Pinterest Not Working? 12 Common Issues and Simple Solutions

Pinterest acting up again? You're not the only one dealing with pins that won't save, boards that won't load, or the app that keeps crashing.

Most Pinterest issues have simple fixes you can try right now. Here's how to solve the most common Pinterest problems that drive users crazy.

Quick Pinterest Problem Checker

Having trouble with Pinterest? Check these most common issues:

12 Most Common Pinterest Problems + Solutions

1. Pins Won't Save or Disappear

Why it happens: Pinterest's servers are slow, your internet connection is weak, or the pin violated Pinterest's guidelines.

Quick fixes: • Wait 30 seconds, then try saving the pin again • Check your internet connection strength • Try saving a different pin to test if it's the specific image • Clear your browser cache and cookies • Log out and back into Pinterest • Try using the Pinterest browser extension instead of the website

If pins keep disappearing: Pinterest may have removed them for guideline violations. Check your email for notifications from Pinterest about policy violations.

2. Pinterest Boards Not Showing Up

Why it happens: Privacy settings changed, boards got deleted accidentally, or Pinterest is having display issues.

Check these solutions: • Make sure you're logged into the correct Pinterest account • Check if the board is set to "Secret" in your settings • Look in your "All Pins" section, the pins might still be there • Try accessing Pinterest from a different device • Clear your app cache (mobile) or browser cache (desktop) • Update your Pinterest app to the latest version

For secret boards: Go to your profile, click the settings gear, and change the board from "Secret" to "Public" if you want others to see it.

3. Pinterest App Keeps Crashing

Why it happens: Outdated app, device memory issues, or corrupted app data.

Mobile app fixes: • Force close the Pinterest app completely • Restart your phone • Update Pinterest to the latest version in your app store • Free up storage space on your device • Clear Pinterest app cache in your phone settings • If nothing works, delete and reinstall the Pinterest app

iPhone specific: Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Pinterest > Offload App, then reinstall it.

Android specific: Go to Settings > Apps > Pinterest > Storage > Clear Cache.

4. Pinterest Loading Very Slowly

Why it happens: Poor internet connection, too many browser tabs open, or Pinterest server issues.

Speed improvement steps: • Close other browser tabs and apps using internet • Test your internet speed (should be at least 1 Mbps for Pinterest) • Try using Pinterest in an incognito/private browser window • Disable browser extensions that might slow things down • Switch from WiFi to mobile data (or vice versa) to test connection • Try Pinterest at a different time of day

5. Can't Log Into Pinterest Account

Why it happens: Wrong password, email changed, account suspended, or two-factor authentication issues.

Login troubleshooting: • Double check your email and password are correct • Try logging in with your phone number instead of email • Click "Forgot Password" to reset your login credentials
• Check if your account was suspended (you'll get an email notification) • If you use Google/Facebook login, make sure those accounts work • Clear browser cookies and try again • Disable VPN if you're using one

Account suspended? Check your email for messages from Pinterest explaining why. You can appeal most suspensions.

6. Pinterest Search Not Working Properly

Why it happens: Search algorithm changes, banned keywords, or temporary search issues.

Search fixes: • Try different keyword variations for what you're looking for • Use more specific search terms (instead of "food" try "easy chicken recipes")
• Clear your search history in Pinterest settings • Log out and search as a guest user to test • Try browsing categories instead of searching • Use Pinterest's visual search tool by clicking the camera icon

7. Pinterest Pin It Button Not Working

Why it happens: Browser compatibility issues, Pinterest extension problems, or website blocking Pinterest.

Pin It button solutions: • Install the official Pinterest browser extension • Try right clicking the image and selecting "Save to Pinterest"
• Copy the webpage URL and create a pin manually • Try a different browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari) • Update your browser to the latest version • Disable ad blockers temporarily to test • Some websites block Pinterest, try saving from the original source

8. Pinterest Email Notifications Not Working

Why it happens: Email settings turned off, emails going to spam, or wrong email address on file.

Email notification fixes: • Check your spam/junk folder for Pinterest emails • Go to Pinterest Settings > Notifications and turn email notifications back on • Make sure your email address is correct in account settings • Add pinterest.com to your email's safe sender list • Try using a different email address • Check if your email provider is blocking Pinterest emails

9. Pinterest Analytics Not Loading

Why it happens: Business account issues, browser problems, or Pinterest analytics server problems.

Analytics troubleshooting: • Make sure you have a Pinterest Business account (required for analytics) • Try accessing analytics from a different browser • Clear browser cache and cookies • Wait a few hours and try again (data sometimes takes time to update) • Check if you have enough activity to generate analytics (need some pins and views) • Try the Pinterest mobile app analytics instead of desktop

10. Can't Create New Pinterest Boards

Why it happens: Account limits reached, name conflicts, or technical glitches.

Board creation fixes: • Try a different board name (might conflict with existing board) • Check if you've reached Pinterest's board limit (500 boards per account) • Make sure board name doesn't contain banned words or symbols • Try creating the board from mobile app instead of desktop • Log out and back in to refresh your account • Clear browser cache and try again

11. Pinterest Rich Pins Not Working

Why it happens: Website meta tags missing, Pinterest hasn't crawled your site yet, or technical setup issues.

Rich Pins troubleshooting: • Use Pinterest's Rich Pin Validator tool to test your URL • Make sure your website has proper meta tags for Open Graph or Schema markup • Wait at least 24 hours after adding meta tags for Pinterest to detect them • Submit your website to Pinterest's Rich Pin validator • Check that your website is accessible to Pinterest's crawlers • Contact your web developer if you're not technical

12. Pinterest Messages Not Working

Why it happens: Privacy settings, blocked users, or messaging feature disabled.

Messaging fixes: • Check your privacy settings allow messages from other users • Make sure the person messaging you hasn't blocked you (and vice versa) • Try sending messages from the Pinterest mobile app • Check if Pinterest messaging is available in your country • Clear app cache and restart Pinterest • Update to the latest Pinterest app version

Advanced Pinterest Troubleshooting

Clear Pinterest Cache Completely

For Desktop Browsers:

1. Go to your browser settings
2. Find "Privacy and Security" or "Clear browsing data"
3. Select "Cookies and site data" and "Cached images and files"
4. Choose "Time range: All time"
5. Make sure Pinterest.com is included
6. Clear the data and restart your browser

For Mobile Apps: • iPhone: Settings > General > iPhone Storage > Pinterest > Offload App • Android: Settings > Apps > Pinterest > Storage > Clear Cache and Clear Data

Reset Pinterest Account Settings

Sometimes your account settings get corrupted. Try this reset:

When Pinterest Problems Persist

If nothing works, try this systematic approach:

1. Test on different devices - If Pinterest works on your phone but not computer, it's a browser/device issue
2. Try different networks - Switch from WiFi to mobile data to rule out internet problems
3. Create a test account - Make a new Pinterest account to see if the problem is account specific
4. Contact Pinterest support - Go to help.pinterest.com and submit a support request
5. Check Pinterest's help center - They post updates about known issues and fixes

Pinterest Error Messages and What They Mean

"Something went wrong"

Cause: General technical error Fix: Refresh the page, clear cache, try again in a few minutes

"This pin has been removed"

Cause: Pin violated Pinterest guidelines or was deleted by original creator Fix: Find a similar pin or create your own version

"Board not found"

Cause: Board was deleted or made private Fix: Check if you're logged into the correct account, or the board owner changed privacy settings

"Rate limit exceeded"

Cause: You're taking actions too quickly (Pinterest thinks you might be a bot) Fix: Slow down your activity, wait at least 15 minutes, then continue at a normal human pace

Prevent Future Pinterest Problems

Keep Pinterest Running Smoothly

Regular maintenance: • Update your Pinterest app monthly • Clear browser cache weekly if you use Pinterest heavily • Keep your device storage from getting too full • Use stable internet connections when possible • Don't use third-party Pinterest automation tools (they break things)

Account best practices: • Don't save pins too rapidly (Pinterest has rate limits) • Keep your email address updated in account settings • Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication • Follow Pinterest's community guidelines to avoid account issues • Back up important boards by creating duplicate secret boards

When to Contact Pinterest Support

Contact Pinterest support if: • Your account was wrongly suspended or restricted • You're missing pins or boards that should be there • Pinterest charged you incorrectly for ads • Someone is using your content without permission • Technical issues persist after trying all troubleshooting steps • You need help with business account features

How to contact Pinterest: • Go to help.pinterest.com • Click "Contact us" • Choose your issue category • Fill out the support form with detailed information • Include screenshots if helpful • Be patient, responses can take up to several days

Pinterest Mobile vs Desktop Issues

Mobile App Specific Problems

• App crashes are usually memory/storage related • Push notifications not working means check phone notification settings • Slow loading often means update the app or restart your phone • Camera/visual search not working means check app permissions

Desktop Browser Specific Problems

• Slow loading usually means clear browser cache • Pin It button not working means install Pinterest browser extension • Images not displaying means disable ad blockers temporarily • Can't save pins means try incognito mode

Conclusion: Keep Pinterest Working for You

Most Pinterest problems have simple solutions. The key is identifying whether it's a Pinterest server issue (affecting everyone) or something specific to your account or device.

Start with the quick fixes like clearing cache and restarting the app. If problems persist, work through the specific solutions for your issue type.

Remember, Pinterest is constantly updating their platform, so occasional glitches are normal. When in doubt, wait a few hours and try again, many issues resolve themselves.

For more Pinterest help, check out our Pinterest hashtag generator and best times to post on Pinterest guide.

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