What to do if your Pinterest account is hacked

Pinterest's help pages describe three common signs:

• An email about a change you didn't make. Pinterest emails you when your email address, username or password changes, and when it sees a login from a computer or location it doesn't recognise
• Boards or Pins you didn't add appear on your profile
• You've been logged out and told Pinterest protected your account. It does this after unusual activity, such as logins from unusual places, lots of logins in a short time or spammy behaviour, and it resets your password and logs everyone out, you included

Sources: Pinterest Help: You got an email about a change you didn't make, checked 15 October 2026; Pinterest Help: You're seeing boards or Pins you didn't add, checked 15 October 2026; Pinterest Help: We protected your account, checked 15 October 2026

Work through these in order, as fast as you can:

1. Open the email Pinterest sent about the change and click Lock my account.
2. Go to the login page and select Forgot your password?. Search with your email, name or username, and click This is me next to your account.
3. Open the reset email, select Reset password, enter a new password and click Change password. You can't reuse a recent password.
4. If you've signed in with Google or Apple before, you can log in that way instead.
5. Delete any boards or Pins that were added without you.
6. Check that the email address on the account is still yours, then turn on two-factor authentication (below).

• If the reset link doesn't work, Pinterest suggests opening it in a private window in Chrome, Firefox or Safari

Sources: Pinterest Help: You got an email about a change you didn't make, checked 15 October 2026; Pinterest Help: Reset or change your password, checked 15 October 2026; Pinterest Help: We protected your account, checked 15 October 2026; Pinterest Help: You're seeing boards or Pins you didn't add, checked 15 October 2026

Two-factor authentication asks for your password and a code texted to your phone each time you log in. Pinterest says it isn't available in every region yet. On a computer:

1. Click the more-options icon at the bottom left, then Settings, then Security.
2. Under Two-factor authentication, tick Require code at login.
3. Confirm your email address and enter your password.
4. Choose your country or region code, enter your phone number and click Next.
5. Enter the code sent to your phone and click Verify.
6. Write down the backup code and keep it somewhere safe, then click Done.

• In the app: tap your profile picture, then your profile photo at the top left, tap Security and switch on Two-factor authentication
• A phone number can be linked to only one Pinterest account

Source: Pinterest Help: Two-factor authentication, checked 15 October 2026

If other people work on your Pinterest business account through Business Manager, you can make two-factor authentication compulsory for them. Turn it on for your own account first.

1. Click the menu icon at the top left of your business account.
2. Under Manage business, click Business Manager.
3. Select Business Security in the left-hand menu.
4. Turn on Require code at login.
5. Choose Required for everyone or Required for managers.

• Employees get an email asking them to enrol, and can't reach your business assets until they do
• You can see who has it switched on under Employees in Business Manager

Source: Pinterest Business Help: Two-factor authentication for business, checked 15 October 2026

Most problems fall into one of these:

• You no longer have access to the account's email: Pinterest can't verify the account is yours, so it can't give you access. It suggests creating a new account
• Blocked for suspicious activity: anti-spam limits sometimes catch real people. Wait 30 minutes and try again; most limits lift automatically
• Google or Apple login fails: check that Pinterest is still connected in your Google or Apple account settings
• Your Pins and boards are missing: you may have created a second account by mistake, often on a new phone. Log out and look for your original account

Sources: Pinterest Help: Can't log in to Pinterest, checked 15 October 2026; Pinterest Help: Reset or change your password, checked 15 October 2026

Pinterest's own security advice:

1. Use a password with numbers and symbols that you don't use anywhere else.
2. Only enter it on pinterest.com or the official Pinterest app, and check the address bar ends in pinterest.com.
3. Remember that Pinterest says it never asks for your password by email, instant message or phone.
4. Keep your computer and browser updated, use anti-virus software and only install add-ons from publishers you trust.
5. Don't open attachments or install software from emails claiming to be from Pinterest.

Source: Pinterest Help: Protect your account, checked 15 October 2026

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