How to Download a Pinterest Image in Full Size

To download a Pinterest image in full size, open the pin, open the image in a new tab, and change the size folder in its address (like 736x) to originals. That loads the file as it was uploaded, which is usually much larger than what Pinterest shows in the feed. Then right-click and save it.

Below we explain why Pinterest images come out small, walk through the manual method step by step, cover Pinterest’s own Download image option, and show a one-click way on desktop.

Why are Pinterest images so small when I save them?

Pinterest almost never shows you the file that was actually uploaded. It stores each image in several resized copies and serves the one that fits where you’re looking. You can see this in the image address, which lives on i.pinimg.com and contains a size folder:

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/ab/cd/ef/abcdef123.jpg

The common folders are:

Size folder	Where you usually see it
236x	Grid thumbnails in your home feed and search
564x	A mid-size copy used in some views
736x	The image on a pin’s own page
1200x	A larger copy some pins have
originals	The file as it was uploaded

These folders are documented in a long-running GitHub gist of Pinterest image sizes and in recent guides from Bellevue and Pinpasta. The number is a width in pixels, so a 236x thumbnail is 236 pixels wide.

So when you right-click a pin in the grid and choose “Save image as”, you get the small grid copy. Even on the pin page you usually get the 736-pixel version. That’s fine for a phone screen, but it looks soft on a laptop and falls apart if you print it or zoom in.

How do I get the original Pinterest image? (manual method)

This works in any desktop browser and needs no extension.

1. Click the pin to open its own page (not the grid thumbnail).
2. Right-click the large image and choose Open image in new tab. In some browsers it’s Copy image address; paste that into a new tab.
3. Look at the address bar. Find the size folder right after i.pinimg.com/, for example 736x.
4. Replace just that part with originals, so i.pinimg.com/736x/ab/cd/... becomes i.pinimg.com/originals/ab/cd/.... Keep everything after it the same.
5. Press Enter. The full-size image loads.
6. Right-click it and choose Save image as.

What if the originals link shows an error?

A few things can go wrong:

• Wrong file type. The original may be a PNG, WebP or GIF even though the resized copy is a JPG. Try changing the ending from .jpg to .png, then .webp, then .gif. Bellevue’s guide suggests the same fix.
• Access denied. Users of the open-source downloader gallery-dl have reported 403 errors on some originals links while smaller sizes still load. If that happens, try 1200x, then fall back to 736x.
• No original kept. Some older pins simply don’t have an original anymore. In that case the largest size that loads is the best you can get.

On a phone this method is awkward, because mobile browsers make it hard to edit an image address. It’s much easier on a computer.

Does Pinterest have a Download image option?

Yes. Pinterest’s help center explains how to download an image on the web and in the app:

On desktop:

1. Open the pin, or find it in your home feed.
2. Click the ellipsis icon (three dots) next to the image, or at the bottom right of the pin in your feed.
3. Select Download image. It goes to your browser’s downloads folder.

In the iPhone or Android app:

1. Tap the pin.
2. Tap the ellipsis icon underneath it (or at the bottom right of the pin in your feed).
3. Tap Download image. It saves to Photos on iPhone or Gallery on Android.

Pinterest notes that not every pin can be downloaded, and if the option is missing in the app you can try a browser instead. Menus move around between app versions, so the exact spot may differ for you.

The catch: Pinterest doesn’t promise full resolution here, and Bellevue’s testing found that Download image saves a resized copy rather than the original upload. It’s the easiest option on a phone, but if size matters, use the originals method on a computer.

Is there a one-click Pinterest image downloader?

If you save images from Pinterest often, swapping URL folders gets old fast. That’s why we built full-size download into Feed Cleaner Pro, the optional paid part of our browser extension. (Feed Cleaner is our extension.)

With Feed Cleaner Pro’s HQ download, a download button appears on pins. One click saves the original-size image, straight from the grid, without opening the pin. If you haven’t granted the browser’s download permission, the full-size image opens in a new tab instead, and you can save it from there.

It also has a full-size preview: hover over a pin (or hold Shift, if you prefer) and you see the image at full size without opening it. That’s handy for checking whether a photo is sharp enough before you save it.

Honest limits:

• It’s a browser extension for Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, Opera and Vivaldi, installed from the Chrome Web Store or addons.mozilla.org.
• It does not work in the Pinterest phone apps. On your phone, use Pinterest’s own Download image option.
• Pro starts with 3 days free automatically, no card needed. After that it’s $2.99 a month, $19.99 a year or $39 once. You can see the details on our pricing section.
• We aren’t affiliated with Pinterest.

The free version of Feed Cleaner removes ads and promoted pins, which also makes the grid easier to browse when you’re hunting for references. If that’s what bugs you most, see how to stop seeing ads on Pinterest.

Can I use images I download from Pinterest?

Downloading an image doesn’t give you the right to reuse it. Most pins link to someone else’s work: a photographer, an illustrator, a designer, a small shop. Pinterest’s copyright policy says it respects intellectual property and expects people on Pinterest to do the same.

A good rule of thumb:

• Saving for personal inspiration (a mood board, a reference folder, a wallpaper just for you) is how most people use Pinterest.
• Reusing it anywhere public (your blog, your shop, social posts, print-on-demand, client work) needs the creator’s permission. Find the original source through the pin’s link, credit the creator, and ask first.
• If you can’t find the creator, don’t use it publicly.

Full-size files also make it easier to spot AI-generated images, which often show their seams when you zoom in. If those are cluttering your searches, our guide on how to get rid of AI pins on Pinterest covers the settings that help.

FAQ

How do I download a Pinterest image in the highest quality?

On a computer, open the pin, open the image in a new tab, and replace the size folder in the address (such as 736x) with originals. That gives you the uploaded file. Pinterest’s own Download image option is easier but may save a smaller copy.

Why are Pinterest pictures blurry after I download them?

You’re most likely saving a resized copy, often 236 or 736 pixels wide. Pinterest serves smaller versions to keep pages fast. Use the originals version of the image instead.

Can I download full-size Pinterest images on iPhone or Android?

The app’s Download image option works on both, and saves to Photos or Gallery. Getting the true original on a phone is harder, because you’d need to edit the image address in a mobile browser. A computer is the easier route.

Does Pinterest tell someone when you download their image?

Pinterest’s help center doesn’t say that it notifies creators about downloads. Either way, ask before reusing someone’s work.

Wrapping up

Pinterest shows you small, resized copies by design. For the real file, swap the size folder in the image address for originals, or use the Download image option when you’re on your phone and size isn’t critical. If you grab references every day on desktop, a one-click HQ download saves a lot of fiddling. Whatever you save, keep it for inspiration, and credit and ask the creator before you share it.