The fastest way to find someone on Pinterest
The search bar at the top of Pinterest is the most direct route. Type a person's name, username, or email address into the search field. Pinterest will show you matching accounts, and you can click on any profile to see their boards and pins. If you know their email address, searching for it often surfaces their account even if their display name is different.
If you already follow someone on another platform, you can search for their handle from that platform — many people use the same username across social media. Pinterest also lets you search by real name if the person has used it in their profile, though results depend on how public they've made their account.
For people you know in real life, the Contacts feature can help. Pinterest can scan your phone or email contacts and show you which of those people have Pinterest accounts. You'll find this option in your account settings under "Find Friends" or "Contacts."
Key Takeaways
- Use the search bar to look up a person by their name, username, or email address, and click on their profile to see their boards and pins.
- The Contacts feature in your account settings can show you which people from your phone or email contacts already have Pinterest accounts.
- You can search by real name or username, but results depend on how much information the person has made public on their profile.
- If someone has a private account, you will only see limited information until they accept your follow request.
Searching by username versus real name
Pinterest treats username and real name searches differently. A username is the handle someone chose when they created their account — it appears in their profile URL and is usually shorter and simpler. A real name is what they entered in their profile settings and may or may not match their username.
Searching by username is usually more reliable because usernames are unique to each account. If you know someone's Pinterest handle, searching for it will take you directly to their profile. Real name searches can return multiple results if several people share the same name, so you may need to look through a few profiles to find the right person.
If you're not sure whether you have someone's username or real name, try both. Pinterest will show you results for either, and you can compare profile pictures, board topics, or other details to confirm you've found the right person.
Using the Contacts feature to find people you know
Pinterest's Contacts feature syncs with your phone's contact list or your email account to show you which of your real-world connections already use Pinterest. To set this up, go to your account settings, find the "Find Friends" or "Contacts" section, and allow Pinterest to access your contacts.
Once you've connected your contacts, Pinterest will display a list of people from your phone or email who have Pinterest accounts. You can follow them directly from this list, or click on their profile to see their boards first. This feature works best if the people you know have used their real names or recognizable usernames on Pinterest.
If you don't want to sync your full contact list, you can also search for individual people by their email address. Type their email into the search bar, and if they have a Pinterest account linked to that address, their profile will appear.
Finding people through boards and group pins
You can discover people on Pinterest by exploring boards and pins related to your interests. When you view a pin, you'll see the person's profile picture and name at the top. Click on their name or picture to visit their full profile and see all their boards.
Group boards — boards that multiple people contribute to — are another way to find people with shared interests. When you view a group board, you can see all the contributors listed. Click on any contributor's name to visit their profile and explore their other boards and pins.
Following hashtags or topic categories also surfaces pins from different creators. As you browse, you'll notice certain accounts appearing frequently in topics you care about. You can follow any of these creators directly from their profile.
What to do if someone has a private account
Some Pinterest users set their accounts to private, which means you can only see limited information until they accept your follow request. If you find someone with a private account, you'll see their profile picture and username, but their boards and pins will be hidden.
To follow a private account, click the "Follow" button on their profile. They will receive a notification of your follow request and can accept or decline it. Until they accept, you won't be able to see their content. If you know the person, you can try sending them a message through Pinterest to introduce yourself and explain why you'd like to follow them.
Private accounts are less common on Pinterest than on other social platforms, but they do exist. If you can't find someone's public profile, it's possible their account is set to private or they don't have a Pinterest account at all.
Searching for people by their interests or niche
If you don't know someone's exact name or username, you can search for people by the topics they pin about. Search for a specific interest — like "sustainable fashion" or "home renovation" — and browse the results. You'll see pins from different creators, and you can click on any creator's profile to see their other work.
This approach works well if you remember what someone pins about but not their exact name. For example, if you know someone who pins a lot of wedding ideas, you can search "wedding planning" and look through the profiles of people who appear frequently in those results.
You can also explore Pinterest's category pages — like Home, Fashion, Food, or DIY — and look through the top creators in each category. Many popular pinners are featured on these pages, and you can follow them directly.
Finding verified or business accounts
Pinterest distinguishes between personal accounts and business accounts with a small badge next to the account name. Business accounts often belong to brands, creators, or people who use Pinterest professionally. You can search for these accounts the same way you search for personal accounts.
If you're looking for a specific brand or public figure, searching their name will often surface their official business account first. Business accounts typically have more detailed profile information and may include a website link or contact details.
Some high-profile creators or brands have a verification badge next to their name, which means Pinterest has confirmed their identity. This badge helps you know you've found the official account rather than a fan page or imposter account.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I search for someone on Pinterest if I only know their email address?
Yes. Type their email address into the search bar, and if they have a Pinterest account linked to that email, their profile will appear. This works even if their display name is different from what you might expect.
What if I search for someone and no results come up?
They may not have a Pinterest account, or their account may be set to private and not appearing in search results. You can also try searching for variations of their name or their username if you know it. If you have their email address, try searching that instead.
Can I find someone's Pinterest account if they use a different name than their real name?
It depends on how much information they've made public. If their username or display name is something you'd recognize, you can search for it. If they've kept their account very private or used a name you wouldn't know, you may need to ask them directly for their Pinterest username or profile link.
Is there a way to see if someone I know has a Pinterest account without asking them?
Yes, use the Contacts feature in your account settings. It will scan your phone or email contacts and show you which people already have Pinterest accounts. This is the easiest way to discover if someone you know uses Pinterest.
Can I search for people by location or other details?
Pinterest's search function focuses on usernames, real names, and content topics rather than location or other profile details. You can search by interest or niche to find creators in a specific field, but you can't filter results by where someone lives or other personal details.