How to Make Pinterest Private: Profile and Boards
A private profile is left out of Pinterest search and search engines. Private boards hide single boards.
By Siddharth ShankarUpdated October 22, 2026On Pinterest, open Settings, then Profile visibility, and switch on Private profile. Pinterest says private profiles will not appear in search results on Pinterest or in search engines, and you can invite people you know to follow you. Separately, a board can be made private so only you and people you invite can see it. Business accounts are always public, and profiles of users aged 13 to 16 are private by default.
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Pinterest boards can reveal plans, home layouts, children’s names and even a wedding date. Pinterest has two separate privacy controls, one for the whole profile and one for each board.
Make your profile private
Pinterest’s help page says you can set your profile to private or public, and that the setting covers your boards and Pins.
On the web, log in and click the more-options icon at the bottom left. Choose Settings, then Profile visibility on the left, and switch on Private profile.
In the app, tap your profile picture, then Profile visibility, and switch on Private profile.
What a private profile does
Pinterest says private profiles will not appear in search results on Pinterest or in search engines. You can still invite people you know to follow you, so the account can have followers while staying out of public search.
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Make a single board private
Pinterest’s help article on private boards says only you, and anyone you invite, can see your private boards.
To create one, toggle Keep this board private when you name a new board. To change an existing board on the web, open it from your profile, click the ellipsis icon, choose Edit info and settings, switch on Make this board private and click Done. In the app, open the board, tap the ellipsis and use Edit board and header image or Edit info and settings.
Switch the same toggle off to make the board public again. Pinterest also says private boards and their Pins cannot be promoted through Pinterest ads.
Rules for teens and business accounts
- Profiles for users aged 13 to 16 are private by default and cannot be made public. You must be 16 or older to change visibility.
- Business accounts are always public. To make a profile private, switch to a personal account first.
What to put on a board
- Do not tag your home address or your children’s school.
- Keep wedding, travel and baby plans on private boards until the event has passed.
- Check board descriptions and Pin notes for names and dates.
What privacy settings cannot do
A private profile controls who can find and view your content on Pinterest. It does not delete Pins that were already shared or saved by others before you went private. Check your profile from a logged-out browser, and search for your username to see what remains. For the cross-site view, read what people can find from your username.
Sources
- Pinterest Help: Edit account privacy (private profile steps, search exposure, teen and business rules)
- Pinterest Help: Private boards (who can see them, how to make a board private, limits)
Frequently asked questions
How do I make my Pinterest profile private?
Go to Settings, Profile visibility, and switch on Private profile.
Does a private profile appear in search?
Pinterest says private profiles will not appear in search results on Pinterest or in search engines.
Can I still have followers?
Yes. Pinterest says you can invite people you know to follow you.
How do I make one board private?
Open the board’s settings and switch on Make this board private.
Can a business account be private?
No. Business accounts are always public, so switch to a personal account first.
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