FetchPins
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Pinterest GIF Downloader

Paste a pin link to see what the pin really contains, a real GIF file or a short MP4 loop, then save it. Free, no login, no watermark added.

  • Real .gif file
  • MP4 for video loops
  • No login
  • No watermark added

In the Pinterest app, tap Share, then Copy link. On a computer, copy the address bar. pin.it short links work too.

What is the FetchPins Pinterest GIF downloader?

The FetchPins Pinterest GIF downloader is a free online tool that saves animated pins from Pinterest. You paste the pin link and it shows what the pin really contains. If a GIF was uploaded, you get the animated .gif file. If the animation is a short video, you get it as an MP4, clearly labeled. No app, login or watermark.

Price
Free, no premium plan
Format
Animated GIF (.gif) when the pin has one, otherwise a short MP4
Animation
Every frame and the original speed kept
Sound
None. Pinterest GIFs are silent loops
Works on
GIF pins and short animated video pins
Devices
iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, Mac, Chromebook
Links
pinterest.com, pin.it and country links
Login or watermark
No login needed, no watermark added

3 steps · about 10 seconds

How to download a GIF from Pinterest

Three steps, about ten seconds. Works for GIF pins, reaction GIFs, memes and short animated loops.

  1. 1

    Copy the animated pin's link

    Open the GIF pin in the Pinterest app, tap Share, then Copy link. On a computer, open the pin and copy the address from the browser bar.

  2. 2

    Paste it above

    Paste the link into the box at the top of this page and press Download. FetchPins checks whether the pin has a real GIF file or only a short video.

  3. 3

    Save the file

    Tap Download GIF, or Download MP4 if the card says Short video. A GIF plays in chats, emails and documents. On Android and PC it saves to Downloads. On iPhone it saves to Files.

Good to know

Why does a Pinterest GIF save as a still image or a video?

Pinterest doesn't always show a GIF as a GIF file. Since 2016 it has turned animated GIFs into short H.264 videos, because videos load faster and play more smoothly in the app. In Pinterest's own test, about 93% of GIFs became at least half the size as video. So a long-press, a right-click Save or a screenshot usually gives you one still frame or a video file. FetchPins reads the pin itself. If the GIF file is there you get it, and if not, you get the short video as an MP4, labeled so you know which one you have.

Source: Pinterest Engineering, "Improving GIF performance on Pinterest" (April 2017)

GIF vs MP4

GIF or MP4: which one do you need?

Both play the same kind of animation. FetchPins gives you the GIF when the pin has one. When it doesn't, the MP4 is the only file the pin has, so that is what you get.

GIF MP4 (short video pins)
File type Animated image (.gif) Silent video (.mp4)
Plays in Chats, email, Google Docs, Slack, Discord and most websites Video players, phone galleries, video editors, social posts
File size Larger, often several MB Usually much smaller
Colors Up to 256 per frame, so gradients can look banded Full color
Sound None Usually none on short loops
Best for Reactions, memes, sending in chats Editing, wallpapers, saving space

GIF or MP4?

Why do some pins give an MP4 instead of a GIF?

Not every moving pin has a GIF file. Some animations were uploaded as videos, so the pin only has a video copy. FetchPins never renames or fakes a file. It gives you the real .gif when it exists and the short MP4 when it doesn't, with a clear label. It doesn't convert MP4 to GIF, so the quality and speed are always the original.

Pin type What you get here
GIF pin (a GIF was uploaded) Animated .gif, labeled "Animated GIF"
Short animated video pin MP4, labeled "Short video"
Full video pin with sound Use the Pinterest video downloader
Still image pin Use the Pinterest image downloader

Any device

Save Pinterest GIFs on iPhone, Android and PC

This Pinterest GIF saver works in any modern browser, with no app to install. Here is where the file ends up and how to keep it moving.

Save a Pinterest GIF to your iPhone Photos

  1. Copy the pin link in the Pinterest app.
  2. Open www.fetchpins.com/pinterest-gif-downloader in Safari, paste and tap Download GIF (or Download MP4).
  3. Open the file in the Files app, tap Share, then Save Image for a GIF or Save Video for an MP4. GIFs play in Photos under Media Types, Animated.

Pin not working? See why a Pinterest pin won't download →

Limits

What can't it download?

Some pins can't be saved by any tool. Here's what to do instead.

Can't download What to do
Private pins and secret boards They need a Pinterest login, and FetchPins never asks for one. Use a public pin.
Whole boards Paste one pin link at a time.
Still image pins There is no animation to save. Use the Pinterest image downloader.
Full-length videos with sound Save them on the Pinterest video downloader.
Deleted pins Open the pin in Pinterest first. If it's gone, there is no file left.

Use responsibly

Can you share downloaded Pinterest GIFs?

Sending a GIF to friends in a chat is how most people use FetchPins. Many Pinterest GIFs are clips from films, TV shows or a creator's own animation, so the clip belongs to someone.

  • Personal use and private chats (reactions, memes) Fine for most GIFs.
  • Reposting on social media or a website Credit the creator and check the source.
  • Commercial use (ads, products, client work) Get permission or a license.

This is general information, not legal advice. Is it legal to download from Pinterest?

More tools

More Pinterest tools

Pinterest video downloader

Save video pins as MP4 with sound.

Open →

Pinterest image downloader

Save photos in 4 sizes, up to 736 px.

Open →

Pinterest to MP3

Save only the audio as MP3 or M4A.

Open →

Guides

Pinterest GIF Guides

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can't find an answer? Contact us.

Does FetchPins keep the GIF animated?

Yes. You get the animated .gif file uploaded to the pin, with every frame and the original speed. It is not a still image or a screenshot.

Why does my Pinterest GIF save as a still image?

Pinterest plays most GIFs as short videos, so a long-press or right-click save often grabs a single frame. Paste the pin link into FetchPins to get the animated GIF file.

Does Pinterest still have GIFs?

Yes. You can still find and save GIFs on Pinterest, but the app usually plays them as short silent videos. That is why they are hard to save as GIF files without a tool.

How do I save a GIF from Pinterest on iPhone?

Copy the pin link, paste it on this page in Safari and tap Download GIF. Open the file in the Files app, tap Share, then Save Image. It plays in Photos under Animated.

How do I download Pinterest GIFs on Android?

Copy the pin link, paste it here in Chrome and tap Download GIF. The file saves to Downloads and plays in Google Photos.

Can I save a Pinterest GIF as a Live Photo?

Not directly. FetchPins saves the GIF or MP4 file. To make a Live Photo, open the saved file in a Live Photo converter app on your iPhone.

Why did I get an MP4 instead of a GIF?

The animation on that pin was uploaded as a video, so there is no GIF file. FetchPins saves the short video as an MP4 instead and labels it so you know. It plays the same loop.

Why is the downloaded GIF so large?

A GIF stores every frame as a full image, so long or wide loops get big fast. FetchPins saves the file exactly as it was uploaded and never adds frames or enlarges it.

Do Pinterest GIFs have sound?

No. GIF files can't hold sound, and Pinterest GIF pins are silent loops. If a pin has sound, it is a video pin. Use the Pinterest video downloader to keep the audio.

Can I download Pinterest GIFs without a watermark?

Yes. FetchPins never adds a watermark. If the creator put text or a logo on the GIF, it stays, because it is part of the original.

Do I need a Pinterest account to download GIFs?

No. FetchPins needs only the pin link. You don't need a Pinterest account or a FetchPins account.

Can I download all the GIFs from a board?

Not yet. Paste one pin link at a time.

Found a GIF you want to keep?

Paste the pin link at the top and save the GIF, or the MP4 if that is what the pin has.

Paste a Pinterest link