How to Change Your Pinterest Password (or Reset It if You Forgot)

Those are two different routes, and which one you need depends on whether you can still log in. Below are both, plus the fixes for the usual snags, such as a reset link that won't open.

Change or reset: which one do you need?

Your situation	Use this route	Needs your old password?
Logged in and you know the password	Settings, Account management, Change	Yes
Logged in but forgot the password	Forgot it? link inside the Change screen	No, it emails you a link
Locked out completely	Password reset page or Forgot your password? on login	No, it emails you a link
Account uses Google or Apple to log in	Continue with Google or Apple	No Pinterest password involved

Whichever route you take, Pinterest won't accept a password you've used recently, so have a fresh one ready before you start. A password manager makes that painless and remembers it for you on every device.

Change your password while logged in (computer)

1. Log in to Pinterest.
2. Click the more options icon at the bottom left of your screen.
3. Select Settings.
4. Click Account management in the left-side menu.
5. Click Change next to the Password field.
6. Enter your old password, then your new password twice.
7. Click Change password.

If you can't remember the old password at step six, Pinterest offers a Forgot it? link right there that sends a reset email.

Change your password in the app

1. Open the Pinterest app and log in.
2. Tap your profile picture at the bottom right.
3. Tap your profile photo at the top left.
4. Tap Account management, then Password.
5. Enter your current password, then the new one twice.
6. Tap Done.

Reset a forgotten Pinterest password

If you're locked out, reset it from Pinterest's password reset page:

1. Go to the Pinterest password reset page, or select Forgot your password? on the login page.
2. Enter your email, name or username to find your account, then search.
3. Click This is me next to your account (in some app versions the button says Send).
4. Open the reset email Pinterest sends to the address on your account.
5. Click Reset password, enter a new password and click Change password.

The rules Pinterest applies

Rule	What it means for you
No reusing recent passwords	Pinterest blocks passwords you've used recently, so pick something new.
The reset goes to your account email	If you can't get into that inbox, you can't reset the password.
Google or Apple logins skip the password	If your account was set up with Google or Apple, use Continue with Google instead of typing a password.
Teen accounts may need a parent	On a teen account with a parental passcode, Password is a locked setting.

When the reset link doesn't work

Pinterest's own tip: if the reset link isn't working in your normal browser, open it in a private Chrome, Firefox or Safari window instead.

If the email never arrives, check spam and promotions folders, and make sure you searched for the right account. Pinterest says you can get a hint of the email on an account by searching your name or username on its password reset page, which helps when you have more than one address.

No access to your email any more?

This is the hard case. Pinterest says that if you no longer have access to the email linked to your account, you won't be able to reset the password. Its suggestion is to create a new account and save your public Pins from the old account to the new one. If the old account was linked to Google or Apple, try that login first before giving up on it.

Add two-factor authentication while you're there

A new password is a good moment to turn on two-factor authentication, which asks for a code as well as your password every time you log in. Pinterest notes it isn't available in every region yet.

1. Go to Settings, then Security.
2. Under Two-factor authentication, tick Require code at login.
3. Confirm your email and enter your password.
4. Choose your country code and enter your phone number.
5. Type in the code Pinterest texts you, then click Verify.
6. Write down the backup code somewhere safe.

Pinterest says a phone number can only be linked to one account, and if you have trouble logging in because of two-factor authentication, you'll need to contact Pinterest support.

To turn it off later, go back to the same Security screen, enter your Pinterest password and click Turn off. Pinterest saves the change automatically.

If privacy is the reason for the change, my guide to making a Pinterest account private explains what to switch on.

A few password habits worth keeping

• Use a password you don't use anywhere else, ideally from a password manager.
• Log out of shared or old devices after you change it. My guide on logging out of Pinterest covers each device.
• If something still feels wrong after the change, my guide to fixing Pinterest login problems has the wider checks.

My verdict

If you can log in, changing your Pinterest password takes under a minute in Account management. If you can't, everything depends on that account email, so keep it current and consider linking Google or Apple as a backup. Then switch on two-factor authentication and store the backup code; it's the one step that stops a leaked password turning into a lost account.

While you're in the settings, my guide to changing the email on a Pinterest account is the other change people usually need.

Frequently asked questions

How do I change my Pinterest password?

Go to Settings, then Account management, click Change next to Password, enter your old password and a new one twice, then click Change password. In the app, tap Account management, then Password.

How do I reset my Pinterest password if I forgot it?

Select Forgot your password? on the login page or open the password reset page, find your account, and Pinterest emails a reset link to the address on the account.

Why isn't my Pinterest password reset link working?

Pinterest suggests opening the reset link in a private Chrome, Firefox or Safari window if it doesn't work in your regular browser.

Can I reset my Pinterest password without email?

No. Pinterest says that if you no longer have access to the account's email, you can't reset the password. It suggests creating a new account and saving your public Pins to it.