- Unblock steps on a laptop or desktop browser
- Unblock steps in the iPhone or Android app
- The faster route through their profile page
- Will they get an alert when you unblock?
- Follows, messages and Pins after unblocking
- Changed your mind? Re-blocking the account
- Harassment, reports and staying safe
- My advice for brand accounts tidying a block list
- Frequently asked questions
To unblock someone on Pinterest, open your settings, go to Social permissions, find Blocked accounts and tap or click Unblock next to their name, then confirm. You can also visit their profile and choose Unblock, and Pinterest's help centre confirms nobody gets a notification when you block or unblock them.
Maybe you blocked someone in a moment of annoyance, or it was a mistake with a busy thumb. Either way, unblocking takes a few seconds. Here are the steps from Pinterest's own help centre for a computer, the app and business accounts, plus what changes once they're unblocked.
Unblock steps on a laptop or desktop browser
- Log in to your Pinterest account.
- Click the cog icon at the bottom left of your screen.
- Click Settings.
- Select Social permissions.
- Scroll down to Blocked accounts and select Edit list.
- Click Unblock next to the account you want to remove from your block list.
- Click Unblock again to confirm.
If you've got a Pinterest business account, Pinterest says you reach your settings by clicking the arrow-down icon at the top right of your screen, then selecting Settings. The rest of the steps are the same.
Unblock steps in the iPhone or Android app
- Open the Pinterest app and make sure you're logged in.
- Tap your profile photo at the bottom right to go to your profile.
- Tap your profile photo at the top left to open your settings.
- Tap Social permissions. On some versions of the app it's called Social permissions and activity.
- Tap Blocked accounts.
- Tap Unblock next to the account you want to remove.
- Tap Unblock again to confirm.
On a business account, Pinterest's instructions say to tap the ellipsis icon at the top right and then tap Settings, instead of tapping your profile photo.
Can't see Blocked accounts? Make sure you're on your own settings, not someone else's profile, and update the app if the menu looks different. Pinterest changes labels from time to time, and an older version of the app may not match these steps.
The faster route through their profile page
If you can find the person's profile, there's a shortcut. Pinterest's help centre says that after blocking, the Unblock option appears under their profile details. In the app on some devices, you tap the ellipsis icon on their profile to find it. This is handy when you remember the account but don't want to scroll through a long block list.
If you've forgotten their username, the block list is the easier option, because it shows every account you've blocked in one place. It's also a good moment to check whether there's anyone else on there you'd forgotten about, such as old spam accounts you no longer need to keep out.
Will they get an alert when you unblock?
No. Pinterest's help centre is clear that no one ever receives a notification that you've blocked or unblocked them. They'd only notice if they tried to follow you or interact with your Pins while they were blocked. So you can unblock someone quietly, and they won't know unless they go looking.
The same goes for blocking. If you block them again later, they won't be told then either. Pinterest designed it this way so that people can protect their space without starting an argument.
Follows, messages and Pins after unblocking
| While they're blocked | After you unblock them |
|---|---|
| They can't follow you | They can follow you again, but they don't follow you automatically |
| They can't message you | They can message you again |
| They can't interact with your Pins | They can save, react to and comment on your Pins again |
| Their Pins don't show in your home feed | Their Pins can appear in your home feed again |
| You might still see them in search and group boards | No change: they still show in search and group boards |
One thing that surprises people: Pinterest says that when you block someone, Pins you've already saved from them stay on your profile. Unblocking doesn't change those either. If you want them gone, you'd delete them one by one.
It's worth knowing that unblocking doesn't restore anything that was removed while they were blocked. Any follow between you was cut when you blocked them, so if you want to follow each other again, you'll both need to tap Follow. Old conversations aren't brought back by unblocking either.
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Changed your mind? Re-blocking the account
Changed your mind? Blocking again works from their profile, using the steps in Pinterest's help centre:
- Open the profile of the person you want to block.
- Tap or click the ellipsis icon under their profile details. On a business account's profile, it's at the top right.
- Choose Block.
- Choose Block again to confirm.
- On a computer, click OK to close the pop-up.
I've written a fuller guide to blocking someone on Pinterest if you want the details on what blocking hides.
Harassment, reports and staying safe
Blocking is for people you'd rather not hear from. If someone's behaviour has crossed into bullying or harassment, Pinterest asks you to follow its reporting guidelines, and it says to contact a law enforcement agency if you're ever concerned about your safety. Don't unblock someone who's harassed you just to see what they're saying. Report first, and keep them blocked.
My advice for brand accounts tidying a block list
If you run a brand account, I'd keep blocking for spam and abuse, and review your block list every so often. It's easy to block a real customer by mistake when you're clearing out spam comments, and unblocking them costs nothing. Because nobody's notified either way, it's a low-risk tidy-up. If you're also wondering what people see when you interact with their content, here's whether Pinterest tells someone when you save their Pin. And if your feed's full of things you don't want after a block, you can reset your Pinterest feed.
Frequently asked questions
How do I unblock someone on Pinterest?
Go to Settings, then Social permissions, then Blocked accounts, and choose Unblock next to their name. Confirm, and you're done.
Will they know I unblocked them on Pinterest?
No. Pinterest says nobody gets a notification when you block or unblock them.
Do they follow me again after I unblock them?
No. Unblocking lets them follow you again, but they'd need to do it themselves.
Can I unblock someone from their Pinterest profile?
Yes. Pinterest says the Unblock option appears under their profile details once they're blocked.
Where's the Pinterest block list on a business account?
On a computer, click the arrow-down icon at the top right and select Settings. In the app, tap the ellipsis icon at the top right, then Settings.
