Make Pinterest Board Private: Desktop & Mobile
To make a Pinterest board private, open the board on the Pinterest app or website, tap the pencil (edit) icon, toggle the “Secret” switch to on, and save. This works the same on desktop browsers and on the iOS and Android mobile apps. Once a board is secret, only you and any collaborators you invite can see it.
What a Secret Board Actually Does
Pinterest calls its private boards “secret boards.” A secret board is hidden from your public profile, from search results, and from the home feeds of other users. Other people will not see it in your list of boards, and pins you add to it will not appear in the main Pinterest feed. The board is visible only to you and to people you explicitly invite as contributors.
Secret boards are useful for planning surprises (like a gift or a party), keeping wedding or vacation plans under wraps, or storing ideas you are not ready to share. They work exactly like normal boards for pinning, organizing, and editing, so you can still move pins, add notes, and rearrange sections.
How to Make a Board Private on Desktop (Web Browser)
- Log in to Pinterest in your browser and go to your profile by clicking your profile picture.
- Click on the board you want to make private to open it.
- Click the pencil icon (or “Edit board”) in the top-right corner of the board page.
- In the edit panel, look for the “Secret” switch. Toggle it on.
- Click “Done” or “Save” to apply the change.
If you do not see the pencil icon, make sure you are the owner of the board. Only the creator can change a board’s privacy setting. If you are viewing a board someone else owns, you will not have the edit option.
How to Make a Board Private on Mobile (iOS and Android)
- Open the Pinterest app and tap your profile picture at the bottom-right.
- Tap the board you want to change.
- Tap the pencil icon (or the three dots menu, depending on your app version) at the top of the board screen.
- Find the “Secret” toggle and switch it on.
- Tap “Done” or the checkmark to save.
The mobile app layout changes slightly with updates, but the edit icon is always in the same general area (top-right of the board view). If you cannot find the toggle, update the app to the latest version, as older versions may have a different interface.
Can You Make an Existing Board Private?
Yes. You can change a public board to secret at any time, and you can change a secret board back to public. When you make a public board secret, it disappears from your public profile immediately. Existing pins remain on the board, and any collaborators you had will still have access unless you remove them.
One caveat: if you have already shared the board’s link publicly, that link may still work for people who have it, even after the board becomes secret. Pinterest does not reliably invalidate previously shared links. For complete privacy, consider creating a new secret board and moving pins there instead of just toggling an existing board.
Common Problems and Fixes
- No “Secret” toggle visible: You are not the owner, or the board is a group board you were invited to. Only the creator can change privacy.
- Board still shows on profile: Refresh the page or restart the app. Sometimes the change takes a few seconds to propagate.
- Pins from secret board appear in search: They should not. If they do, you may have accidentally pinned to a public board as well. Check the pin’s board assignment.
- Collaborators can still see the board after you make it secret: Yes, that is by design. You must remove collaborators manually if you want to revoke access.
- Secret board does not show up in the app: Secret boards are hidden by default in some views. Go to your profile and tap “Secret” in the board filter to see them.
Secret vs. Private: What Pinterest Calls It
Pinterest officially uses the term “secret board” rather than “private board.” The two mean the same thing in practice, but you will see “Secret” in the interface. There is no separate “private” setting. If you are searching for help online, use “secret board” as your keyword to get the most accurate results.
Also note that secret boards are not encrypted or anonymous. Pinterest staff can still see them if required, and they are subject to the same community guidelines as public boards. If you pin something that violates Pinterest’s rules, it can be removed even from a secret board.
Collaborators and Sharing a Secret Board
You can invite up to 50 collaborators to a secret board. Each collaborator must have a Pinterest account. When you invite someone, they can see all pins on the board and can add or remove pins. They cannot change the board’s secret status—only the owner can.
To invite someone, open the board, tap the “Invite” or “Add” button (usually near the top), and enter their email or Pinterest username. They will receive a notification that they have been added. If you later want to remove someone, go to the same menu and tap “Remove” next to their name.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a secret board public later?
Yes. Toggle the “Secret” switch off in the edit menu. The board will become visible on your profile, and its pins may start appearing in search and in other users’ feeds. There is no way to make it secret again without losing the public exposure it already had.
Will people know I have a secret board?
No. Secret boards do not appear on your profile, and there is no indicator that they exist. The only way someone knows is if you tell them or if you share the link.
Can I make a secret board visible to only certain people?
Yes, by adding them as collaborators. Secret boards are visible to the owner and to all collaborators. There is no way to give view-only access; anyone you invite can edit the board.
Do secret boards count toward my board limit?
Yes. Secret boards use the same board limit as public boards. Pinterest does not give you extra space for secret boards.
Can I move pins from a public board to a secret one?
Yes. Open a pin, tap the “…” menu, choose “Move,” and select the secret board. The pin will be removed from the public board and added to the secret one.
Why can’t I find the secret board option on my app?
Make sure the app is updated. If you still cannot find it, log out and log back in. The toggle is always in the edit board screen, but its exact position can vary slightly between versions.
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