How to Find People on Pinterest: 7 Easy Ways to Find Friends & Creators

TL;DR - Quick Answer
12 min readTips you can use today. What works and what doesn't.
Quick Answer: You can find people on Pinterest by: 1) Searching their name/username in the search bar, 2) Syncing contacts from email/Facebook, 3) Using the "Find friends" feature, 4) Searching by interests/boards, or 5) Checking mutual connections' followers.
Related: Pinterest Alternatives | Unblock on Pinterest | Pinterest Hashtags
7 Ways to Find People on Pinterest
Method 1: Search by Name or Username
Direct Search:
- Open Pinterest app or website
- Tap/click Search bar at top
- Type person's name or username
- Select People tab in results
- Browse results and tap profile
Search Tips:
- Use full name for better results
- Try variations (FirstLast, First Last, @username)
- Include location if common name
- Check profile picture to confirm identity
Method 2: Find Friends from Email Contacts
Sync Email Contacts:
On Mobile:
- Go to your Profile
- Tap three dots menu
- Select Find friends
- Choose Find friends from contacts
- Allow Pinterest to access contacts
- See list of contacts on Pinterest
- Tap Follow on people you know
On Desktop:
- Click your profile picture
- Select Settings
- Click Find friends
- Enter email address or upload contact file
- Pinterest shows matching accounts
Method 3: Connect via Facebook
Find Facebook Friends on Pinterest:
Mobile App:
- Profile > three dots > Settings
- Tap Link accounts
- Select Facebook
- Log in to Facebook
- Pinterest shows which Facebook friends are on Pinterest
- Follow friends from list
Desktop:
- Settings > Account management
- Click Facebook under Linked accounts
- Connect your Facebook
- View and follow Facebook friends
Privacy Note: You control which Facebook friends see you're on Pinterest in settings.
Method 4: Browse Mutual Connections
Find Through Followers:
- Visit profile of someone you know
- Tap their Followers or Following list
- Browse through their connections
- Follow people who interest you
Common Connections Strategy:
- Check followers of influencers in your niche
- Browse who your friends follow
- Find creators in same interest areas
- Find trending accounts in your community
Method 5: Search by Interests and Boards
Find People Through Content:
- Search for a topic/keyword you're interested in
- Click on pins you like
- Visit the creator's profile
- If you like their content, follow them
- Check their followers for similar accounts
Example:
- Search "vegan recipes"
- Find popular pins
- Visit creator profiles
- Follow food bloggers you like
- Check who they follow for more
Method 6: Use Pinterest Suggested Accounts
Suggested Accounts:
"More ideas" Section:
- Pinterest suggests related accounts when you save pins
- "People to follow" on homepage
- Suggested creators in your niche
- Based on your interests and activity
Where to Find:
- Home feed recommendations
- After following someone new
- In "Following" tab suggestions
- Email recommendations from Pinterest
Method 7: Find by Website or Blog
If They Have a Website:
- Visit their website/blog
- Look for Pinterest icon/link
- Click to visit their Pinterest profile
- Or search their domain name on Pinterest
- Pinterest shows verified accounts linked to that domain
Verified Accounts:
- Look for checkmark badge
- Indicates official brand/creator account
- Found under profile name
- More trustworthy for businesses
Finding Specific Types of People
Finding Friends and Family
Best Methods:
- Email sync: Most reliable for personal connections
- Facebook sync: If they use Facebook
- Name search: If you know their Pinterest username
- Ask directly: Get their Pinterest profile link
Privacy Considerations:
- Not everyone uses real names on Pinterest
- Some keep Pinterest private from personal connections
- Respect privacy preferences
Finding Influencers and Creators
Finding Strategies:
- Search by niche: "Fashion blogger", "DIY creator", etc.
- Follow hashtags: See who posts with specific tags
- Check popular boards: Top contributors to boards you like
- Pinterest trends: Explore trending creators
Evaluate Before Following:
- Check pin quality and originality
- Look at engagement (repins, likes)
- Review board organization
- Verify they're active (recent pins)
Finding Businesses and Brands
Business Account Search:
- Search brand name directly
- Look for verified checkmark
- Check "Claimed account" badge
- Visit their official website for Pinterest link
Finding Brands:
- Browse "Shop" tab for retail brands
- Search product names
- Follow competitor analysis
- Check brand partnerships
Can't Find Someone? Possible Reasons
Why They Don't Appear:
- Wrong name: They use different name/username on Pinterest
- Private account: Some accounts are private/invite-only
- Deactivated: They deleted or deactivated their account
- Never joined: They don't have a Pinterest account
- Blocked you: If they blocked you, they won't appear in search
- Misspelling: Double-check spelling of name
What to Do:
- Ask them directly for their Pinterest username/link
- Try alternative spellings and name variations
- Search by their website or other social media handles
- Check if they have Pinterest linked on Instagram/Twitter bio
Privacy Settings: Who Can Find You
Control Your Visibility
Settings to Adjust:
- Profile > Settings > Privacy and data
- Choose who can find you:
- Search privacy: Hide profile from search engines
- Social permissions: Control who can see your boards
- Personalization: Manage data used for recommendations
Options:
- Public profile (default): Anyone can find and follow
- Secret boards: Only you can see (or invited collaborators)
- Hide from search engines: Won't appear in Google/Bing results
Managing Connections
Control Who Follows You:
- Pinterest doesn't have "private account" option like Instagram
- Anyone can follow your public boards
- Use Secret boards for private content
- Block users who you don't want viewing your content
Block Someone:
- Visit their profile
- Tap three dots
- Select Block
- Confirm
They won't:
- See your public boards
- Follow you
- Message you
- Find you in search
Finding People to Follow
Build Your Network Strategically
Who to Follow:
- Friends and family for personal content
- Creators in your niche for inspiration
- Brands you love for product updates
- Influencers who match your interests
- Complementary accounts for diverse content
Quality Over Quantity:
- Don't follow everyone
- Curate your feed intentionally
- Unfollow accounts that don't add value
- Focus on high-quality pin creators
Organize Your Following
Use Following Tab Wisely:
- Check "Following" feed for curated content
- Use "Sort" to see most recent pins
- Engage with pins from people you follow
- Pinterest boosts content you interact with
Best Practices:
- Follow accounts relevant to your interests
- Engage with their content (save, comment)
- Create boards inspired by their content
- Build genuine connections
Pinterest Search Tips and Tricks
Advanced Search Techniques
Boolean Search:
- Use quotes for exact match: "wedding planning"
- Use OR for alternatives: "kitchen OR dining"
- Exclude terms with minus: "recipes -vegan"
Filter Search Results:
- Filter by: People, Boards, Pins, Products
- Sort by relevance or most recent
- Refine by category
Search Within:
- Search within someone's boards
- Find specific pins on their profile
- Use their username + keyword
Explore Tab Features
Pinterest Explore Features:
- Trending: Popular searches and pins
- Today: Daily inspiration curated for you
- Shop: Shoppable pins and products
- Watch: Pinterest TV and video content
Use Explore to Find:
- Trending creators
- Popular boards in your niche
- New content categories
- Emerging influencers
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you search for someone on Pinterest without an account?
Yes, you can search Pinterest without an account, but functionality is limited. You'll see some search results and profiles, but Pinterest will prompt you to sign up after viewing a few pins. For full search access, create a free account.
How do I find someone's Pinterest from Instagram?
Check their Instagram bio for a Pinterest link or icon. Many creators link their Pinterest in their bio. You can also search their Instagram username on Pinterest - many use the same handle across platforms.
Can someone tell if I searched for them on Pinterest?
No, Pinterest does not notify users when someone searches for or views their profile. You can browse profiles anonymously. However, if you follow them or interact with their pins, they'll see that activity.
Why can't I find my friend on Pinterest?
Common reasons: 1) They use a different name/username, 2) They haven't created a Pinterest account, 3) Their account is hidden from search engines, 4) They deleted their account, or 5) You're blocked. Ask them directly for their Pinterest username or profile link.
How do I find Pinterest users in my area?
Pinterest doesn't have a location-based search for users. However, you can: 1) Search for local businesses/brands, 2) Join local community boards, 3) Search location-specific keywords and find active pinners, or 4) Connect with local friends via email/Facebook sync.
Conclusion
Finding people on Pinterest is easy using name search, contact syncing, Facebook connection, or browsing mutual followers. Whether reconnecting with friends or finding creators in your niche, Pinterest offers multiple ways to build your network.
Focus on following accounts that provide value and inspiration aligned with your interests. Quality connections lead to a better Pinterest experience than following everyone you come across.
Related Pinterest Guides: Explore Pinterest Marketing Strategy Complete Guide, Pinterest Business Account Setup, Pinterest Alternatives, Unblock Someone on Pinterest, and Pinterest Hashtag Generator.
Managing Pinterest alongside other social platforms? Try SocialRails free to schedule pins, track engagement, and grow your Pinterest presence with powerful analytics.
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