The three ways to add people to Pinterest
You can add people to Pinterest in three ways: by inviting them to collaborate on a board you own, by following their account, or by sending them a message. The first method — board collaboration — lets another person edit and pin to a board alongside you. The second — following — means you see their pins in your feed but they cannot change your boards. The third — messaging — starts a private conversation but does not automatically connect your accounts.
Which method you use depends on what you want that person to do. If you are planning a wedding and want your partner to add ideas to the same board, you invite them to collaborate. If you just want to see what someone pins, you follow them. If you want to send them a specific pin or ask a question, you message them.
Key Takeaways
- Board collaboration lets another person edit and add pins to a board you own, and you control who can see it.
- Following someone means you see their pins in your feed, but they do not get access to your boards unless you invite them.
- When you invite someone to a board, they receive a notification and can accept or decline before they can edit.
- Messaging on Pinterest starts a private conversation but does not give the other person access to your account or boards.
How to invite someone to collaborate on a board
Open the board you want to share. Tap or click the three dots in the top right corner, then select "Invite collaborators." A box will appear asking you to enter a name, email, or username. Type the person's information and tap "Invite." They will receive a notification that you have invited them to the board. Once they accept, they can add pins, delete pins, and edit the board description — but they cannot delete the board itself or remove you as the owner.
The person you invite does not need to follow you or be your friend on Pinterest. They just need an active Pinterest account. If you invite someone by email and they do not yet have a Pinterest account, they will see a prompt to create one when they click the invitation link.
You can invite multiple people to the same board. Each person you add sees everyone else who is collaborating and can see what they have pinned. If you want to remove someone later, go back to the board, tap the three dots, select "Collaborators," and tap the X next to their name.
How to follow someone on Pinterest
Search for the person's name or username using the search bar at the top of the app or website. When you find their profile, tap or click the "Follow" button. You will now see their pins in your home feed alongside pins from boards you follow. Following someone does not send them a notification, and they cannot see that you followed them unless they check their follower list.
Following is one-way — the person does not automatically follow you back. If you want them to see your pins, you can send them a message letting them know you have followed them, or you can invite them to collaborate on a specific board.
How to send a message on Pinterest
Tap or click the message icon (it looks like a speech bubble) at the top of the app or website. Select "Create a new message" or tap the compose button. Search for the person's name or username and select them from the results. Type your message and tap "Send." The person will receive a notification that you have messaged them. They can reply, ignore the message, or block you from sending future messages.
Messages on Pinterest are private — only you and the person you message can see the conversation. You can send a message to someone even if you do not follow them and they do not follow you. However, if they have their message settings restricted, your message may go to a "requests" folder that they have to approve before reading.
What information the other person sees when you add them
When you invite someone to collaborate on a board, they can see your name, profile picture, and the board you invited them to. They can also see any pins on that board and any comments you have left on those pins. They cannot see your other boards, your saved pins, or your follower list unless you invite them to those boards as well.
When you follow someone or they follow you, each person can see the other's public profile, including their name, profile picture, bio, and any public boards. You cannot see someone's private boards unless they invite you to collaborate on them. If someone sends you a message, you can see their profile before you decide whether to reply.
How to control who can see your boards
When you create a board, you choose whether it is public or private. A public board can be found by anyone searching Pinterest, and anyone can follow it. A private board can only be seen by you and anyone you invite to collaborate. You can change a board from public to private at any time by opening it, tapping the three dots, and selecting "Make secret" or "Make private" depending on your device.
If you have a private board and invite someone to collaborate, they will see only that board and the pins on it — not your other boards. This is useful if you want to share one project with a specific person without showing them everything else you have saved.
What happens if someone you added blocks you or leaves
If someone you invited to a board declines the invitation, they will not be added and cannot see the board. If they accept and then later remove themselves as a collaborator, they lose access to the board when ready. You will see their name disappear from the collaborators list.
If someone blocks you on Pinterest, you cannot message them, see their profile, or invite them to boards. If you had already invited them to a board before they blocked you, they remain a collaborator on that board but you cannot communicate with them about it. You can still remove them by going to the board and deleting them from the collaborators list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I invite someone to Pinterest if they do not have an account yet?
Yes. If you invite someone by email and they do not have a Pinterest account, they will receive an email with a link to create one. Once they create their account and accept your board invitation, they become a collaborator. If you try to invite someone by username and they do not exist, the search will return no results.
Can someone I added to a board see my other boards?
No. When you invite someone to collaborate on a board, they can see only that board and the pins on it. They cannot see your other boards, your saved pins, or your private information unless you invite them to those boards separately.
What is the difference between following someone and inviting them to a board?
Following means you see their pins in your feed, but they cannot edit your boards. Inviting them to collaborate means they can add and delete pins on that specific board. You can do both — follow someone and invite them to a board at the same time.
Can I message someone who does not follow me back?
Yes. You can message anyone on Pinterest even if they do not follow you. However, if they have restricted their message settings, your message may go to a requests folder they have to approve before reading it.
If I remove someone from a board, can I add them back later?
Yes. You can invite the same person to a board again at any time. They will receive a new invitation notification and can accept or decline just like the first time.