Creating a new board takes three steps on any device

To create a board in Pinterest, open the app or website, tap or click the plus icon in the top navigation, select "Create board," enter a name, choose who can see it, and confirm. The whole process takes under a minute. You can create boards on your phone, tablet, or computer — the steps are nearly identical across all three.

A board is a collection you own where you save pins (images or links) organized around a theme. You might have a board for kitchen remodeling ideas, another for recipes you want to try, and another for outfit inspiration. Boards are public by default, meaning anyone on Pinterest can find and follow them, but you can make a board private so only you see what you save there.

Key Takeaways

  • Create a board by tapping the plus icon, selecting "Create board," naming it, and choosing whether it is public or private.
  • Public boards let other users find and follow your collections, while private boards are visible only to you.
  • You can add a description and cover image to your board after creation to help others understand what it contains.
  • Boards can be edited, renamed, or deleted at any time, and you can add collaborators to let others save pins to the same board.

Step-by-step: Creating a board on the Pinterest app

On your phone or tablet, open Pinterest and look for the plus icon (usually a circle with a plus sign) at the top of the screen. Tap it and select "Create board" from the menu that appears. Type a name for your board — something clear like "Living Room Furniture" or "Dessert Recipes" works better than vague names.

Next, choose whether the board is public or secret. Public boards appear in search results and on your profile, and other users can follow them. Secret boards are hidden from your profile and search, visible only to you and anyone you invite as a collaborator. After you choose, tap "Create" and your board is ready to use. You can start saving pins to it immediately.

Creating a board on the Pinterest website

On a computer, log into Pinterest and click the plus icon in the top navigation bar. Select "Create board" from the dropdown menu. Type your board name in the text field that appears, then use the toggle or checkbox to decide if the board should be public or secret. Click "Create" and you are done.

The website version works identically to the app, and a board you create on one device shows up on all your other devices automatically. You do not need to create the same board twice.

Adding a description and cover image to your board

After you create a board, you can add more details to help other users understand what it is about. Open the board, tap or click the three-dot menu icon, and select "Edit board." Add a description in the text field — something like "Modern kitchen design ideas for small spaces" tells viewers what they will find.

You can also choose a cover image, which is the thumbnail that shows up when someone views your profile or searches for boards. Pinterest automatically uses the first pin you save to the board as the cover, but you can change it by selecting a different pin from the board or uploading an image from your device. A clear, visually appealing cover makes your board more likely to be followed.

Making a board public or secret after creation

You can change a board from public to secret (or vice versa) at any time. Open the board, tap or click the three-dot menu, and select "Edit board." Toggle the privacy setting and save your changes. If you switch a public board to secret, it disappears from search results and your profile, but any pins already saved to it remain in your account.

Changing a board to secret does not notify followers that the board is no longer visible. If you had followers on a public board before making it secret, they will no longer see it, but they are not removed from your follower list.

Adding collaborators to a board

You can invite other Pinterest users to save pins to the same board. Open the board, tap or click the three-dot menu, and select "Invite collaborators." Enter the username or email address of the person you want to add. They will receive an invitation and can accept or decline. Once they accept, both of you can save, delete, and organize pins on that board.

Collaborators can be added to public or secret boards. If you add someone to a secret board, they can see it, but it remains hidden from their followers and search results. You can remove a collaborator at any time by opening the board settings and deleting them from the collaborators list.

Editing, renaming, or deleting a board

To rename a board, open it, tap or click the three-dot menu, select "Edit board," and change the name in the text field. To delete a board entirely, open the three-dot menu and select "Delete board." Pinterest will ask you to confirm — deleted boards cannot be recovered, but the pins themselves remain in your account and can be saved to other boards.

You can edit a board's description, cover image, and privacy setting using the same "Edit board" menu. Changes take effect immediately and show up across all your devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a board with someone else from the start?

No, you create the board first and then invite collaborators. Once you create a board, you can add other users as collaborators so they can save pins to it alongside you. They will see the board in their account once they accept the invitation.

What happens to my pins if I delete a board?

The pins do not disappear from your account — they are removed from that board but remain saved in your library. You can move them to another board or leave them unsorted. Deleting a board only removes the collection itself, not the pins inside it.

Can I have a board with the same name as someone else?

Yes, many users have boards with identical names like "Home Decor" or "Recipes." Board names do not have to be unique. Your board is identified by your username plus the board name, so two users can have a "Kitchen Ideas" board without conflict.

Do people get notified when I create a new board?

No, your followers are not notified when you create a new board. They only see it if they visit your profile or if they search for boards with keywords matching your board name or description.

Can I make a board private after people have followed it?

Yes, you can switch any public board to secret at any time. When you do, the board disappears from search results and your profile, and followers can no longer see it. However, they are not automatically unfollowed — if you make the board public again later, they will see it reappear.