How to Set a Custom Cover Image for Your Pinterest Profile

If you’re wondering how to get a background on Pinterest that reflects your brand identity and grabs attention, this article is your answer. Many business profiles miss the chance to make a strong first impression by ignoring this Pinterest’s visual space.

Unlike other platforms, Pinterest lets you add a profile cover image, but only if you know where to look and how to set it up correctly. 

In this article, you’ll learn exactly how to upload or update your Pinterest banner, avoid common visibility issues, and design a branded, high-converting cover using tools like PinMaker.

What is the Pinterest Profile Cover Area?

The Pinterest profile cover area, available for business accounts, is the most prominent visual space on your business profile and one that’s often underutilized. 

This banner sits above your profile picture and bio, serving as a visual cue that reinforces your brand’s identity at a glance. 

Unlike profile pictures, the cover image is not static; Pinterest dynamically displays a selection of your recent Pins from a chosen board or video. 

Currently, Pinterest does not allow you to manually upload a separate background image, but you can control what appears by curating the content of the board tied to your cover.

With more than 75% of weekly Pinterest users saying they’re always shopping, every visual touchpoint matters, including your banner.

Now that you understand the role of the cover area, let’s walk through exactly how to get a background on Pinterest, the smart way.

How to Get a Background on Pinterest 

It’s not as simple as uploading a photo like on other platforms. Instead, Pinterest automatically pulls your banner from the content of a featured board.

That means what shows up in your banner is a reflection of your pins, making strategy just as important as aesthetics.

To control this:

• Go to your Pinterest business profile.
• Click the pencil/edit icon next to your profile picture.
• Under the “Featured Board” section, choose a board that reflects your brand.
• Pinterest will auto-display a rotating set of Pins from that board as your cover.

To get the most out of this feature:

• Create a board dedicated to branded visuals, this could include on-brand product shots, quote graphics, or seasonal promos.
• Ensure your selected Pins use consistent colours, fonts, and formats to maintain visual cohesion.
• Avoid Pins with cluttered designs or text-heavy images, as they may not render well in the banner format.

In fact, profiles with curated visuals and updated boards receive more engagement. 

Now that you know how to influence your Pinterest background, let’s refine your visual branding by learning how to change your banner on Pinterest with precision.

How to Change Your Banner on Pinterest

You only have the partial creative control, because you only choose the content source, Pinterest does the rest.

To change your banner on Pinterest:

1. Go to your Pinterest business profile.
2. Click the edit icon (pencil) next to your profile name.
3. Under the “Featured Board” section, select a different board.
4. Click Save.

Pinterest will now populate your banner area using Pins from the board you selected. If you want your banner to look polished, be intentional about the board’s contents:

• Prioritize high-quality visuals with a 2:3 aspect ratio to avoid pixelation or awkward cropping.
• Don’t include Pins with dense text or cluttered design, these can appear messy when scaled.

Profiles with well-organized visuals and cohesive branding can see more clicks to their websites.

Now that you know how to change your Pinterest banner strategically, let’s walk through the best practices that make your profile cover image truly stand out.

Best Practices for a Pinterest Profile Cover Image

A well-designed cover image can reinforce your brand, signal professionalism, and guide visitor perception within seconds. To make the most of this space, you’ll want to follow a few key practices that balance design, SEO, and platform compatibility.

• Use the Ideal Dimensions: Pinterest recommends a 16:9 aspect ratio for the cover image. Aim for at least 800x450 pixels to ensure your design displays sharply across devices.
  
  
• Keep Branding Consistent: Your profile cover should reflect your brand palette, fonts, or imagery used across your website and other social platforms. This builds recognition and trust, essential for driving traffic or conversions.
  
  
• Prioritize Minimalism: Stick to bold text, high-contrast visuals, and whitespace to highlight key messages. Overloading the banner can reduce its impact.
  
  
• Choose Pins or Upload Your Own Image: Pinterest allows you to display your latest Pins as your banner, or you can manually upload a custom image. For strategic consistency, custom uploads are preferable.
  
  
• Design With Purpose Using PinMaker: Instead of manually designing your banner from scratch, use the AI Cover Image Generator Tool to create Pinterest-optimized covers that align with your content themes. This tool helps you quickly generate high-impact visuals without design expertise.
  
  
• Update With Campaigns and Seasons: Refresh your banner quarterly or to align with seasonal promotions, events, or product launches.
  
  
• Test and Preview Across Devices: Your profile may look different on mobile and desktop. Use preview tools or upload test images to ensure your branding appears clean and balanced across screens.

If your banner isn’t showing as expected, you’re not alone. Let’s look at common display issues and how to resolve them quickly.

Troubleshooting: When Your Banner Won’t Display

If your Pinterest profile cover isn’t appearing, you’re likely dealing with a compatibility or upload issue, both of which are fixable. Here’s how to troubleshoot the problem and get your banner back in view.

• Check File Type and Size: Pinterest supports JPEG and PNG files for banners. Ensure your image isn’t too large (aim for under 10MB) and adheres to the recommended 16:9 aspect ratio. Oversized or unsupported files may not render properly.
  
  
• Ensure Profile Type Is Set to Business: Only Pinterest business accounts support a custom profile banner. If you’re using a personal account, upgrade for free in your account settings.
  
  
• Review Display Settings: Pinterest occasionally updates how banners display. If your custom image isn’t showing, Pinterest may be defaulting to your latest Pins. Navigate to your profile settings and ensure you've manually selected the “Custom image” option under the “Cover” section.
  
  
• Use a Compatible Browser: Outdated browsers or conflicting extensions can cause display issues. Try viewing your profile in incognito mode or on a different browser to isolate the problem.
  
  
• Clear Cache or Log Out and Back In: If your changes don’t appear immediately, clearing your browser cache or refreshing your session often resolves it.
  
  
• Test on Mobile vs. Desktop: Sometimes, display discrepancies happen between devices. Pinterest may load your banner correctly on desktop but not on mobile. Confirm your banner works across both to ensure consistency.

To avoid these issues entirely and create a polished, on-brand visual every time, use PinMaker’s AI-powered tool. 

How to Create On-Brand Banners with PinMaker

Creating a visually consistent, on-brand Pinterest banner doesn’t have to drain your design resources or your time. With PinMaker’s AI Cover Image Generator Tool, you can instantly generate a professional-looking banner that aligns with your brand aesthetics and speaks directly to your target audience.

Why Branding Matters on Pinterest

A clean, cohesive banner that reflects your brand colors, fonts, and tone builds trust and drives clicks. Inconsistent or generic visuals? They can cause users to bounce before they even explore your boards.

How PinMaker Helps You Design Custom Banners:

1. AI-Powered Personalization: PinMaker uses your brand inputs, such as your niche, logo, keywords, and preferred styles to generate multiple banner design options. You can fine-tune elements like text overlays, background images, and color palettes without needing graphic design expertise.

2. Pinterest-Optimized Templates: The tool updates with the latest platform specs, so your visuals are always compliant.

3. Brand Consistency in Seconds: Upload your brand kit or select your palette, and PinMaker ensures every banner matches your tone, ideal for agencies managing multiple Pinterest accounts or creators maintaining visual consistency.

4. Easy Download & Upload: Once your design is ready, download in high-resolution format and upload it directly to your Pinterest business profile. No third-party editing tools required.

5. Instant Preview Mode: See how your new banner looks on a simulated Pinterest profile before publishing. This helps you avoid awkward cropping, color clashes, or unclear text overlays.

You're a solopreneur, marketing team, or content strategist, PinMaker simplifies Pinterest branding. Instead of spending hours tweaking banners, you can generate polished designs in under 2 minutes, leaving you more time to focus on content strategy and audience growth.

Design Pinterest banners that reflect your brand and convert clicks into followers. Try PinMaker’s AI Cover Image Generator Tool today, free to get started.

FAQs

1. How do I change my Pinterest banner on the desktop?
A: To change your Pinterest banner on desktop, log in to your account, click on your profile photo, and then click the pencil/edit icon in the top right of your banner area. Select a new Pin or upload a custom image, then save changes.

2. Why can’t I see my Pinterest cover image after uploading it?
A: If your banner isn't displaying, it might be due to image size, format (non-JPEG/PNG), or a temporary cache issue. Try clearing your browser cache or re-uploading a file that meets Pinterest's specs, recommended size: 800 x 450 pixels.

3. Can I add a background image on the Pinterest mobile app?
A: Currently, Pinterest only allows banner customization on the desktop version. You can view your banner on mobile, but editing must be done via the Pinterest website on a browser.

4. What size should my Pinterest profile cover image be?
A: Pinterest recommends using an 800 x 450 px image in JPG or PNG format. For best results, ensure the focal point of your design is centered and not likely to be cropped on different devices.

5. Can I use a video or animated GIF as my Pinterest background?
A: No. Pinterest currently does not support videos or animated GIFs as profile cover images. Stick to static, high-resolution images for a clean, professional look.

6. Is there a free tool to design Pinterest banners?
A: Yes! PinMaker’s AI Cover Image Generator Tool helps you create branded, Pinterest-optimized banner images in just a few clicks. 

7. How often should I update my Pinterest banner?
A:  It depends on your content calendar and campaigns. Many businesses update their banner seasonally or monthly to reflect product launches, promotions, or branding updates.

8. Does my Pinterest profile banner affect SEO or visibility?
A: Not directly in Pinterest search results, but a clear, branded banner improves profile retention, boosts trust, and can increase your follower conversion rate, impacting performance over time.