The fastest way to find someone on Pinterest

Pinterest has a search bar at the top of every page. Type the person's name, username, or email address into it, and Pinterest will show you matching accounts, boards, and pins. If you know their username (the handle they use to log in), searching for that is usually fastest — usernames are unique, so you'll get one exact result instead of wading through dozens of people with the same name.

If the person has a common name like "Sarah Smith", you may see dozens of accounts. Look for profile pictures you recognize, or check the boards they've created — if you know what they pin about, you can spot them that way. Pinterest also shows how many followers each account has and when they last pinned, which can help you confirm you've found the right person.

Key Takeaways

  • Search by username if you know it, since usernames are unique and will return one exact result.
  • If searching by name returns multiple accounts, look at profile pictures and board titles to find the right person.
  • You can search by email address if the person has linked their email to their Pinterest account publicly.
  • If someone has a private account, you can still find them through search, but you won't see their pins or boards until they accept your follow request.

Searching by username versus searching by name

A username is the handle someone chose when they created their account — it appears in their profile URL and is what they use to log in. A name is what they display on their profile, which can be anything and doesn't have to be unique. If you know someone's Pinterest username, search for that first. You'll get one result, and you'll know immediately if you've found the right account.

If you only know their real name, the search will return every account with that name in the display name field. This can mean 50 or 100 results if the name is common. Narrow it down by looking at what they pin — if you know they're interested in gardening, look for accounts with gardening boards. You can also check when they last pinned; if you know roughly when they joined Pinterest, that helps too.

Finding someone through their email address

If you have someone's email address, you can search for it on Pinterest. However, this only works if they've made their email address visible on their public profile — most people don't. When you search for an email, Pinterest will show you an account only if the person has chosen to display that email publicly in their profile settings.

To check if someone has done this, search for their email address in the Pinterest search bar. If nothing comes up, it doesn't mean they don't have a Pinterest account — it just means their email isn't public. In that case, try searching by name or username instead.

Using Pinterest's "Find Friends" feature

Pinterest has a "Find Friends" tool that lets you search your contacts. On the web, go to your profile, click the settings icon, and look for "Find Friends" or "Invite Friends". On the mobile app, tap your profile icon, then settings, then "Find Friends". You can upload your contacts or connect your email account, and Pinterest will show you which of your contacts already have Pinterest accounts.

This feature works best if you have the person's phone number or email address saved in your phone's contacts. Pinterest will match those against its user database and tell you if they have an account. You don't have to send them an invitation — you can just follow them once you see they're on Pinterest.

What to do if you can't find them

If your search returns no results, the person either doesn't have a Pinterest account, or their account is set to private and their name isn't searchable. Some people create accounts but never fill out a profile or upload a picture, which can make them harder to find. Try searching variations of their name — if they go by "Sarah" but their account says "Sara", you might miss them on the first try.

You can also ask them directly for their username or profile link. If they have a public account, they can send you the URL to their profile, which is the most reliable way to find them. If they have a private account, you can still visit their profile with the link, but you'll need to send a follow request before you can see their pins.

Understanding public versus private accounts

A public account means anyone can see the person's profile, boards, and pins without following them. A private account means only people the account owner has approved can see their content. You can find someone with a private account through search, but you won't see what they pin until they accept your follow request.

If you find someone with a private account and want to follow them, click the "Follow" button on their profile. They'll get a notification that you've requested to follow them, and they can accept or decline. Until they accept, you'll see their profile name and picture, but not their pins or boards.

Finding someone through mutual connections

If you have a mutual friend on Pinterest, you can find someone through that connection. Look at your friend's followers or the people they follow — if the person you're looking for is there, you can click on their profile. This is especially useful if the person has a common name and you're not sure which account is theirs. Seeing that they follow the same people as you is a good sign you've found the right account.

You can also look at who has pinned or commented on your mutual friend's pins. If the person you're looking for has engaged with your friend's content, their name will appear there, and you can click through to their profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I search for someone on Pinterest without an account?

You can view public Pinterest content without logging in, but you cannot use the search function or access the "Find Friends" feature without an account. You'll need to create a free Pinterest account to search for people.

What if someone changed their username?

If someone changed their username, their old username no longer works. Search for their display name or email address instead. If you have a direct link to their profile, it will still work even if they changed their username.

Can I find someone if they deactivated their account?

No. When someone deactivates their Pinterest account, their profile, boards, and pins become invisible. You won't be able to find them through search. If they reactivate later, their account will be searchable again.

Is there a way to see if someone blocked me on Pinterest?

If you search for someone and can't find them, or if you visit their profile and see "This account is private", it could mean they blocked you, made their account private, or deactivated it. Pinterest doesn't tell you which one happened. Try searching from a different account or asking a mutual friend if they can see the person's profile.