Creating a private board takes three steps: tap the plus icon, name the board, and toggle the privacy setting before saving
A private board on Pinterest is visible only to you and people you invite. Unlike public boards, which anyone can find and follow, private boards let you collect ideas without broadcasting them to your followers or the wider Pinterest audience. You create one directly in the Pinterest app or website, and the privacy setting is something you control at the moment of creation — you can also change it later if you change your mind.
The process is the same whether you use Pinterest on a phone, tablet, or computer. The main difference is where the buttons appear on your screen, but the steps themselves do not change.
Key Takeaways
- Private boards are hidden from your followers and from Pinterest search results, visible only to you and people you explicitly invite.
- You create a private board by tapping or clicking the plus icon, entering a name, and toggling the privacy toggle to "Private" before you save.
- You can change a board from public to private (or vice versa) at any time by editing the board settings.
- Inviting someone to a private board gives them permission to view and save pins to that board, but they cannot change the board name or delete it.
How to create a private board on the Pinterest app
Open the Pinterest app and tap the plus icon in the bottom navigation bar. On most phones this appears as a circle with a plus sign. Tap "Create board" from the menu that appears.
Type a name for your board in the text field. This can be anything — "Kitchen Remodel Ideas", "Gifts for Mom", "Recipes to Try" — whatever describes what you plan to collect. Below the name field, you will see a toggle labeled "Private". Tap it so the toggle switches to the "on" position. The toggle will change color (usually to red or your account's accent color) to show that private mode is active.
Tap "Create" or the checkmark button at the bottom of the screen. Your private board is now created and ready to use. You can start saving pins to it immediately, and only you will see it in your profile or in search results.
How to create a private board on the Pinterest website
Log into Pinterest on your computer and look for the plus icon in the top navigation bar, usually near your profile picture. Click it and select "Create board" from the dropdown menu.
Enter a board name in the text field. Below the name, you will see a section labeled "Keep this board private?" with a toggle switch. Click the toggle to turn on private mode. The switch will move to the right and change color to show it is active. You can also add a description of the board if you want, though this is optional.
Click "Create board" at the bottom of the form. Your private board is now live. You can navigate to it immediately and begin saving pins.
Changing a board from public to private
If you created a board as public and want to make it private later, you can change the setting without losing any of the pins you have already saved. On the app, open the board, tap the three dots in the top right corner, and select "Edit board". On the website, click the three dots next to the board name and choose "Edit board".
Look for the privacy toggle in the edit screen. Tap or click it to switch the board to private. Tap or click "Save" or "Done" to confirm the change. Any pins already on the board stay in place, and the board will no longer appear in search results or on your public profile.
Who can see and access your private board
Only you can see your private board by default. It will not show up in Pinterest search, in your followers' feeds, or on your public profile. If you want someone else to view or contribute to the board, you must invite them directly.
To invite someone, open the private board and tap or click the "Invite" button (usually near the top of the board). Enter their Pinterest username or email address. They will receive a notification that you have invited them to the board. Once they accept, they can view all the pins on the board and save new pins to it. However, they cannot change the board name, description, or privacy setting — only the board owner can do that.
What happens if you change a private board back to public
You can switch a private board to public at any time using the same edit process. Open the board, tap or click the three dots, select "Edit board", and toggle the privacy setting to "off". All the pins on the board will then be visible to anyone who searches for them or visits your profile.
If you have invited people to the private board, they will retain access to it even after you make it public. Making a board public does not remove invited collaborators — it only makes the board visible to the wider Pinterest audience as well.
Why use a private board instead of a public one
Private boards are useful when you want to collect ideas without sharing them with your followers. You might use one for personal planning — a wedding board, a home renovation board, or a gift list — where you want to gather inspiration without announcing your plans. Private boards also work well for work-related collections that you do not want to mix with your personal Pinterest presence.
Some people use private boards as a way to save pins for later without cluttering their public profile. Since private boards do not appear in search results, they also will not attract followers or engagement the way public boards do, which can be exactly what you want if you are collecting ideas purely for yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a board private if I already have followers on it?
Yes. When you change a public board to private, your followers will no longer see it, but the pins stay on the board. Anyone who was already following the board will lose access once it becomes private, unless you explicitly invite them.
What happens if I invite someone to a private board and then remove them?
You can remove someone from a private board by opening the board, tapping or clicking the three dots, and selecting "Manage access" or "Invited people". Find their name and tap or click the remove or delete button. They will no longer be able to see or access the board.
Can someone I invite to a private board share it with other people?
No. Invited collaborators can only view and save pins to the board. They cannot invite other people, change settings, or share the board link. Only the board owner can manage who has access.
Is there a limit to how many private boards I can create?
Pinterest does not publish a specific limit on the number of boards you can create. You can create as many private boards as you need for organizing your ideas.
Can I see who has viewed pins on my private board?
Pinterest does not show you a list of who has viewed individual pins on any board, public or private. You can see how many times a pin has been saved or clicked, but not who specifically interacted with it.