How to Download Pinterest Videos with an iOS Shortcut
Apple’s built-in Shortcuts app can automate part of the Pinterest video download process on iPhone – share a Pin link to a shortcut and it can open a downloader page or hand off the link automatically, saving you a few taps compared to copying and pasting manually each time. It does not replace an actual downloader tool; it just speeds up getting the link to one, like our Pinterest video downloader.
What an iOS Shortcut Can and Can’t Do
Shortcuts is Apple’s automation app, and community members have built shortcuts – available through sites like RoutineHub – that accept a shared Pinterest link and route it toward a downloading step. What a shortcut cannot do is bypass Pinterest’s own restrictions or magically extract video files with no download service involved at all – it is an automation layer on top of the download process, not a replacement for it.
Setting Up a Basic Download Shortcut
- Open the Shortcuts app on your iPhone (built in on iOS 13 and later).
- Create a new shortcut, or search RoutineHub for an existing community-made “Pinterest downloader” shortcut and add it.
- In the Pinterest app, tap Share on the video Pin and select your shortcut from the share sheet.
- The shortcut passes the link along to a downloader page, where you complete the download as normal.
Is It Worth Setting Up?
For occasional downloads, manually copying a link and pasting it into a downloader tool takes about the same time as running a shortcut. A shortcut pays off if you download Pinterest videos frequently and want to shave a few taps off a repeated routine, or if you want the process integrated into the iOS share sheet instead of switching apps. For someone who saves one Pinterest video a month, the setup time alone probably outweighs what a shortcut saves; for someone doing it daily, that same setup pays for itself within a week.
| Approach | Setup Effort | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Manual copy-paste into a downloader | None | Occasional downloads |
| Community iOS Shortcut | A few minutes, one-time | Frequent downloaders who want fewer taps |
| Browser bookmarklet or extension | Varies | Desktop-first users, not applicable on iOS Safari |
Shortcut Safety Considerations
Only install shortcuts from sources you trust, such as RoutineHub, which reviews submissions. Avoid shortcuts from random links shared in forums or social media with no reputation behind them, since a malicious shortcut could route your data somewhere other than where it claims. When in doubt, the manual copy-paste method described in our iPhone download guide is simpler and carries no such risk.
Troubleshooting a Shortcut That Stops Working
Community-made shortcuts occasionally break after an iOS update changes how the Share Sheet or Shortcuts app handles automation, or after the destination downloader page changes its layout. If a shortcut you’ve relied on suddenly stops passing the link through correctly, check the shortcut’s page on RoutineHub for an updated version before assuming your phone is at fault – and in the meantime, falling back to copying the link manually always works regardless of what iOS version you’re running.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to be tech-savvy to use an iOS Shortcut for this?
Not particularly. Installing a pre-built shortcut from RoutineHub is a matter of a few taps – building one from scratch requires more familiarity with the Shortcuts app.
Does a shortcut download the video without using a downloader website at all?
No. A shortcut automates handing the link off to a downloader; it doesn’t replace the actual download service.
Are third-party iOS Shortcuts safe to install?
Shortcuts from a reputable source like RoutineHub are generally safe. Avoid installing shortcuts from unknown or unverified links.
Is a shortcut faster than just copying and pasting the link manually?
For occasional use, the time difference is minimal. For frequent downloaders, a shortcut can save a few taps each time by skipping app-switching.
