you’re free to also visually discover new interests by browsing the collections of otherPinterest users.

Here’s how to get started using this uniquely creative social sharing tool.

Is Pinterest an App or Not?

Pinterest home page with image slideshow

What Exactly Is Pinterest Used For?

Think of Pinterest as a virtual pinboard or bulletin board, but with organizational andbookmarkingtools.

Create multiple bulletin boards to catalog your interests.

The Sign Up button on Pinterest

For example, create a wedding board, a recipe board, and a decorating board.

Save, or pin, that recipe to your recipe board to access it when you want.

Pinterest is also a social online grid.

Enter email, password, and age to create a Pinterest account

Users interact by following each other and by liking and commenting on images, similar to Facebook or Instagram.

Save someone else’s images to your boards, andprivate messagepeople with whom you share interests.

Click a Pinterest image to visit the image’s original site to learn more about the image or subject.

Welcome to Pinterest message

You’ll see a slideshow that gives you an idea of the types of subjects Pinterest can inspire.

SelectAbout,Business, orBlogfrom the upper-right corner of the page to learn more about Pinterest.

SelectSign upin the upper-right corner of the web page.

Enter a gender identity

type your email, create apassword, type your age, and selectContinue.

Or, sign up using yourFacebookorGoogle account.

You’ll see aWelcome to Pinterestmessage.

Select a language and country or region.

Choose a gender identity.

Select a language, then choose your country or region.

Select some areas of interest (you’re able to add more later), then selectDone.

Select some areas of interest for Pinterest

Pinterest builds an initial home feed based on your interests.

The images you see are calledPins.

SelectSaveto save the image to a board.

Pinterest’s Home Feed

When you selectSave, you’re prompted to create a new board.

Name the board and selectCreate.

At any time, selectHometo go back to your home feed.

The Save button on Pinterest

The Pins you see are continually updated based on the Pins you’ve liked and saved.

Go to theTodaytab in the upper-left corner to see trending ideas and topics relevant to your interests.

From your Pinterest home page, select theplus signin the lower-right corner of the page.

The Follow button on Pinterest

SelectGet our net web client buttonorCreate a Pin.

To use the surfing app button, it’s crucial that you use Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.

If you selectedGet our web client button, selectGot itfrom the next screen.

Create a new board in Pinterest

You’ll see aplus signon the web client toolbar.

Select it and then selectInstallto load the web client extension.

Choose a board and selectSave.

Choose a board or create a board in Pinterest

Enter the website URL and pick the arrow to continue.

Select an image and then chooseAdd to Pin.

Add a title, select a board from the drop-down menu, then selectSave.

The Home tab in Pinterest

More on Using Pinterest

Pinterest’s user interface is clean, easy, and intuitive.

Here’s how to follow individual boards, navigate your Pinterest account parameters, and more.

Sometimes, you may not want to follow an account, but you like one of its boards.

The Today tab on Pinterest

Toward the bottom of the box, select theboard title.

In this example, it’sWhole30.

Select thedrop-down arrowfrom the upper-right menu to see more options.

The Following tab on Pinterest

You’ll go through each of these options in the next several steps to see where each takes you.

Add another accounttakes you to a screen where you might create a new Pinterest account and switch between accounts.

Tune your home feedbrings you to a screen where you might edit your preferences and interests.

The Plus sign on Pinterest

GetHelpbrings up the Pinterest Help Center.

See terms and privacybrings up the Pinterest privacy policy.

SelectingLog outwill log you out of Pinterest.

Pin creation options in Pinterest

WhenBoardsis selected, you’ll see your current boards.

Under your name, selectfollowersto see any followers and selectfollowingto see who you’re currently following.

Select theSort byicon to rearrange your boards.

Select Got it to install Pinterest’s browser button

Select theplus signto create a new Pin or board.

Select thePintab under your name to see individual Pins.

Pinterest is asocial data pipe, so it’s easy to share ideas and thoughts with friends.

The Install button for the Pinterest browser button

Select thespeech bubbleicon from the upper-right menu bar to message friends.

Select a name or search for a name or email.

throw in a message in the message box at the bottom and select thesendicon.

The Pinterest Save button on an external website

See Notifications

This section is where Pinterest sends you important notifications.

Select thenotificationicon (looks like a bell).

You’ll see notifications, such as suggestions on boards you may like.

Choose a board and select Save.

Download the Pinterest Mobile App

Take Pinterest on the go with itsmobile appsfor iOS and Android.

Download and implement the Pinterest app for iOS or Android and selectLog in.

put in your email and password.

The “Create a Pin” command on Pinterest

Or sign in with your Facebook, Google, or Apple account.

Choose whether to allow Pinterest to send you notifications.

SelectTodayto see trending ideas and topics relevant to your interest.

The “Save from site” button on Pinterest

To search for a subject, image, or person, tapSearchfrom the bottom menu.

Scroll through search ideas or enter a term in theSearchbox at the top.

You’ll see options that match your query to explore or shop.

Select an image and then choose Add to Pin.

Tap any image you’re interested in to display a new screen.

TapSaveto save the image to a new or existing board.

TapVisitto go to the account or product’s website.

Add a title, select a board from the drop-down arrow, and select Save.

If you see the option toView, tap it to go to more Pins like this.

Tap theSendicon in the lower-left corner to send the Pin through social media or directly to a contact.

TapMore(three dots) toHide,Download, orReportthe image.

Select the pin that interests you from your home feed

Impressions are the number of times users saw your Pins or ads.

Pinterest organizes your Pins by the most impressions.

A board title on Pinterest

The Follow button on a Pinterest board

The account dropdown menu on Pinterest

Select Add another account to create a new Pinterest account

Select Add a free business account

Select Tune your home feed to edit preferences and interests.

Select Install the Chrome app so a Pinterest tab will run in the background whenever you’re in Chrome.

Select Get Help to bring up Pinterest’s Help Center.

Select See terms and privacy for Pinterest’s privacy policy.

The “followers” and “following” links on Pinterest

The “Sort by” menu on Pinterest

The “Add Pin/Board” button on Pinterest

Select the Pin tab under your name to see individual Pins.

Select or search for a name or email

Your Pinterest notifications.

Setting up the Pinterest app on iOS

For You, Today, and Following tabs in Pinterest for iOS

Searching for items on Pinterest for iOS

Follow an account or Save a pin from search results

The Visit, Share, and More menus for a pin on Pinterest