How to Save Pinterest Images in Full Quality

A practical guide, no screenshots, no compression, original files.

Quick Answer: Save Pinterest Images

To save a Pinterest image in full quality, copy the pin link, paste it into Pinterest downloader, and download the original image file, not a screenshot of your screen. Screenshots capture your display at screen resolution; the downloader grabs the actual file Pinterest hosts, which is usually much larger and sharper. Full steps below.

Why not just screenshot it?

Screenshots are the most common way people “save” Pinterest images, and the worst. A screenshot captures pixels at your screen’s resolution, bakes in the Pinterest interface (buttons, overlays, compression from the app), and loses detail permanently. The original file behind the pin is almost always higher resolution, sometimes dramatically so. If the image matters enough to save, it’s worth the ten seconds to download the real file.

What you’ll need

• A phone or computer with any modern browser
• The link to the image pin you want to save

Step 1: Copy the pin link

From the Pinterest app: open the pin, tap the share icon, and choose Copy link. Important: use the share menu, not a long-press on the image, long-pressing gives you the app’s built-in save options, not a link.

From a browser: open the pin and copy the address from the address bar. Both pinterest.com/pin/… links and pin.it short links work.

Step 2: Paste the link and download the original

1. Go to downloadpins.com in your browser.
2. Paste the pin link into the box and tap Download.
3. You’ll see a preview of the image. Choose the original / full-quality option and download the file, it saves in the image’s native format (usually JPEG or PNG).
4. Find it in your usual downloads location: Files → Downloads on iPhone, Files → Downloads on Android (open it once so the gallery indexes it), or your computer’s Downloads folder.

What “full quality” actually means

Full quality means the file Pinterest hosts, nothing added, nothing removed. But be honest with yourself about the source: if the original pin was uploaded at 600 pixels wide, the “full quality” file is 600 pixels wide. The downloader can’t recover detail the uploader never provided. What it can do is make sure you get every pixel that exists, instead of the smaller, recompressed version your screen shows.

One more honest note: Pinterest sometimes serves different resolutions depending on how you view a pin. The downloader resolves the pin’s source file directly, so you consistently get the best available version.

Troubleshooting image downloads

“The downloaded image looks blurry”

Compare it against the original pin zoomed in, if the pin itself is soft, the source file is low resolution and no tool can fix that. If the pin looks sharp but your file doesn’t, make sure you chose the original/full-quality option rather than a preview size.

“I got a small file, not the full image”

You may have downloaded a thumbnail or preview instead of the source file. Go back to the download options and pick the largest/original resolution listed.

“The image saved but my gallery doesn’t show it” (Android)

Open the file once from the Files app to trigger Android’s media scan, the image then appears in your gallery, usually under a Downloads album.

“The image saved to Files, not Photos” (iPhone)

Open the image in Files, tap Share, and choose Save Image to move it into your Photos library.

“The link says the pin can’t be resolved”

Make sure you copied a single pin link (pinterest.com/pin/…), not a board, profile, or search page. Private pins, secret-board pins, and deleted pins can’t be downloaded by any tool, that’s a Pinterest limitation, not a bug.

Downloading Pinterest videos and images too

Images are one format the downloader handles, videos and GIFs work the same way. Device-specific walkthroughs are available for iPhone and Android, and there’s a dedicated guide for GIF guide.

A note on what you save

Downloading is easy; using what you download well is the part people forget. Save images for personal use, inspiration, reference, mood boards. If you plan to repost someone’s work, credit them and check the pin’s original source first. Many Pinterest images come from photographers and artists who make their living from that work, a credit and a link back is the least the download costs you.

Frequently asked questions

How do I download Pinterest images in full resolution?

Copy the pin link, paste it into the downloader, and choose the original/full-quality option. You get the actual file Pinterest hosts, sharper than any screenshot.

Is downloading better than taking a screenshot?

Yes, significantly. Screenshots capture your screen at display resolution with the app’s interface baked in. Downloading grabs the source file, which is usually much higher resolution and free of overlays.

Why is my downloaded image blurry?

Either the original pin is low resolution (nothing can recover detail that was never uploaded), or you downloaded a preview size instead of the original. Check the resolution options and pick the largest.

What format do Pinterest images download in?

The image’s native format, usually JPEG, sometimes PNG. The downloader doesn’t convert or recompress the file.

Can I download images from a whole board at once?

Board downloads depend on the tool’s capabilities, check the downloader’s current features. Downloading pins one at a time always works and gives you control over which images you actually keep.

Is it legal to download Pinterest images?

Saving images for personal use is generally fine, but reposting or commercial use of someone else’s content without permission can infringe copyright, this matters especially for photography and artwork. When in doubt, credit the creator and link to the original pin.