How to Delete Your Pinterest Account (or Deactivate It)

Leaving Pinterest is a bigger decision than it looks. Years of boards, saved ideas and followers can vanish with a few taps, and Pinterest gives you two very different ways out. I'm all for stepping back from an app that's not serving you, but I'd always pick the right exit first, because one of them is a pause and the other is permanent.

Below you'll find the exact menus Pinterest's help centre lists for closing an account on a computer and in the app, what happens during the waiting period, and how a temporary deactivation works if you just want a break. It applies whether you use Pinterest for fun, for a hobby or for a small business.

Deleting your Pinterest account on a computer

Pinterest's help article sets out four short steps on the website:

1. Log in to your Pinterest account in a browser.
2. Click the more-options icon, then select Settings.
3. Click Account management in the left-side navigation.
4. Click Delete account and follow the prompts on screen.

Once you've worked through the prompts, there's one more step that's easy to miss. Pinterest asks you to check the email address linked to your account and confirm there that you want to close it. Until you do, the request isn't finished.

Deleting your Pinterest account in the app

The app route ends in a differently named button, which confuses a lot of people:

1. Open the Pinterest app and log in.
2. Tap your profile picture. Pinterest's help says personal account users then tap their profile photo in the top-left corner, while business account users tap the ellipsis icon in the top-right.
3. Tap Account management and scroll right to the bottom.
4. Tap Delete your data and account.
5. Follow the prompts, then confirm through the email Pinterest sends you.

Menus vary a little by app version and device, but Account management is the section to look for in both places.

How to deactivate a Pinterest account instead of deleting it

If you want a break rather than a goodbye, deactivation is the gentler option. Pinterest's help says it hides your profile and boards until you reactivate, and you can come back whenever you like. The steps follow the same path:

1. On a computer, go to Settings, then Account management, and click Deactivate account.
2. In the app, tap your profile picture, then Account management, scroll to the bottom and tap Deactivate account.
3. Follow the prompts to finish.

Two things to know before you choose this. First, your email address and username stay tied to the deactivated account, so you can't reuse that email for a fresh Pinterest account. Pinterest's help suggests changing your email or editing your username in settings first if you need them free. Second, logging back in reactivates the account. If you only want to check it's hidden, Pinterest says to visit pinterest.com followed by a slash and your username in a browser rather than logging in.

What happens during the Pinterest deletion window

Deletion isn't instant, and that's a good thing. According to Pinterest's help centre, your public profile is deactivated straight away, then your account and personal data are permanently deleted after 7 days. During those 7 days you can change your mind and reactivate. Pinterest adds that users in California must contact Pinterest first to reverse a deletion.

Question	Deactivate	Delete
Is it permanent?	No, you can reactivate	Yes, after 7 days
Profile and boards	Hidden until you return	Profile hidden at once, then removed
Email and username	Stay tied to the account	Removed with the account
How to undo	Log back in	Reactivate within 7 days

Saving what matters before you close Pinterest

Once the account goes, so do your boards. Before you start, I'd spend ten minutes on a quick tidy-up:

• Note down the boards you'd miss, or save the key ideas somewhere else, such as a notes app.
• Keep copies of any images you created yourself, since they live on your phone or computer, not on Pinterest.
• If other people collaborate on your boards, tell them you're leaving so they're not surprised.
• Check whether any other apps sign in through your Pinterest login, and switch them to another sign-in first.

Closing a Pinterest business account

Business accounts follow the same Account management route, with the ellipsis icon at the top-right in the app. Pinterest's help adds a business-only step: if you've run ads, you'll need to clear any outstanding ad charges by removing your card details in settings before the account can be deleted. Do that first and the rest goes smoothly.

If you're closing a business profile because results have been slow, it might be worth a rethink before you go. My guide to how one brand built a winning Pinterest strategy shows what consistent pinning can do, and my beginner's route into Pinterest marketing covers the basics if you'd like a fresh start rather than an exit.

If you can't delete your Pinterest account

• You can't find the button: look for Delete your data and account in the app, not Delete account, which is the wording on a computer.
• Nothing seems to happen: check the email linked to your account for Pinterest's confirmation message, including the spam folder.
• Someone else used your email to sign up: Pinterest's help centre has a separate route for removing your email from an account you didn't create.
• You've deactivated and want to make it permanent: log back in, then follow the delete steps above.

If you're tightening up your privacy across all your social accounts, my privacy audit for X uses the same mindset and is a good next stop.

Frequently asked questions

How do I delete my Pinterest account?

On a computer, go to Settings, then Account management, and click Delete account. In the app, tap your profile picture, then Account management, scroll down and tap Delete your data and account. Confirm through the email Pinterest sends you.

How do I deactivate my Pinterest account?

Go to Settings, then Account management, and choose Deactivate account. Your profile and boards are hidden until you log back in.

Can I get my Pinterest account back after deleting it?

Yes, for a short time. Pinterest says your account and personal data are permanently deleted after 7 days, and you can reactivate within that window. Users in California must contact Pinterest first.

Does logging in undo deactivation on Pinterest?

Yes. Pinterest's help says logging in reactivates the account, so check whether it's hidden by visiting your profile address in a browser instead.

Can I reuse my email after deactivating Pinterest?

Not while it's deactivated. Your email and username stay tied to the account, so change them in settings first if you'd like to use them elsewhere.