Pinterest gives you two ways out: a temporary pause or permanent deletion
You can either deactivate your Pinterest account, which hides it for 30 days and lets you reactivate it if you change your mind, or delete it permanently, which removes everything after 30 days and cannot be undone. Most people who want out choose permanent deletion. The process takes about five minutes, but the actual removal takes a month — during that waiting period, Pinterest keeps your data in case you log back in.
If you just need a break from Pinterest without losing your boards and pins, deactivation is the faster option. If you want your account completely gone, deletion is what you need. Either way, you start in the same place: your account settings.
Key Takeaways
- Permanent deletion takes 30 days to complete, and you cannot undo it after that period ends.
- Deactivation hides your account for 30 days and lets you reactivate it by logging back in, but permanent deletion does not.
- You must delete your account from a computer or mobile browser — the Pinterest app does not have a delete option.
- Pinterest will send a confirmation email to the address on your account; check that email to confirm the deletion request.
- After deletion completes, your username becomes available for someone else to use, and your pins will no longer appear in search results.
How to permanently delete your Pinterest account
Open a web browser and go to pinterest.com. Log in if you are not already signed in. Click your profile icon in the top right corner — it is usually a small circle with your photo or initials. A menu will drop down.
Select Settings from that menu. On the Settings page, scroll down to the bottom and look for a section labeled Account. Under Account, you will see a link that says Deactivate account or Delete account depending on your region. Click Delete account. Pinterest will ask you to confirm by entering your password. Type it in and click the button to confirm deletion.
You will see a message saying your account is scheduled for deletion and that you have 30 days to change your mind. During those 30 days, if you log back in, the deletion will stop and your account will reactivate. After 30 days pass with no login, the deletion becomes permanent.
What happens during the 30-day waiting period
Your profile becomes hidden immediately — other users cannot find you or see your boards. Your pins stop appearing in search results and on other people's feeds. However, Pinterest keeps your data on their servers during this month in case you decide to come back.
If you log in even once during the 30 days, the deletion cancels and your account returns to normal. You will need to delete it again if you still want out. After 30 days pass without a login, Pinterest permanently removes your account, and you cannot recover it.
Deactivation: the temporary option
If you want to step away from Pinterest without losing everything, deactivation is faster and reversible. Go to Settings the same way — profile icon, then Settings — and look for Deactivate account instead of Delete account. Click it, confirm your password, and your account hides immediately.
Deactivation works the same way as deletion during the first 30 days: your profile is hidden and your pins do not show up in searches. The difference is that you can reactivate by simply logging in again at any time, even years later. Your boards, pins, and followers all come back exactly as they were. Permanent deletion does not offer this option.
Why you cannot delete from the Pinterest app
The Pinterest mobile app does not include an account deletion option. You must use a web browser on a computer or phone to delete your account. Open pinterest.com in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Edge, and follow the steps above. This is true whether you use iPhone, Android, or a computer.
If you try to find the delete option in the app, you will only see settings for notifications, privacy, and other preferences — not account deletion. Pinterest designed it this way to prevent accidental deletions from a phone.
What to do if you do not receive a confirmation email
After you request deletion, Pinterest sends a confirmation email to the address on your account. Check your inbox and your spam folder — sometimes these emails land in the wrong place. The email will have a subject line like "Confirm your Pinterest account deletion" or similar.
If you do not see it within a few minutes, check that you are looking at the correct email address. You can see which email is attached to your Pinterest account by going to Settings and looking at the Email section. If the email never arrives after 10 minutes, try deleting your account again from the Settings page. If you still have trouble, you can contact Pinterest support through their help center at help.pinterest.com.
After your account is deleted: what changes
Once the 30 days pass and deletion is complete, your username becomes available for someone else to use. Any pins you created will no longer appear in search results or on other people's boards. If you saved pins from other users, those pins remain on their boards, but your save will be gone.
If you had a business account with Pinterest analytics, all that data disappears. If you used Pinterest to log into other websites or apps, you will no longer be able to use that login method — you will need to use a different account or create a new password with those services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I delete my account if I have a business or creator account?
Yes, the deletion process is the same for all account types. Go to Settings, find Delete account, and confirm. Business accounts with analytics data will lose all that information after the 30-day period ends.
What if I change my mind during the 30 days?
Log in to your Pinterest account before the 30 days are up, and the deletion will cancel. Your account, boards, and pins will return to normal. If you want to delete again, you will need to repeat the process.
Will deleting my account remove my pins from other people's boards?
No. Pins you created will disappear from search results and your profile, but if other users saved your pins to their boards, those pins stay on their boards. The original creator information will no longer be visible.
Can I download my pins before I delete my account?
Pinterest does not have a built-in download tool for your pins. Before you delete, you can take screenshots of your boards or use a third-party tool that exports Pinterest data, though these tools vary in what they can capture.
What if I forgot my password and cannot log in to delete my account?
Go to the Pinterest login page and click "Forgot password?" to reset it. You will receive an email with a reset link. Once you reset your password, log in and follow the deletion steps. If you cannot access the email attached to your account, contact Pinterest support for help.