Pinterest gives you two ways to leave: deactivate temporarily or delete permanently

Deactivating your Pinterest account hides your profile and pins for 30 days, but keeps your data in case you change your mind. Deleting your account removes everything permanently after 30 days — your pins, boards, followers, and saved items all disappear. Most people choose deactivation first because it gives you a month to reconsider before the deletion becomes final.

Both options start in your account settings. You do not need to delete the Pinterest app from your phone or computer first — the account cancellation handles the backend work. If you have saved payment information for Promoted Pins or other paid features, those are removed when you deactivate or delete.

Key Takeaways

  • Deactivating your account hides your profile for 30 days and can be reversed if you log back in during that window.
  • Deleting your account removes all your data permanently after a 30-day waiting period, and you cannot undo it after that time passes.
  • You access both options through Settings and Privacy, under the Account section at the bottom of the menu.
  • If you reactivate during the 30-day deactivation window, your account returns exactly as it was with no data loss.
  • After the 30-day period ends on a deleted account, Pinterest cannot recover your pins, boards, or any other information.

How to deactivate your Pinterest account temporarily

Open Pinterest in a web browser and sign in if you are not already logged in. Tap or click your profile icon in the top right corner — it is a small circle with your photo or initials. A dropdown menu appears with several options.

Select Settings and Privacy from that menu. You will land on a page with your profile information. Scroll all the way to the bottom of the page. You will see a section labeled Account with a red button that says Deactivate Account. Click that button.

Pinterest will ask you why you are leaving — the reason does not affect what happens next, so you can skip this or choose any option. Then it will ask you to confirm your password. Type your password and click Deactivate. Your account is now hidden from public view. You will receive a confirmation email.

During the next 30 days, if you log back into Pinterest with your email and password, your account reactivates automatically and everything returns to normal. After 30 days pass without you logging in, your account moves into the deletion process.

How to permanently delete your Pinterest account

If you want to skip the 30-day waiting period and delete when ready, follow the same steps to reach Settings and Privacy, then scroll to the bottom. Instead of clicking Deactivate Account, look for a link that says Delete Account — it is usually just below the deactivate button in smaller text.

Click Delete Account. Pinterest will warn you that this action cannot be undone and that your data will be permanently removed. You will need to enter your password again to confirm. Once you click the final confirmation, your account enters the deletion queue.

Even after you click delete, Pinterest keeps your data for 30 days in case you contact them to reverse the decision. After those 30 days end, everything is gone for good. You will not be able to recover your pins, boards, followers, or any other account information.

What happens to your pins and boards after cancellation

When you deactivate, your pins and boards become invisible to other users, but they still exist in Pinterest's system. If someone has saved one of your pins, they can still see it in their own collection, but they cannot click through to your profile. Your username becomes unavailable for others to use during the 30-day window.

When you delete, all your pins and boards are removed from Pinterest's public view within a few hours. If someone tries to visit a link to one of your pins, they will see a message that the pin no longer exists. After the 30-day deletion period ends, Pinterest removes the data from their servers entirely.

If you have a business account with a linked website, any Rich Pins or product feeds connected to that account stop working once you delete. You will need to set those up again with a new account if you return to Pinterest later.

Deactivating from the Pinterest mobile app

Open the Pinterest app and tap your profile icon at the bottom right of the screen. Tap the gear icon in the top right corner to open Settings. Scroll down and tap Settings and Privacy.

Scroll to the very bottom of the page until you see the Account section. Tap Deactivate Account or Delete Account depending on which option you want. The process is identical to the web version — you will confirm your password and then confirm the action one more time.

After you deactivate or delete from the app, you can leave the app installed on your phone or delete it. The app will not let you use it without logging in, and logging in will reactivate a deactivated account, so uninstalling is optional.

What to do if you want to come back to Pinterest later

If you deactivated your account, straightforward log in with your email and password anytime during the 30-day window. Your profile, pins, and boards return when ready with no action needed on your part. You can log in from the website or the app.

If you deleted your account and want to return after the 30-day period has passed, you will need to create a brand new account. You can use the same email address, but you will start with zero pins and zero followers. Any pins you created before are gone permanently and cannot be recovered.

If you deleted your account but realize it within the 30-day window, contact Pinterest support through their help center before the 30 days end. Explain that you want to cancel the deletion. Pinterest may be able to restore your account if you reach out before the permanent removal happens, though they do not may provide this.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone else use my username after I deactivate or delete?

During the 30-day waiting period, your username is reserved and no one else can claim it. After 30 days pass on a deleted account, your username becomes available for anyone to use. If you deactivate and reactivate within 30 days, your username is yours again when ready.

Will Pinterest send me emails after I deactivate?

No. Once you deactivate, Pinterest stops sending you notification emails, digest emails, and marketing emails. If you reactivate within 30 days, your email preferences return to what they were before you deactivated.

What if I forgot my password and cannot deactivate?

Go to the Pinterest login page and click Forgot password? Enter your email address and Pinterest will send you a reset link. Click the link in your email, create a new password, and then log in. Once you are logged in, you can proceed with deactivation or deletion as normal.

Do I need to delete the Pinterest app before canceling my account?

No. You can deactivate or delete your account without touching the app. The app will straightforward not work once your account is gone because it requires you to be logged in. You can delete the app afterward if you want to free up space, but it is not necessary for the cancellation to work.

Can I read my pins before I delete my account?

Pinterest does not have a built-in read feature for all your pins at once. If you want to save images before you delete, you will need to manually read them from your boards or use a third-party tool designed for Pinterest backup. Do this before you deactivate or delete, because once your account is gone, you cannot access your pins anymore.