How to Download Pinterest Images and Photos (Full Guide)
To download a Pinterest image, open the Pin, tap the three-dot menu, and choose “Download image” if it appears – the file saves straight to your gallery or Downloads folder. Pinterest itself confirms this option exists on web, Android, and iOS, but also warns that “not all Pins can be downloaded so these steps may not apply to all Pins.” This guide covers that built-in method plus two reliable backups for when it is missing.
Method 1: Pinterest’s Built-In Download Option
- Open the Pin you want in the Pinterest app or on pinterest.com.
- Tap or click the three-dot (“…”) icon on the Pin.
- Select “Download image” from the menu.
- Find the file in your phone’s Gallery/Photos app, or your browser’s Downloads folder on desktop.
This works for a large share of image Pins, but Pinterest does not guarantee it for every one – some Pins simply do not show the option, especially ones sourced from certain websites or marked with usage restrictions.
Method 2: Save the Image Directly from Your Browser
If the download option is missing, a browser workaround usually still works on desktop: right-click the image inside the Pin and choose “Save image as.” This grabs the same file Pinterest is already displaying, without needing the app’s menu at all. On mobile Safari or Chrome, press and hold the image instead and select “Save to Photos” or “Download image.”
Method 3: A Dedicated Pinterest Image Downloader
When neither of the above works – which happens often on Pins that block right-click saving – a dedicated tool is the fastest fix. Paste the Pin’s link into our Pinterest image downloader and it pulls the original file directly, in most cases at a higher resolution than what displays in the feed.
| Method | Works When Pinterest Hides the Option | Requires an App | Typical Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in “Download image” | No | Yes (or browser) | Original, when available |
| Right-click / long-press save | Sometimes | No | Matches what’s on screen |
| Dedicated image downloader | Yes | No | Original resolution |
Downloading Multiple Images at Once
If you are trying to save more than a handful of Pins – for example everything on one board – saving each image one at a time is slow. See our guide on downloading Pinterest pictures in bulk, or if you want every Pin from a specific board, our board download guide covers that workflow.
Common Reasons an Image Won’t Download
- The Pin links to an external site that blocks hotlinking or direct saving.
- You’re on a slow or interrupted connection, so the download silently fails.
- The app is outdated – update Pinterest from the Play Store or App Store and try again.
- The image was uploaded at a very low resolution to begin with, so there’s no higher-quality version to fetch.
For video Pins specifically, the failure patterns are different – see our dedicated guide on why a Pinterest video won’t download if that is what you are running into.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does downloading a Pinterest image cost anything?
No. Both Pinterest’s built-in download option and dedicated image downloader tools are free to use.
Can I download images from a private or secret Pinterest board?
Yes, as long as you have access to view the board yourself – the download steps work the same way for private and public boards.
Why does the downloaded image look lower quality than what I saw on Pinterest?
Some third-party tools compress images. Using Pinterest’s own “Download image” option, or a tool that fetches the original file, avoids this.
Is it legal to download Pinterest images for personal use?
Downloading an image for your own personal, offline use is generally treated like saving any public web image for yourself. See our guide on whether downloading Pinterest content is safe and legal for the details on reposting and copyright.
