The two ways to add someone on Pinterest

You can add someone on Pinterest in two ways: by searching for their profile directly, or by inviting them through email. The search method works if you know their Pinterest username or full name. The email method works if you have their email address but don't know their Pinterest handle — Pinterest will send them an invitation, and once they accept, you'll be connected.

Both methods create a connection that lets you see each other's public boards and pins. What you see depends on their privacy settings: some people keep all boards public, while others make certain boards private. Adding someone does not automatically give you access to their private boards.

Key Takeaways

  • Search for someone by their username or full name in the search bar at the top of Pinterest, then click "Follow" on their profile to add them.
  • You can also invite someone by email through the "Invite friends" feature, which sends them a notification to join or connect with you.
  • Adding someone lets you see their public pins and boards, but private boards remain hidden unless they change their privacy settings.
  • You can remove a connection at any time by unfollowing someone or blocking them if you no longer want to see their content.

Finding and adding someone by searching their profile

Open Pinterest and look for the search bar at the top of the page. Type the person's username or full name into the search box. Pinterest will show you a list of results — look for the person's profile picture and name to make sure you have the right person.

Click on their profile to open it. On their profile page, you'll see a button that says "Follow" (if you haven't added them yet) or "Following" (if you already have). Click the "Follow" button. That's all — you're now connected, and you'll see their public pins in your home feed.

If you're not sure you have the right person, check their profile details first. Many profiles show a bio, location, or website that can help you confirm it's the person you're looking for.

Inviting someone by email

If you know someone's email address but not their Pinterest username, you can send them an invitation. On the Pinterest home page, look for your profile icon in the top right corner and click it. Select "Invite friends" from the menu that appears.

A box will open where you can type or paste email addresses. You can add one email at a time or paste multiple addresses separated by commas. Type a personal message if you want — this makes the invitation feel less like spam. Click "Send invites" when you're ready.

Pinterest will send an email to each address. If the person already has a Pinterest account, they'll see a notification asking them to connect with you. If they don't have an account yet, the email will invite them to join Pinterest and connect with you at the same time. They'll need to accept the invitation for you to be connected.

What happens after you add someone

Once you've added someone and they've accepted (if you sent an invitation), you become mutual connections. You'll see their public pins and boards in your home feed, and they'll see yours. You can click on their profile anytime to browse their boards and save their pins to your own boards.

Your connection does not give you automatic access to private boards. If someone has marked a board as private, you won't see it even though you're connected. They would need to change the board's privacy settings or invite you to it separately for you to view it.

Removing a connection or blocking someone

If you want to stop seeing someone's pins, click on their profile and click the "Following" button to unfollow them. This removes the connection without notifying them. They can still see your public pins unless you block them.

If you want to prevent someone from seeing your content or contacting you, click their profile, click the three dots menu, and select "Block this user." A blocked person cannot find your profile, see your pins, or send you messages. You can unblock them later the same way if you change your mind.

Troubleshooting common problems

If you search for someone and can't find them, they may have changed their username, deactivated their account, or set their profile to private. Try searching by their full name instead of a username. If you still can't find them, ask them directly for their Pinterest username or email address.

If you sent an email invitation and the person says they never received it, ask them to check their spam or junk folder — Pinterest emails sometimes end up there. You can also try sending the invitation again, or ask them to search for your profile directly and follow you instead.

If you're trying to add someone but the "Follow" button doesn't appear, you may already be following them, or they may have blocked you. If they've blocked you, you won't be able to see their profile at all.

Privacy considerations when adding people

When you add someone on Pinterest, they can see which of your boards are public. They cannot see your email address, phone number, or any information you haven't chosen to display on your profile. Your saved pins and private boards remain hidden from them unless you change those boards' privacy settings.

If you're concerned about what someone can see, check your board privacy settings before adding them. You can make individual boards private, secret (visible only to you), or public. You can also change these settings anytime after you've added someone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add someone on Pinterest without them knowing?

Yes. When you follow someone, they don't receive a notification. However, if you send an email invitation, they'll receive an email asking them to connect with you. If you search for their profile and click "Follow," they won't be notified unless they check their followers list.

What's the difference between following and being friends on Pinterest?

Pinterest uses the term "following" rather than "friends." When you follow someone, you see their public pins in your feed. There's no separate "friendship" status — following is the only connection type on Pinterest.

If I add someone, can they see my private boards?

No. Private boards are visible only to you, even if you're connected with someone. Secret boards are also hidden from everyone except you. Only public boards are visible to people you've added.

Can I add someone if they have a private profile?

If someone's profile is set to private, you can still follow them, but you may not see all their content. Some people set their profiles to private to limit who can see their pins. You can still send them a follow request or invitation.

What happens if I block someone on Pinterest?

A blocked person cannot see your profile, find your pins, or send you messages. They won't be notified that you've blocked them, but if they try to visit your profile, they'll see a message saying the profile isn't available.