How to delete your Pinterest account
To delete your Pinterest account permanently, log in to Pinterest.com, go to your settings, find the account deletion option, and confirm the deletion. Pinterest will remove your account, boards, and pins within a few days. Once deleted, you cannot recover your account or any content you posted — this action is permanent.
The process takes about two minutes. You do not need to delete individual pins or boards first; Pinterest removes everything when you delete the account itself. If you are unsure whether you want to keep your account, Pinterest also offers a temporary deactivation option that hides your profile for 30 days while keeping your data intact.
Key Takeaways
- Permanent deletion removes your account, all boards, and all pins within a few days, and you cannot undo this action.
- You must be logged into your Pinterest account to delete it; you cannot delete an account from the login page.
- Deactivation temporarily hides your profile for 30 days and lets you reactivate if you change your mind, while deletion is final.
- Pinterest will not delete your account if you straightforward stop using it; you must go through the settings to remove it.
Steps to permanently delete your Pinterest account
Start by going to Pinterest.com and logging in with your email and password. Once you are logged in, look for your profile icon in the top right corner of the page — it is usually a small circle with your photo or initials. Click on it to open a dropdown menu.
From the dropdown menu, select "Settings" (sometimes labeled as a gear icon). This takes you to your account settings page. Scroll down to the bottom of the page until you see a section labeled "Account" or "Deactivate account." Click on "Deactivate account" or "Delete account" — the exact wording depends on your version of Pinterest, but it will be in this settings area.
Pinterest will show you a confirmation page explaining that deletion is permanent. Read through the options: you will see "Deactivate" (temporary, 30 days) and "Delete" (permanent). Click "Delete account." Pinterest may ask you to enter your password again to confirm. Type it in and click the final confirmation button. Your account is now scheduled for deletion and will be fully removed within a few days.
The difference between deactivation and deletion
Deactivation hides your profile, boards, and pins from public view for 30 days. During this time, other users cannot find your profile or see your content. If you log back in within 30 days, your account reactivates and everything returns to normal. After 30 days of inactivity, Pinterest automatically deletes a deactivated account, but you can reactivate anytime before that important date.
Deletion is permanent and when ready. Pinterest removes your account, all boards, all pins, and all saved content within a few days. You cannot recover any of this information. Choose deletion only if you are certain you will not want to return to Pinterest.
If you are taking a break from Pinterest but might return later, deactivation is the safer choice. If you want to leave Pinterest completely and do not plan to come back, deletion is the right option.
What happens to your pins and boards after deletion
When you delete your Pinterest account, all of your pins disappear from Pinterest's servers. If other users saved or repinned your content before deletion, those repins may still appear on their boards, but they will no longer link back to your profile — the original source will show as unavailable.
Any boards you created are removed entirely. If you collaborated with other users on a board, that board disappears from your account, but collaborators may still see it on their end if they were added as contributors. Pins you saved from other creators remain on their boards; deletion only removes content you created.
Pinterest does not notify other users that you deleted your account. Your profile straightforward becomes inaccessible, and any links to your pins or boards will return a "not found" error.
If you cannot find the delete option
On mobile devices, the delete option is in the same place but the menu layout is slightly different. Open the Pinterest app, tap your profile icon at the bottom right, tap the gear icon for settings, scroll to the bottom, and look for "Deactivate account" or "Delete account." The process is identical to the desktop version.
If you are using a business or creator account, the deletion process is the same, but you may see additional options related to your business profile. Deleting a business account also removes all associated analytics and advertising data. If you manage multiple accounts, you must delete each one separately — deleting one account does not affect others.
If the delete button does not appear, make sure you are logged in to the account you want to delete. You cannot delete another person's account, and you cannot delete an account from the login page. If you have forgotten your password, use the "Forgot password" link on the login page to reset it before attempting deletion.
Before you delete: what to save or export
Pinterest does not offer a built-in export tool to read your pins, boards, or images before deletion. If you want to keep a record of your content, take screenshots of your boards or pins before deleting your account. You can also use third-party tools that archive Pinterest boards, though these must be set up before deletion.
If you have pins linking to your own website or blog, note which pins those are before deletion. After your account is deleted, those pins will no longer drive traffic to your site. If you want to keep those links active, consider deactivating instead of deleting, or manually re-upload your pins to a new account after deletion.
For business accounts, read any analytics reports you want to keep. Pinterest does not preserve this data after account deletion, and you cannot recover it later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my Pinterest account if I forgot my password?
No, you must be logged in to delete your account. Go to the Pinterest login page, click "Forgot password," and follow the email instructions to reset your password. Once you can log in, proceed to settings and delete your account.
What if I delete my account by mistake?
If you deleted your account within the last few days, contact Pinterest support through their help center to ask if they can restore it. Restoration is not may provide, but support may be able to help if you act quickly. After a few days, deletion is permanent and cannot be reversed.
Will deleting Pinterest delete my Google or Facebook account?
No. If you signed up for Pinterest using your Google or Facebook login, deleting Pinterest only removes your Pinterest account. Your Google or Facebook account remains active and unaffected. You can still log into those services normally.
Can I delete my account if I have unpaid ads or promoted pins?
Yes, you can delete your account at any time. However, if you have active paid advertising campaigns, they will stop when ready upon deletion. Check your billing settings before deletion to see if you have any outstanding charges that need to be settled.
How long does it take for Pinterest to fully delete my account?
Pinterest removes most account data within a few days, but some cached or archived data may take longer to disappear completely from their servers. For practical purposes, your account is gone within 3 to 5 days and is no longer searchable or accessible to other users.