Pinterest: Deactivate or Delete Your Account, and Undo It

Pinterest gives you two ways to step away. Deactivating is a pause that you undo by logging in. Deleting is permanent, but only after a 7-day window during which you can change your mind. Mixing the two up, or logging in at the wrong moment, causes most of the confusion. This guide explains both options, how to reactivate and how a deactivation by Pinterest itself differs from one you chose.

Last checked: 20 October 2026 against Pinterest Help.

#What is the difference between deactivating and deleting?

Pinterest explains both on one help page (Pinterest Help).

#How do I deactivate my account?

1. Log in to your Pinterest account.
2. On the web, click the more options icon, select Settings and click Account management.
3. In the app, tap your profile picture, then your profile photo (personal) or the ellipsis icon (business), then Account management.
4. Select Deactivate account and follow the prompts.

Pinterest says that after deactivating, your email address and username remain tied to the account. To free either of them up, change your email or edit your username in settings before you deactivate.

#How do I delete my account?

1. Log in to your Pinterest account.
2. Open Settings and Account management as above.
3. On the web select Delete account; in the app scroll down and tap Delete your data and account.
4. Follow the prompts.
5. Check the email address on the account and confirm that you want to close it.

Pinterest says that when you delete, your public profile is immediately deactivated, and your account and personal data are permanently deleted in 7 days. Business accounts with outstanding bills need to remove payment information to clear them first, and any unsettled balance is charged to the card on file when the spend occurred.

#How do I reactivate my account?

Pinterest says how you reactivate depends on how and why the account was deactivated (Pinterest Help):

• You deactivated it: log in. If you forgot your password, reset it.
• You deleted it within the last 7 days: reactivate before the 7 days are up. Pinterest says users based in California need to contact it to reactivate.
• Pinterest protected your account after strange activity: reset your password.
• Pinterest deactivated it for Community Guidelines violations: contact Pinterest to ask for a review.

Pinterest says you need access to the email address on your account to reactivate. If you no longer have it, Pinterest suggests creating a new account instead. After 7 days, a deleted account and its data cannot be recovered.

#What if Pinterest deactivated my account?

That is different from a deactivation you chose. Pinterest says it may deactivate accounts that break its Community Guidelines, including for account security reasons such as impersonation and third-party logins, spam or intellectual property issues. You will see a deactivation notice when you try to log in. If you think it was a mistake, Pinterest says to get in touch, and it will review the request and reply (Pinterest Help). Our Pinterest suspension guide explains this route.

#A short checklist before you leave

1. Decide whether you want a pause or a permanent exit.
2. If you might reuse your email or username elsewhere, change them first.
3. For business accounts, settle any bills.
4. Note the date, so you know when the 7-day window ends if you delete.
5. Keep access to the account's email address in case you change your mind.

#Protected accounts are not deactivated accounts

Pinterest says that if it notices strange activity on an account, it sends an email, resets the password and logs everyone out, including you. That can look like your account has been switched off, but it is a protective step rather than a deactivation or deletion. The fix Pinterest gives is to reset your password. If you also see emails about changes you did not make, treat it as a possible compromise and follow our hacked account steps. When you are back in, turn on two-factor authentication so that a password alone is not enough to log in.

For business accounts, settle billing before deleting, because Pinterest says unsettled balances are charged to the card that was on file when the spend occurred.

If you are unsure which option you chose, check your email. Pinterest asks you to confirm a deletion through the address on the account, so a confirmation message means the 7-day deletion window has started. If you only deactivated, there is no deletion clock, and the account waits until you log in. Either way, keep that email address working, because Pinterest says reactivation needs it.

#Common mistakes

• Logging in to check a deactivated account and reactivating it by accident.
• Missing the confirmation email after choosing Delete account.
• Waiting more than 7 days to reactivate a deleted account.
• Losing access to the account's email, which Pinterest requires for reactivation.

#Watch out for recovery scams

Pinterest's own settings, help pages and forms are the official routes. Anyone who messages you offering to restore or unlock your account, or who asks for your password, codes or recovery details, is not part of that process. Never share them. Our guide on spotting fake recovery services lists the warning signs.

#What are the realistic limits?

Pinterest controls deactivation and deletion. After the 7-day window, a deleted account cannot be recovered, and reactivation needs the account's email. Deactivations Pinterest makes for guideline breaches go through its review process. If someone else changed your details, see Pinterest account hacked.

AwareXone helps people review account access and security through official platform routes. We are independent and not affiliated with Pinterest, the work is best-effort, and Pinterest makes the final decision. Read more about our social media problem solutions.