If Etsy won't connect to Pinterest, or shows “We are working on restoring access to Pinterest”, the problem is almost always on Etsy's or Pinterest's side, not your shop. You don't need the connection to get Pinterest traffic. Make pins that link to your Etsy listings straight from Pinterest, or use a tool that posts them for you.
The usual Etsy and Pinterest problems
Etsy has a Pinterest option in Shop Manager → Marketing → Social Media for sharing listings. When it works, it's handy. But sellers regularly report it failing in a few ways:
- the Pinterest account shows a message instead of connecting: “We are working on restoring access to Pinterest”,
- Pinterest won't connect, keeps loading, or disconnects on its own,
- the Pinterest share button on a listing does nothing, or only opens Pinterest,
- there's no Etsy option when you try to claim your shop in Pinterest.
Lots of different shops report the same things in the Etsy and Pinterest community forums. So if it happens to you, you didn't set something up wrong.
What “We are working on restoring access to Pinterest” means
It means Etsy's Pinterest sharing is switched off for your shop. Etsy hasn't said why or when it will be back, and sellers have been seeing this message for a long time. So don't wait for it.
It does not mean:
- your Pinterest account is blocked or suspended,
- your shop is in trouble or your listings are hidden,
- your old pins stopped working. Pins live on Pinterest and link to your listing, so they keep sending visitors as long as the listing is active.
Quick things to try first
These take a minute and sometimes fix a stuck connection:
- In Etsy, disconnect Pinterest and connect it again under Marketing → Social Media.
- Log in to Pinterest first, in the same browser, then connect from Etsy.
- Try another browser, or turn off ad blockers and privacy extensions for a moment. They often block the pop-up that connects the two.
If it still fails, or you see the “restoring access” message, it's not something you can fix from your side. Skip to the next part.
How to pin your Etsy listings without the connection
- Make the pin in Pinterest
In Pinterest, go to Create → Pin (or the Pin creation tool). Upload your image, paste your listing link as the destination link, write a title and description with the words buyers search for, and pick a board. You can publish it now or schedule it for later.
- Save it from the listing page
Install the Pinterest browser button, open your listing the way a buyer sees it, and save it to a board. This skips the Etsy dashboard completely.
- Use a tool that posts through Pinterest
Pinterest schedulers connect to your Pinterest account directly through the official Pinterest API, not through Etsy, so Etsy's connection problems don't affect them. Pinsflow goes one step further: paste a listing link and it creates the pins for you and posts them across the month.
Can you claim your Etsy shop on Pinterest?
No, not anymore. In Pinterest, Settings → Link to Pinterest lets you claim a website you own and link Instagram, Shopify, or an Amazon Storefront. There's no Etsy option there now. Pinterest's community team confirmed it in 2025: “it is no longer possible to claim your Etsy store on Pinterest”.
Claiming a website means proving you own it, by adding a code to the site. Your shop lives on etsy.com, which only Etsy can edit, so there's nothing for you to claim. If you also have your own website, you can still claim that one.
Claiming only adds your name to pins that link to your site. Your pins still show up in search and still send buyers to your listings without it.
Even when it works, it’s a lot of clicking
Etsy's Pinterest option shares listings one at a time, by hand. Pinterest rewards something else:
- Pins that link to a specific listing, not your shop homepage.
- New images. Show the product in different settings instead of posting the same photo again.
- Search words in the title, like “fall outfit idea” or “gift for nature lovers”.
- Posting a little every day instead of a big batch once a month.
That's the part that takes time. If you'd rather not do it by hand, you can automate Pinterest for your Etsy shop with Pinsflow.
Questions
Why is my Etsy not connecting to Pinterest?
Usually it's a problem on Etsy's or Pinterest's side, not your shop. Try disconnecting and reconnecting, logging in to Pinterest first, or another browser. If it still fails, skip the connection and make pins in Pinterest that link to your Etsy listings.
What does "We are working on restoring access to Pinterest" mean on Etsy?
It means Etsy's Pinterest sharing is switched off for your shop. Etsy hasn't said why or when it will be back. It isn't a problem with your shop or account, and your existing pins keep working.
How do I share Etsy listings to Pinterest without the connection?
Create a pin in Pinterest and paste your listing link as the destination link, or save the listing with the Pinterest browser button. You can also use a tool that posts to Pinterest through its official API.
Can I claim my Etsy shop on Pinterest?
No. Pinterest confirmed in 2025 that it is no longer possible to claim an Etsy store, and Settings → Link to Pinterest has no Etsy option. Your pins still work and send traffic without claiming.
Will my existing Etsy pins stop working?
No. Pins live on Pinterest and link to your listing, so they keep working and sending visitors as long as the listing is active.
Do I need to connect Etsy to Pinterest to get traffic?
No. Pinterest traffic comes from pins that link to your listings. The Etsy connection is only a shortcut for sharing them.