallery folder on your device.

On an iPhone or iPad

1. Open the Pinterest app and tap the Pin.
2. Tap the ellipsis icon underneath the Pin.
3. Tap Download image.

The image goes into your Photos. In both apps you can also tap the ellipsis icon at the bottom right of a Pin in your home feed and download from there.

Saving a Pin vs downloading it

	Save	Download
Where it goes	One of your Pinterest boards	Your phone or computer
Needs Pinterest to view it	Yes	No
Helps Pinterest learn your taste	Yes, according to Pinterest	Not mentioned
Keeps the link to the source	Yes, the Pin stays a Pin	No, it's just an image file

That last row matters more than people think. A saved Pin still points back to the recipe, the shop or the blog it came from. A downloaded image is a picture with no trail. If you might want the original source later, save it to a board as well.

If Download image isn't showing

Pinterest says not all Pins can be downloaded, so the option won't appear everywhere. Before you decide that's the case, try these two things:

• Download from the home feed instead, using the ellipsis icon under the Pin.
• Use a desktop or mobile browser instead of the app.

If you tapped Download but nothing saved

Pinterest's own checklist:

1. Close and reopen the Pinterest app, then try again.
2. Make sure your device has enough storage.
3. Check that Pinterest has permission to save photos on your device.
4. Update the Pinterest app to the latest version.
5. Try a desktop or mobile browser instead of the app.

The permissions step is the one I'd check first on a phone. If you said no when Pinterest first asked to access your photos, downloads can quietly fail. You'll find it in your phone's settings under the Pinterest app.

If you can't download it, try these instead

When a Pin won't download, you've still got options that keep the idea close:

• Save it to a board, so it stays on Pinterest with its link to the original source.
• Mark it as a favourite, which Pinterest offers as another way to keep track of Pins you love.
• Share it to your other social networks, such as Facebook or Instagram, which Pinterest supports from the Pin.
• Send it to someone in a Pinterest message if you want a friend's opinion on it.

None of these give you a file on your phone, but for most mood boards and plans, a saved Pin does the job better than a loose image anyway.

What about videos?

Videos work differently. Whether you can download a video Pin is up to its creator, and downloaded videos carry a username watermark. Pinterest's help centre covers that under its Video Pin downloads setting, and the same ellipsis menu is where you'll find Download when a creator allows it.

Using downloaded images for your business

This is where I see small businesses get into trouble. Downloading an image from Pinterest doesn't give you the right to use it on your website, in an ad or on your social channels. Pinterest is full of other people's photos and designs, and the person who made the image still owns it.

If you want images for your marketing, make your own Pins or use images you've got permission for. Here's how to create your own Pin on Pinterest if you want to start with your own photos.

Making your downloads easy to find

If you download a lot of ideas, they pile up fast in your camera roll. Two habits help. Save the Pin to a board at the same time, so you've got the source. And create an album or folder for your Pinterest downloads on your phone, so mood board images don't get mixed in with family photos. It sounds obvious, but it saves a lot of scrolling when you're trying to show a decorator or designer what you meant. And if you'd rather keep your ideas inside Pinterest, you can make a collage on Pinterest from Pins instead of downloading them at all.

My advice

For personal inspiration, download away: it's three taps and it works on every device. For anything public or commercial, treat a downloaded image as borrowed, not yours. And when the button's missing, try the home feed or a browser before you assume the Pin is locked.

Frequently asked questions

How do I download a picture from Pinterest?

Open the Pin, click or tap the ellipsis icon next to or under the image, and choose Download image.

Where do Pinterest downloads go on my phone?

On Android they're saved to the Gallery folder. On an iPhone they're saved to Photos.

Why is there no Download image option on a Pin?

Pinterest says not all Pins can be downloaded. Try downloading from the home feed or from a desktop or mobile browser instead of the app.

Does downloading a Pin save it to my board?

No. Saving adds the Pin to one of your boards, while downloading saves the image file to your device.

Why didn't my Pinterest image save?

Restart the app, check your storage, check Pinterest has permission to save photos, update the app or try a browser.