The fastest way to add friends on Pinterest
You can add friends on Pinterest in three main ways: by searching for them by username, by uploading your email contacts, or by following people who show up in your feed. The search method is fastest if you already know someone's Pinterest username. The contact upload method works if you have their email address saved in your phone or email account. Following people from your feed happens naturally as you browse, and they may follow you back.
Pinterest does not use the word "friend" the way Facebook does. Instead, you follow people whose pins you want to see, and they follow you. You do not need mutual agreement — you can follow someone without them following you back, and vice versa. This is the same model Instagram and Twitter use.
Key Takeaways
- Search for someone by their username in the search bar at the top of Pinterest, then tap the Follow button on their profile.
- Upload your phone or email contacts through Settings to see which of your existing contacts already use Pinterest.
- You can follow people directly from pins in your feed by tapping their profile picture and then the Follow button.
- Following someone does not require them to follow you back, and they will not be notified that you followed them.
- You can unfollow anyone at any time by going to their profile and tapping the Following button to toggle it off.
Search for someone by username
Open Pinterest and tap the search icon at the top of the screen (it looks like a magnifying glass). Type the person's username into the search box. Pinterest will show you results for people, pins, and boards — look for the People section.
Tap on the person's profile. You will see their profile picture, username, and a Follow button. Tap Follow. That person's pins will now appear in your home feed, and you will see their activity (like pins they save or boards they create) depending on your privacy settings.
If you do not know their exact username, you can try searching by their real name, but you may get multiple results. Ask them directly for their username if you are unsure — it is faster than guessing.
Upload your contacts to find people you know
Open Pinterest and tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner. Tap the gear icon to open Settings. Scroll down and tap "Find Friends" or "Invite Friends" (the exact wording varies by device and app version).
You will see an option to upload your contacts. On iPhone, tap "Upload Contacts" and allow Pinterest to access your phone's contacts. On Android, the process is similar — you may be asked to grant permission the first time. Pinterest will then show you which of your contacts already have Pinterest accounts.
Tap Follow next to anyone you recognize. You can follow multiple people at once this way. Pinterest will not send them a notification that you followed them, and it will not post anything to your account or theirs.
Follow people from pins and boards you see
As you scroll through your home feed, you will see pins from people you follow and from accounts Pinterest thinks you might like. Tap the profile picture or username on any pin to visit that person's profile. Tap the Follow button to add them.
You can also find people through boards. If you see a board you like, tap it to open it. You will see the board creator's name and profile picture at the top. Tap their name to visit their profile, then tap Follow.
This method is less direct than searching, but it is how most people discover new accounts on Pinterest — by exploring pins and boards related to topics they care about.
What happens after you follow someone
Once you follow someone, their pins will appear in your home feed mixed with pins from other accounts you follow and content Pinterest recommends. You will see their activity on their profile page, including new pins they save, boards they create, and pins they like (if they have made that activity public).
The person you followed will not receive a notification that you followed them. They can see you are following them only if they visit your profile or check their follower list. Following is public — anyone can see who you follow by visiting your profile.
Unfollow someone or manage who you follow
To unfollow someone, visit their profile and tap the Following button. It will change to Follow, and their pins will stop appearing in your feed. You can unfollow anyone at any time, and they will not be notified.
To see everyone you follow, tap your profile icon, then tap the "Following" tab. You will see a list of all accounts you follow. You can unfollow directly from this list by tapping the Following button next to their name.
You can also mute someone without unfollowing them. On their profile, tap the three dots menu and select "Mute [Username]." Their pins will stop appearing in your feed, but you will still be following them. This is useful if you want to stay connected but do not want to see their content right now.
Privacy and what others can see
Your follower and following lists are public by default. Anyone who visits your profile can see who you follow and who follows you. If you want to make your account more private, you can switch to a secret board — pins you save to a secret board are visible only to you, even if someone visits your profile.
When you follow someone, they can see you in their follower list, but they do not get a notification. Your activity (like pins you save or boards you create) is visible to your followers depending on your privacy settings. You can adjust these settings in Settings under "Privacy and Data."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I follow someone without them knowing?
Yes. Following someone does not send them a notification. They can see you are following them only if they check their follower list or visit your profile. Your follow is public, but it is not announced to them.
What is the difference between following and messaging on Pinterest?
Following lets you see someone's pins in your feed. Messaging is a separate feature that lets you send direct messages to people you follow (or who follow you, depending on their settings). You can follow someone without messaging them, and vice versa.
Can I follow someone if my account is private?
Yes. Your account privacy setting controls who can see your pins and boards, not who you can follow. You can follow anyone regardless of your privacy setting. However, if your account is private, only people you approve can follow you back.
Why can't I find someone I'm looking for?
They may have a username different from their real name, their account may be deactivated, or they may have set their profile to private. Try asking them directly for their exact username. If their account is private, you may still be able to follow them, but you will see less of their activity.
Can I follow multiple people at once?
When you upload your contacts, you can follow multiple people in one session by tapping Follow next to each name. Otherwise, you follow people one at a time by visiting their profile and tapping the Follow button.