How to Block Ads on Pinterest | What You Can and Can't Do

If you’ve ever opened the Pinterest app hoping for a little creative inspiration, only to be hit with a stream of ads, I know exactly how you feel.

It’s annoying when the content you actually want gets buried under promotions. That’s why I put together this quick guide on how to block ads on the Pinterest app.

While there’s no official "block ads" button, I’ve tested a few simple tricks that can seriously clean up your feed and I’m sharing them all with you here.

Why Are There So Many Ads on Pinterest?

Wondering why your Pinterest feed feels overloaded with ads lately? It’s because Pinterest, like most social apps now, is fully monetized.

Businesses pay to show you promoted pins based on what you search, save, and interact with.

like surely even pinterest has to realize this is an absurd amount of ads ….. pic.twitter.com/xpMAgHFvkj

— mailman (@ghostmailman) June 20, 2025

 While it helps brands reach people like us, it also means more content we didn’t really ask for.

The good news? You can’t turn ads off completely, but you can cut down how often you see them.

How to Block Ads on Pinterest?

Hide Pinterest Ads Manually (The Quick Fix That Actually Works)

This is the first thing I tried and honestly, it gave me the quickest results. By manually hiding ads, I started seeing fewer of them almost immediately. It’s simple, and if you stay consistent, it actually makes a difference.

• Open your Pinterest app and scroll through your Home feed.
• When you see an ad, tap the three dots under it.
• Select “Hide Pin” or “I don’t like this Pin.”
• Do this for 4 to 5 ads each time you’re on the app.

I did this for a few days straight, and it really helped reduce the number of ads popping up. It’s not a forever fix, but it definitely gives you some quick relief.

Adjust Your Privacy and Data Settings

If you’re looking for a more lasting way to cut down on Pinterest ads, adjusting your privacy and data settings is a solid move.

Pinterest tracks both your activity on the app and even your browsing habits elsewhere to personalize the ads you see, but you can limit what it collects.

• Open the Pinterest app
• Tap your profile icon (bottom right)
• Tap the three dots (top right) and go to Settings
• Select Privacy and data
• Turn off these options:
  • “Use info from sites you visit”
  • “Use partner info”
  • “Ads about Pinterest”
  • “Activity for ad reporting”

Turning these off won’t completely remove ads, but it will significantly reduce how personalized and frequent they are, giving you a cleaner browsing experience.

Stop Third-Party Tracking

I was surprised to learn that Pinterest actually partners with other websites and apps to track what you do outside the platform.

Thankfully, you can turn that off pretty easily.

• Open the Pinterest app
• Go to your profile (bottom right)
• Tap the three-dot menu (top right) and select Settings
• Go to Privacy and data
• Scroll down and turn off:
  • “Sharing info with partners”
  • “Ads off Pinterest”

Doing this stops Pinterest from sharing your activity with advertisers and reduces how many ads follow you outside the app.

It also helps cut down the relevance of the ads you do see, which honestly makes them easier to ignore.

Use a Private or Alternate Pinterest Account

If you're serious about avoiding ads and don't mind starting fresh, consider creating a second Pinterest account. When I did this and avoided pinning or searching for commercial topics, I noticed fewer ads overall.

Stick to following niche creators and boards. Don’t engage with shopping pins, and Pinterest won’t push as many promotional items your way. It’s not a perfect solution, but it helps.

Try Third-Party Ad Blockers (For Pinterest on Web)

If you browse Pinterest on your computer, you’ve got a big advantage; desktop browsers let you block ads more effectively than the mobile app ever could.

I’ve tested a few browser extensions that work really well:

• uBlock Origin – Lightweight and super effective
• AdBlock Plus – Great for beginners
• Ghostery – Awesome for blocking trackers

Just install one of these on your browser, and most of the ads on Pinterest’s web version disappear.

Keep in mind though, this won’t affect the Pinterest app on your phone. Mobile ad blocking only works if your device is rooted or jailbroken which I don’t recommend unless you’re 100% sure what you’re doing.

Give Feedback to Pinterest

It might feel a bit old-school, but I’ve actually used Pinterest’s feedback tool to ask for fewer ads and while it’s not a magic fix, it can make a difference over time.

At the very least, it shows Pinterest that users like us care about the quality of our experience.

To send feedback, open the app, go to Help > Search for ‘Ads’ > click on Send Us feedback, and explain that the volume of ads is disruptive and you'd like more control over what you see.

Why Doesn’t Pinterest Just Let Us Block Ads?

Pinterest makes money from advertisers; it’s how they keep the platform free for users.

As much as I wish there was a premium, ad-free Pinterest version, it’s just not a thing right now.

That’s why our best bet is to use every available privacy tool, reduce personalization, and manually push back on ads whenever possible.

Will Pinterest Ever Let Us Block Ads Completely?

As of now, Pinterest hasn’t announced plans to allow full ad blocking in the app.

However, the pressure from users is growing. With platforms like Instagram and YouTube testing ad-free tiers and more privacy settings, Pinterest may eventually follow suit.

Until then, the methods above are the most effective ways to reduce the noise.

How to Block Ads on Pinterest FAQs

Can you pay Pinterest to remove ads completely?

No, Pinterest doesn’t currently offer an ad-free or premium version that removes ads.

Does hiding ads actually make a difference?

Yes! Repeatedly hiding ads helps Pinterest’s algorithm understand your preferences and can reduce similar ads in your feed.

Will uninstalling Pinterest remove the ads when you reinstall it?

No. Your ad preferences and history are tied to your account, not your device, so uninstalling the app won’t reset anything.

What if you only browse Pinterest and never pin anything?

You may still see ads, but with minimal interaction, the algorithm tends to show fewer and less personalized promotions over time.

Summary

If you’re like me and tired of Pinterest ads interrupting your scroll, there are ways to take back some control.

While there’s no single switch to turn ads off completely, a few smart tweaks can make your feed feel way less cluttered.

Here’s a quick recap:

• Start hiding ads manually as you scroll.
• Turn off personalized ad settings under Privacy and data.
• Disable Pinterest’s third-party tracking options.
• Use an ad blocker when browsing Pinterest on your desktop.
• Send feedback to Pinterest to voice your concerns.

You won’t erase ads altogether, but these small changes can make your Pinterest experience a lot more enjoyable.

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