Estate planning as a Pinterest account holder
Pinterest, Inc. reviews transfer requests for accounts individually upon receipt of documentation
OverviewWhen someone dies
Pinterest Help Center
WebsiteVisit website→
Pinterest account closure for deceased users
WebsiteSubmit claim online →
Verified May 2026
Pinterest is a visual discovery platform where users save and organize ideas through "pins" on themed "boards." A Pinterest account holds curated boards (recipes, home design, travel, fashion), saved pins, followed accounts, and personal collections that often represent years of curation. Unlike Facebook or Instagram, Pinterest has no memorialization option -- the only option for a deceased user is account deletion. Pinterest states on its account-management help article: "We're sorry for your loss. We can delete a deceased family member's account if you get in touch with us and provide verification, like an obituary or death certificate." Pinterest's help article does not publish a deceased-user-specific timeline; the article states only that "once we delete the account, it will not be accessible anymore."
Pinterest, Inc. reviews transfer requests for Pinterest accounts on a case-by-case basis after the account holder's death. Approval is at the company's sole discretion, and documentation requirements must be met before any transfer is considered.
What happens at death
Pinterest offers only account deletion for deceased users -- no memorialization, no transfer, and no preserved archive. The deceased-user section of the account-management help article states: "We're sorry for your loss. We can delete a deceased family member's account if you get in touch with us and provide verification, like an obituary or death certificate." Pinterest directs requesters to its general "Contact us" channel rather than publishing a dedicated email address. The Terms of Service (effective April 30, 2025) confirm the account is non-transferable: Section 2(b) grants users only a "limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable and revocable license to access and use the Service," and Section 13(b) states "these Terms, and any rights and licenses granted hereunder, may not be transferred or assigned by you." Pinterest's help article does not publish a deceased-user-specific timeline -- the article only states that "once we delete the account, it will not be accessible anymore." (The 7-day permanent-deletion window in the help article applies to the standard user-initiated deletion path.) Pinterest does not provide data exports on behalf of a deceased user; downloads require the account holder to be authenticated.
How to protect your Pinterest accounts
Because Pinterest, Inc. reviews transfer requests on a case-by-case basis, there is no guarantee that accounts will be transferred after death. Lifetime planning reduces dependence on that outcome.
6 steps for managing your Pinterest accounts during your lifetime:
1
Download your Pinterest data periodically. Go to Settings > Privacy and data > Request your data > Start request. Pinterest emails a SendSafely download link within roughly 48 hours. Store the export externally so your estate can access it without your account.
2
Share your Pinterest login credentials with your executor if your boards have personal or creative value. Pinterest does not produce data exports on behalf of a deceased user, so live login access is the only way the estate can run an export later.
3
Treat Pinterest boards as curation, not assets. Years of saved recipes, design inspiration, travel plans, and creative references are not transferable through Pinterest -- if the content matters, plan to copy it elsewhere.
4
For Pinterest Business accounts: add at least one trusted user through Business Manager so ad accounts, analytics, and shared resources do not lose access if the primary account is deleted.
5
If you participate in any Pinterest creator or monetization features, document your participation and any outstanding earnings for your executor; the public deceased-user policy does not address creator payouts.
6
Decide whether you would prefer your Pinterest account deactivated (hidden but preserved) or deleted (gone within 7 days), and tell your executor. Pinterest treats the two as different requests.
Family sharing
Pinterest accounts are non-transferable. The Terms of Service (Section 2(b)) grant only a "limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable and revocable license to access and use the Service." Pinterest does not offer family sharing, delegate access, or co-ownership for personal accounts. Pinterest Business accounts support multiple users via Business Manager roles, which provides some organizational continuity if a team member dies, but there is no formal ownership transfer feature for Business accounts either.
When someone dies
Handling Pinterest accounts after a death
Transfer is handled on a case-by-case basis, 7-step process, and 3 required documents.
View details →Pinterest does not support beneficiary designations. Unlike bank accounts or investment accounts, there is no way to formally name a beneficiary on this type of account.
Frequently asked questions
No. The Terms of Service (Section 13(b), effective April 30, 2025) state that "these Terms, and any rights and licenses granted hereunder, may not be transferred or assigned by you," and Section 2(b) grants only a "limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, non-sublicensable and revocable license to access and use the Service." The only options for an estate are deactivation (temporary, reversible) or deletion (permanent).
Sources
Data sourced from Pinterest, Inc. primary sources (5 pages reviewed). How we research.
Pinterest Help Center
WebsiteVisit website→
Pinterest account closure for deceased users
WebsiteSubmit claim online →
Verified May 2026
