Pinterest Video Not Downloading? 9 Fixes That Work
You pasted a Pinterest link, pressed Download, and… nothing useful happened. Maybe you got an error, maybe the video just started playing, or maybe it downloaded but you can't find it. The good news is that almost every failed Pinterest download comes down to one of a handful of causes, and each has a quick fix.
Work through the fixes below in order. The first three solve most problems.
1. You copied a board or profile link, not a pin link
This is the most common cause. A downloader needs the link to one single pin. If you copy the link while looking at a board, a search page or someone's profile, the tool gets a page full of pins and can't know which video you mean. On GrabVid you'll see a message saying the link is not a Pinterest pin.
Fix: tap the video so it opens on its own screen, then use Share → Copy link. A pin link contains /pin/ followed by a number (for example pinterest.com/pin/123456789/), or it's a short pin.it link. Our guide to copying the right Pinterest link shows exactly where to tap.
2. The pin was deleted or is private
If the creator deleted the pin, or it's on a secret board, Pinterest no longer serves the video to the public — so no downloader can reach it. You'll usually see a "deleted or private" error.
Fix: open the link in a private / incognito browser window where you're not logged in. If Pinterest doesn't show the video there, it can't be downloaded. Try searching Pinterest for the same video; popular clips are often re-pinned by other people.
3. The pin isn't actually a video
Some pins look like videos in the feed but are really a still image, a GIF, or a link to a video on another site such as YouTube. GrabVid detects what a pin contains: if it's a photo, it offers the full-size image instead; if it's an animation, use the Pinterest GIF Downloader to keep it moving.
Fix: if the pin links out to YouTube or another site, the video isn't hosted on Pinterest at all, and a Pinterest downloader can't fetch it.
4. You're using an in-app browser
When you tap a link inside Instagram, Facebook, TikTok or even some email apps, it opens in a stripped-down browser built into that app. These often ignore download buttons or open the video in a player you can't save from.
Fix: open GrabVid in your real browser — Safari on iPhone, Chrome or Samsung Internet on Android, any desktop browser on a computer.
5. The video plays instead of downloading
On older phones, or when a browser can't handle the file directly, tapping Download can open the MP4 in a player rather than saving it.
Fix:
- iPhone: update to a recent iOS version and use Safari. Press and hold the video and choose Download Linked File if you see it.
- Android: tap the three-dot menu on the video player and choose Download, or press and hold the Download Video button and pick Download link.
- PC/Mac: right-click the Download Video button and choose Save link as….
6. It downloaded, but you can't find it
Often the download worked fine — it just went somewhere unexpected. On iPhone, Safari saves to the Files app rather than Photos. On Android, some gallery apps take a while to show new files.
Fix: see where downloaded Pinterest videos go for every device and browser, including keyboard shortcuts that open your download list instantly.
7. The downloaded video has no sound
Many Pinterest videos were simply uploaded without audio — common for recipe and craft clips, which are designed to be watched on mute. Check the pin on Pinterest itself: if there's no speaker icon, or it's silent there too, the file has no audio track to download.
Fix: if the pin does have sound on Pinterest but your file is silent, try downloading again and pick the highest-quality option offered. Then play it in another player such as VLC — some built-in players struggle with certain files.
8. The video won't play after downloading
GrabVid serves MP4 files using the H.264 codec, which plays on practically every phone, computer and editing app. If a file won't open, the download probably stopped part-way (a weak mobile connection is the usual culprit).
Fix: delete the file and download it again on a stable connection. If you're on mobile data and the HD version keeps failing, choose the smaller version when one is offered.
9. The tool is temporarily broken
Pinterest changes its site from time to time, and that can break any downloader for a while. GrabVid checks itself every hour with real video, image and GIF pins, so problems are usually caught quickly.
Fix: wait a few minutes and try again. If a specific public pin keeps failing, send us the link so we can look at it.
Quick checklist
| Symptom | Most likely cause | Go to |
|---|---|---|
| "Not a Pinterest pin" error | Board, profile or search link | Fix 1 |
| "Deleted or private" error | Pin removed or on a secret board | Fix 2 |
| Only an image is offered | The pin is a photo or links to another site | Fix 3 |
| Nothing happens when tapping Download | In-app browser | Fix 4 |
| Video plays in a player | Browser handling of MP4 files | Fix 5 |
| Download done, file missing | Saved to Files / Downloads | Fix 6 |
| Video is silent | Uploaded without audio | Fix 7 |
FAQ
Why can't I download some Pinterest videos?
Usually because the link points to a board rather than a pin, the pin is private or deleted, or the "video" is hosted on another site. Public video pins hosted on Pinterest can be downloaded.
Can I download a Pinterest video from a secret board?
No. Secret boards are only visible to their owners and collaborators, so the video isn't publicly available to any downloader.
Do pin.it short links work?
Yes. Short pin.it links from the Pinterest app are converted to the full pin automatically.
More Pinterest guides
- Where Do Downloaded Pinterest Videos Go? Find Them on Any DeviceThe exact folder your Pinterest video lands in on iPhone, Android, Windows and Mac — and the shortcuts that open it in one tap.
- How to Save a Pinterest Video to Your iPhone Camera RollGet a Pinterest video into the Photos app on iPhone or iPad, using Safari or Chrome, and fix it when it lands in Files instead.
- How to Copy a Pinterest Video Link on iPhone, Android and PCWhere the Copy link button is in the Pinterest app and on the website, and how to tell a pin link from a board link.