How to Close Your Pinterest Account Permanently
Deciding to close a Pinterest account is more straightforward than many users expect — but the process has a few important details worth understanding before you start. Whether you're stepping away from social media, consolidating accounts, or simply done with the platform, knowing exactly what happens when you deactivate versus delete makes a real difference.
Deactivation vs. Deletion: These Are Not the Same Thing
Pinterest offers two distinct options, and confusing them is the most common mistake people make.
Deactivating your account is temporary. Your profile, boards, and Pins become hidden from other users, but Pinterest retains all your data. You can reactivate at any time simply by logging back in. Think of it as a pause button.
Deleting your account is permanent. Pinterest removes your profile, boards, Pins, and personal data from the platform. This process typically takes up to 14 days to complete fully on Pinterest's backend. Once confirmed, it cannot be undone.
If you're not 100% certain you want to leave permanently, deactivation is the safer starting point.
What Gets Deleted When You Close Your Account
Before proceeding, it's worth knowing exactly what disappears:
- Your profile and username
- All boards and the Pins saved to them
- Your followers and following lists
- Any messages sent through Pinterest
- Linked social accounts (disconnected, not deleted from those platforms)
- Your saved email preferences and notification settings
What Pinterest does not automatically remove: any Pins you created that were re-saved by other users onto their own boards. Those repins exist independently and remain on the platform.
How to Close Your Pinterest Account on Desktop 🖥️
- Log into Pinterest at pinterest.com
- Click your profile photo in the top-right corner
- Select Settings from the dropdown menu
- Scroll to the bottom of the left sidebar and click Account Management
- You'll see two options: Deactivate account and Delete account
- Click Delete account
- Pinterest will ask you to confirm by entering your password
- You may be prompted to select a reason for leaving (this step is optional feedback for Pinterest)
- Click Done to confirm
Pinterest will send a confirmation email to the address on file. The deletion is not finalized until you click the confirmation link in that email. If you don't confirm via email, the account will not be deleted.
How to Close Your Pinterest Account on Mobile 📱
The mobile process is nearly identical across iOS and Android, though menu labels can vary slightly between app versions.
- Open the Pinterest app and tap your profile icon
- Tap the three-line menu (hamburger icon) in the top-right
- Go to Settings
- Scroll down to Account Management
- Tap Delete account
- Enter your password when prompted
- Confirm your decision
Again, watch for the confirmation email — the deletion only proceeds once you verify via the link Pinterest sends.
Closing a Business Account vs. a Personal Account
The steps above apply to both account types, but business accounts have one additional consideration: if you're running Pinterest Ads, you'll want to pause or cancel any active campaigns before initiating deletion. Closing an account with active billing can leave outstanding charges unresolved.
Business account holders should also check whether any team members or collaborators have access — removing those connections beforehand prevents any confusion once the account is gone.
If You Can't Remember Your Password
Pinterest requires password confirmation to delete an account. If you've lost access, use the Forgot password link on the login page to reset via your registered email. If you no longer have access to that email address either, account recovery becomes more complex and may require contacting Pinterest Help.
Variables That Affect the Experience
Several factors determine how smoothly this process goes for any given user:
| Variable | How It Matters |
|---|---|
| Account type | Personal vs. Business affects billing and team access considerations |
| Login method | Accounts created via Google or Facebook sign-in may need to set a password first |
| Active subscriptions | Pinterest Creator or ad accounts require separate billing review |
| Linked platforms | Instagram, Etsy, or YouTube connections should be manually unlinked if needed |
| Email access | Confirmation email is required; no email access = no deletion |
The 14-Day Window
After you confirm deletion via email, Pinterest begins processing the request. During this period, your account and content become inaccessible to others, but the data isn't immediately wiped from Pinterest's servers. The full removal typically completes within 14 days, though cached versions of your profile may briefly appear in search engine results until those indexes update — something outside of Pinterest's direct control.
If you change your mind during this window, Pinterest's help documentation has historically allowed users to contact support to halt the process, though this isn't guaranteed once deletion is underway.
When Logging In With a Third-Party Account
If you originally signed up using Google, Facebook, or Apple, your Pinterest account is tied to that login. Closing Pinterest does not affect your Google, Facebook, or Apple account in any way — only the Pinterest-side data is removed. However, you may still want to visit those platforms and review connected apps to revoke Pinterest's access permissions manually.
How straightforward the process ultimately feels depends heavily on your specific account setup — whether you have linked services, active campaigns, or email access issues are the kinds of details that vary from one user to the next.