How to Delete a Pinterest Business Account

Ready to close your Pinterest Business account for good? Whether you're rebranding, shutting down a project, or just simplifying your digital footprint, this guide will walk you through the entire process. We'll cover everything from the important pre-deletion cleanup to the final click, making sure you feel confident about every step.

Before You Delete: What to Consider First

Hitting the delete button is permanent, so it’s worth taking a moment to make sure it’s the right move for you. The feeling of wanting to get rid of a social account often stems from a few common places: the platform isn't driving results, it’s become too much to manage, or your business focus has shifted. Whatever your reason, let's look at the options.

Delete vs. Deactivate vs. Convert: Understanding Your Choices

You have three distinct options, and only one of them is permanent. Choosing the right one can save you from a major headache later on.

• Deleting Your Account: This is the permanent, irreversible option. After a 14-day grace period, all of your pins, boards, followers, and data are gone forever. Your username and profile URL will be released. This is the best choice if you are 100% certain you will never need the account or its content again.
• Deactivating Your Account: This is a temporary solution. Deactivating your account hides your profile and boards from the public, but it saves all your content. You can reactivate it at any time by simply logging back in, and everything will be restored just as you left it. This is ideal if you just need a break or are unsure about your long-term business strategy.
• Converting to a Personal Account: This is a fantastic middle-ground. If you no longer need the business analytics, ads manager, and other professional tools but want to keep all your pins and boards, you can convert your Business account back to a Personal account. You keep your followers and content but lose access to the business-specific features.

Checklist: 4 Things to Do Before You Get Started

If you've decided that permanent deletion is the way to go, a little prep work can go a long way. Don't skip these steps.

1. Back Up Your Analytics Data

Once your account is deleted, your analytics are gone forever. If you’ve ever run paid campaigns or have valuable insight into what content performed best, you'll want to save that data. Pinterest Analytics allows you to export your data for specific date ranges.

• Navigate to Analytics > Overview in the top menu.
• Select the date range you want to save. It's often helpful to grab data for the last 90 days, the last year, and all-time if possible.
• Click the Export button to download a CSV file of your performance metrics.

This simple file can be a goldmine of information for future marketing efforts, even on other platforms. You'll have a clear record of your top-performing pins, audience demographics, and outbound click trends.

2. Save Your Important Pins and Creative Assets

Pinterest doesn't offer a simple "download all my content" button. If you have original graphics, videos, or key pins that you want to keep, you'll need to save them manually. Go through your most popular boards and pins - especially ones with high engagement or that represent significant campaigns - and download the original image or video files. Don’t forget to make a note of the descriptions and links you used, as that context can be just as valuable as the creative itself.

3. Disconnect Linked Accounts and Apps

If you connected your Pinterest Business account to other platforms like Shopify, Etsy, or your website for Rich Pins and social login, make sure to disconnect them. Go to your settings under Claimed accounts and Apps to review and remove any connections. This prevents any broken links or permissions issues from cropping up later.

4. Inform Your Followers (Optional but Recommended)

If you have a dedicated following, consider publishing a final pin announcing that your account will be closing. You can direct your audience to your website, another social media profile, or your newsletter. It’s a professional courtesy that shows you value the community you built and gives them a way to stay in touch. A simple graphic that says, "We're moving! Find us on [new platform]" is all it takes.

How to Convert Your Business Account to a Personal Account

If you've decided deleting is too permanent, converting back to a personal profile is your best bet. You get to keep all your hard work without the pressure of managing a business page. The process is simple and reversible if you change your mind.

1. Log in to your Pinterest Business account on a desktop browser.
2. Click the down arrow icon in the top-right corner to open the menu, then select Settings.
3. In the left-hand navigation, click on Account Management.
4. Scroll down to the "Account changes" section. Find the line that says "Convert to a personal account" and click the Convert account button.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm your decision. You’ll be asked to provide a reason for the switch to help Pinterest gather feedback.

That's it. Your profile will now function as a personal account. You'll lose access to analytics, ads, and the shop tab, but all your created content will remain intact.

How to Deactivate Your Pinterest Business Account (The Temporary Hold)

Need to press pause? Deactivation is the digital equivalent of putting your account into hibernation. It’s completely hidden from public view, but you can awaken it with a simple login whenever you're ready.

1. Log in to your Pinterest account from a desktop computer.
2. Click on the dropdown menu in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Go to the Account Management tab.
4. Under "Account changes," click the Deactivate account button.
5. You will be asked why you're deactivating. Choose a reason and click Deactivate account again to confirm.

Your account is now hidden. Your profile, pins, and boards won't be visible to anyone until you decide to log back in, which will automatically reactivate it.

How to Permanently Delete Your Pinterest Business Account

If you’ve backed up your data, considered the alternatives, and are fully committed to deleting your account, here is the step-by-step process. Remember, after the 14-day grace period, this action cannot be undone.

1. Log in to your Pinterest Business account on a desktop browser. Mobile apps may not offer this functionality directly.
2. Click the small down arrow in the top right corner of the page and select Settings from the dropdown menu.
3. Navigate to the Account Management section in the left-side menu.
4. Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the page. You'll see a section titled "Delete your data and account." Click the Delete account button.
5. A confirmation window will appear. Pinterest will ask you to select a reason for leaving and then click Continue.
6. You'll be asked if you want to receive an email with a link to reactivate your account within 14 days. If you're sure you want to delete it, you can just click Delete Account. Pinterest will send a confirmation email to the address associated with your account letting you know the deletion process has started.

Your account is now scheduled for deletion. It will become deactivated immediately, and if you don't log back in within 14 days, it will be permanently removed. The URL and username will become available for others to claim.

What Happens If You Change Your Mind?

Did you make a mistake? If you're still within the 14-day window, you can stop the deletion. All you have to do is log back into your account. Pinterest will show a prompt asking if you want to reactivate your account. Simply follow the prompts to restore everything. If you wait past the 14-day mark, this option will no longer be available.

Common Questions About Deleting a Pinterest Account

Navigating the end of a social media account's life cycle can bring up a few worries. Here are answers to some of the most common questions people have.

Why can't I see the delete option in the mobile app?

Full account management features, including permanent deletion, are typically only available on the desktop version of Pinterest. If you're trying to do this from your phone, you’ll likely need to log in through a web browser instead of the app to access the correct settings.

Can I create a new account with the same email address?

Once your account is permanently deleted after the 14-day period, the associated email address is freed up. You can then use it to sign up for a new Pinterest account, whether it's personal or business.

What happens to my ads and billing information?

When you delete your business account, your Ads Manager account is also closed. Any active campaigns will be stopped. It's a good practice to go into your Ads Manager dashboard and save any final reports before you start the deletion process. Pinterest will handle the final billing cycle for any outstanding ad spend, but your payment information will be removed from their systems along with the rest of your data.

Final Thoughts

Deciding to delete your Pinterest Business account is a big step, but by understanding your options - from temporarily deactivating to converting to a personal profile - you can make the choice that best suits your goals. Following the preparatory steps ensures you don't lose valuable content or data in the process, making for a clean, regret-free exit.

Sometimes, the desire to delete an account comes from the broader challenge of social media management feeling too complex. When you're managing multiple brands or platforms, things can get chaotic fast. We understand that feeling, and it’s why our approach with Postbase is centered on simplification. It's a modern tool designed to handle today’s content formats, a visual calendar that gives you a clear view of your strategy, and rock-solid reliability, so your content actually goes live when you schedule it.