How to Fix a Pinterest Glitch

Nothing brings your creative workflow to a halt faster than a Pinterest glitch. One minute you’re saving inspiration for your next big project, and the next you’re staring at an error message, a frozen screen, or a feed that just won’t refresh. This guide provides a complete, step-by-step checklist to diagnose and fix whatever Pinterest problem you're facing, starting with the simplest solutions and moving to more advanced fixes so you can get back to pinning.

First, Is Pinterest Down for Everyone?

Before you start troubleshooting your own device, it's worth taking 60 seconds to see if the problem is on Pinterest's end. Sometimes, the platform's servers experience issues, leading to widespread downtime. If Pinterest itself is down, there’s nothing you can do on your end but wait it out.

Here’s how to quickly check:

• Check a Third-Party Status Website: Sites like Downdetector collect user reports to see if an outage is affecting a large number of people. If you see a massive spike in reported problems, the issue is almost certainly with Pinterest's servers.
• Look at Other Social Media: Hop over to X (formerly Twitter) and search for terms like "Pinterest down" or "#pinterestdown". If there's an active outage, you'll see a storm of other users talking about it in real-time. This is often the fastest way to confirm a widespread problem.
• Ask a Friend: The simplest test of all. Shoot a quick text to a friend and ask if their Pinterest is working. If they’re having the exact same issue, it's likely a platform problem.

If these sources all look quiet, then the glitch is probably specific to your device, app, or connection. That’s good news because it means you can likely fix it yourself with the steps below.

Your Step-by-Step Pinterest Glitch Troubleshooting Checklist

Work through these fixes in order, as they are organized from the most common and simple solutions to the more involved ones. In most cases, you’ll have the problem solved within the first few steps.

Level 1: The Quick-Refresh Fixes (Always Start Here)

These are the foundational "turn it off and on again" steps that solve a surprising number of digital roadblocks by clearing temporary errors.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

It sounds almost too simple, but a weak or unstable internet connection is the number one cause of Pins not loading, videos buffering, or the app feeling sluggish.

• On Wi-Fi? Try visiting another website to see if it loads quickly. If it doesn't, try restarting your router. If you’re using a public Wi-Fi network (like at a cafe or airport), the connection might be too slow or have restrictions that interfere with Pinterest.
• On Cellular Data? Check that you have decent signal strength (enough bars). Try toggling Airplane Mode on for 10 seconds and then off again. This forces your phone to establish a fresh connection with the nearest cell tower.

2. Fully Close and Reopen the App or Browser

Just switching to another app doesn't always close the original one. A full restart forces it to reload from scratch, clearing minor, temporary bugs.

• On iOS (iPhone/iPad): Swipe up from the bottom of the screen (or double-press the Home button on older devices) to open the app switcher. Find the Pinterest app preview and swipe it up to close it.
• On Android: Open the app switcher (usually a square icon at the bottom of the screen or a swipe-up-and-hold gesture). Find Pinterest and swipe it away to close it.
• On Desktop: Close the browser tab Pinterest is open in. For an even better reset, quit the entire browser application (File >, Quit, or Ctrl/Cmd + Q) and then relaunch it.

After closing, wait a few seconds and then open Pinterest again to see if the issue is resolved.

3. Restart Your Device

If restarting the app didn't work, rebooting your entire device is the next logical step. This clears your device's temporary memory (RAM) and can resolve deeper-seated glitches that are affecting how apps run. Whether you're on a smartphone, tablet, or computer, a simple reboot is one of the most effective troubleshooting tactics.

Level 2: Clearing Out Old Data (The Most Common Culprits)

If the quick resets didn’t help, the problem is often caused by a buildup of old, corrupted data in the app's cache. A cache is where an app stores temporary files to help it load faster, but sometimes these files become outdated or damaged and cause problems.

4. Clear the Pinterest App Cache

This is a highly effective fix for issues like Pins not loading, gray boxes appearing instead of images, or general slowness. Clearing the cache will not delete your Pins, boards, or account information.

• On Android:
  1. Go to your phone's Settings.
  2. Tap on Apps or Application Manager.
  3. Find and select Pinterest from the list.
  4. Tap on Storage or Storage & Cache.
  5. Tap the Clear Cache button. (Avoid tapping "Clear Data" or "Clear Storage" for now, as that will log you out).
• On iOS: iOS doesn't offer a simple button to clear an individual app's cache. However, Pinterest has one built into its own settings:
  1. Open the Pinterest app and go to your Profile tab.
  2. Tap the nut icon (⚙️) or the three dots (...) in the top right corner to open Settings.
  3. Select Privacy & data.
  4. Under "Cache," tap on Clear app cache. This will give you the same benefit.

5. Clear Your Browser's Cache and Cookies (Desktop)

If you're using Pinterest on a computer, the browser’s cache can cause the exact same problems. Clearing your browser data can solve login issues, broken page layouts, and loading errors.

• In Chrome: Go to Settings >, Privacy and security >, Clear browsing data. Select a time range (choose "All time" for a full reset) and make sure "Cached images and files" is checked.
• In Safari: Go to Safari >, Settings >, Privacy >, Manage Website Data. Find Pinterest and remove it. For a more thorough cleanse, go to the Develop menu (enable it in Settings >, Advanced first) and click "Empty Caches."
• In Firefox: Go to Settings >, Privacy & Security. Scroll down to "Cookies and Site Data" and click "Clear Data." Select "Cached Web Content" and click "Clear."

Level 3: Checking for Software Updates

Running outdated software is a recipe for glitches. Pinterest regularly updates its app to fix bugs and introduce new features, and those updates expect your device and browser to be current, too.

6. Update the Pinterest App

App developers can only support so many older versions. If you’re running an old version of the Pinterest app, a recent backend change by Pinterest could have made it incompatible.

• Go to the App Store (iOS) or Google Play Store (Android).
• Search for "Pinterest."
• If you see an "Update" button, tap it. If you only see an "Open" button, you’re already on the latest version.

7. Update Your Web Browser

Like the mobile app, web browsers are constantly being updated to patch security holes and improve how they render modern websites. Running an old browser can definitely cause problems with a media-rich site like Pinterest. Check your browser's settings menu (usually under "About") to see if there's an update available.

8. Update Your Device’s Operating System

Check if your phone or computer has a pending software update (e.g., in Settings >, General >, Software Update on iOS or Settings >, System update on Android). These system-level updates often include critical bug fixes that can resolve app compatibility issues.

Level 4: Investigating Potential Conflicts

Sometimes, the issue isn't with Pinterest or your device, but with another piece of software that's interfering with it.

9. Check Your Browser Extensions (Desktop)

Browser extensions, especially ad-blockers, pop-up blockers, and privacy protection tools, can sometimes be a bit too aggressive. They might mistakenly block parts of Pinterest’s code from loading, causing the site to look broken or not function correctly.

The easiest way to test this is to open Pinterest in an Incognito or Private browsing window. These windows typically run without extensions enabled. If Pinterest works perfectly there, you’ve found your culprit. Go back to your normal browser window and disable your extensions one by one until you find the one causing the issue.

10. Temporarily Disable Your VPN or Proxy

If you’re using a VPN or proxy service, it could be routing your traffic through a location or server that is being flagged or blocked by Pinterest. Try disabling your VPN for a minute and reload the site to see if that resolves the problem.

Level 5: The Last Resorts

If you’ve made it this far and the glitch persists, it’s time for the final two steps.

11. Reinstall the Pinterest App

This is the ultimate reset. Deleting and reinstalling the app removes all its local files and replaces them with a completely fresh installation. It can solve stubborn, deep-rooted bugs that even clearing the cache won’t fix. And don't worry - your profile, boards, and Pins are all saved to your account in the cloud, so you won’t lose anything. Just delete the app, head to your app store, and download it again.

12. Contact Pinterest Support

When all else fails, it’s time to report the bug. Head to the Pinterest Help Center. Be as specific as possible in your report. Instead of saying "it's not working," provide key details:

• What device and OS version are you using (e.g., iPhone 14 with iOS 16)?
• What version of the Pinterest app are you on?
• What exact step were you taking when the glitch occurred?
• What was the exact error message?
• Attach a screenshot or screen recording if you can.

The more detail you provide, the faster their support team can identify and hopefully fix the issue.

Final Thoughts

Working through this troubleshooting guide, from checking your internet connection to reinstalling the app, will resolve almost any Pinterest glitch you encounter. Most issues are typically fixed by simply clearing the cache or updating the app, helping you move past the technical hiccup and back to discovering and saving ideas.

While this guide covers client-side app glitches, we know another source of frustration comes from publishing and scheduling issues that plague creators and marketers everywhere. Constant account disconnections or scheduled Pins mysteriously failing to post can derail an entire content strategy. That’s why we built Postbase from the ground up to be reliable first. We provide stable connections to your social accounts and ensure your scheduled content goes live exactly when you plan it, so you can spend less time fighting technology and more time doing what you love.