What happens when you create a pin
When you create a pin on Pinterest, you are uploading an image and text to Pinterest's servers, and Pinterest records who you are, what you pinned, when you pinned it, and what device you used. Pinterest also tracks which boards you save it to, whether you add a description, and what links you include. This information becomes part of your Pinterest profile and can be seen by other users depending on your privacy settings — and it is also used by Pinterest to build a profile of your interests for advertising.
Creating a pin is straightforward, but understanding what data moves where is the part most people skip. The steps themselves take about two minutes. The data collection happens invisibly in the background, which is why it matters to know what you are agreeing to before you start.
Key Takeaways
- Pinterest collects the image, text, link, and board information every time you create a pin, plus metadata about your device and the time you created it.
- Your pins are visible to other Pinterest users by default unless you make your boards private, and Pinterest uses pin data to show you ads based on your interests.
- You can create a pin from an image on your computer, from a website using the Pinterest browser button, or by uploading directly through the Pinterest app.
- Pinterest stores your pins indefinitely unless you delete them, and deleted pins may remain in Pinterest's backup systems for some time after deletion.
How to create a pin from your computer
Open Pinterest in your browser and log in. Click the plus sign icon in the top left corner, then select "Create a pin." Choose "Upload an image" and select a photo from your computer. You can upload JPG, PNG, GIF, or WebP files up to 20 MB in size.
Add a title and description. The title is what appears at the top of your pin; the description is the text that shows when someone hovers over it or clicks through. Add a link if you want the pin to direct people somewhere — this is optional. Choose which board to save the pin to, or create a new board. Click "Save" and your pin is live.
Pinterest records the image file itself, the text you wrote, the URL you linked to (if any), the board name, your username, the date and time, your device type, and your IP address. This data is tied to your account and used to show you similar content and targeted ads.
How to create a pin from a website
If you find an image on a website you want to pin, you can use the Pinterest Save button without uploading a file. Install the Pinterest browser extension or button from Pinterest.com/business/hub. When you visit a website with an image you like, click the Pinterest button in your browser toolbar, select the image, add a description, choose a board, and save.
When you use the Save button on a website, Pinterest records not only the image and your description, but also the URL of the webpage where you found it. This creates a link back to the source. Pinterest also records that you visited that website at that time — information that feeds into both your interest profile and Pinterest's broader data about which websites are popular.
How to create a pin using the Pinterest app
Open the Pinterest app on your phone and tap the plus sign at the bottom of the screen. Select "Create a pin." You can choose "Upload a photo" to use an image from your phone's camera roll, or "Use a link" to pin from a website you are browsing. If you upload from your phone, Pinterest accesses your photo library. If you use a link, paste the URL and Pinterest will pull in a preview image.
Add a title, description, and board, then tap "Save." The app collects the same information as the web version — the image, text, link, board, and metadata — but also records that you created the pin from a mobile device. Pinterest's app also has access to your location if you have granted permission, though location is not required to create a pin.
What data Pinterest keeps and how it is used
Pinterest stores every pin you create indefinitely. The company uses the content of your pins — the images, text, and links — to build a profile of your interests. This profile is used to show you pins from other users that match your interests, and to sell targeted advertising space to brands. If you pin home decor, you will see ads for furniture. If you pin recipes, you will see ads for kitchen products.
Pinterest also uses your pin data to train its recommendation algorithm, which learns what kinds of images and topics keep you on the platform longer. The company shares this data with third-party advertisers in aggregated form — meaning they do not share your name, but they do share patterns like "people who pin wedding dresses also click on jewelry ads."
If you delete a pin, it disappears from your profile and from search results within hours. However, Pinterest's backup systems may retain copies of deleted pins for weeks or months. The company does not publicly specify how long backups are kept.
Privacy settings for pins and boards
By default, all pins and boards you create are public — any Pinterest user can see them, search for them, and save them to their own boards. You can change this by making a board private. Open the board, click the three dots in the top right, select "Board settings," and toggle "Keep this board secret" on. Private boards are visible only to you and people you invite.
Individual pins cannot be made private; they inherit the privacy setting of their board. If you want some pins to be private and others public, you need to create separate boards. Note that even if a board is private, Pinterest still collects the same data about your pins — the company knows what you pinned, when, and what links you used, regardless of whether other users can see it.
What to consider before pinning
Think about what your pins reveal about you. If your boards are public, anyone can see your interests, your home address (if you pin real estate), your health concerns (if you pin medical information), or your relationship status (if you pin wedding ideas). This information can be used to build a detailed profile of who you are.
Consider whether you want Pinterest to use your pin data for advertising. If you do not want targeted ads based on your interests, you can limit ad personalization in your Pinterest settings, though you will still see ads — they will just be less targeted. You can also use a browser extension like uBlock Origin to block Pinterest's tracking pixels on other websites, though this requires technical setup.
If you are pinning content you did not create — artwork, photography, writing — be aware that you are uploading it to Pinterest's servers and making it available for other users to read and repin. This does not change the copyright status of the work, but it does mean the original creator has less control over where their work appears.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a pin without a Pinterest account?
No. You must create a Pinterest account and log in to create a pin. Pinterest requires an email address or phone number to set up an account. You can browse pins without logging in, but you cannot save or create them.
What happens if I pin an image I found on Google Images?
Pinterest will store the image on its servers and create a pin with a link back to the source website. If the image is copyrighted and you do not have permission to use it, the copyright holder can request that Pinterest remove the pin. Pinterest does not check copyright before you pin — that responsibility falls on you.
Can other people edit or delete my pins?
No. Only you can edit or delete your own pins. Other users can repin your content to their own boards, but they cannot change your original pin or remove it from your board. If someone repins your content, you can see it in your analytics, but you cannot control what they do with their copy.
Does Pinterest sell my pin data to advertisers?
Pinterest does not sell your individual pin data, but it does sell access to audiences based on interests inferred from pins. Advertisers can target "people interested in home decor" or "people who have pinned wedding content," but they do not receive your name or contact information. Your pins are the raw material Pinterest uses to build these audience segments.
What if I want to delete all my pins at once?
Pinterest does not have a bulk delete feature. You must delete pins one at a time by opening each pin and clicking the three dots, then selecting "Delete pin." If you have hundreds of pins, this is time-consuming. Deleting your entire account will remove all your pins, but Pinterest may retain copies in backups.