Quick answer
From a computer, on your business account: open your menu (down arrow, top right) > Settings > Claim (left menu) > Claim next to websites. Choose HTML tag (paste it in your homepage’s <head>), HTML file (upload it to your site’s root folder) or DNS TXT record (add it at your domain host). Then enter your URL and select Verify. Pinterest says DNS changes can take up to 72 hours.
Does this match what you see?
- Pinterest can’t verify your website, or says it can’t find the meta tag.
- You don’t see analytics for Pins from your site.
- The RSS feed option doesn’t appear in your settings.
Computer (browser)
Based on Pinterest Business Help Center’s “Claim your website” page (English, read November 8, 2026). Click-by-click steps come from Pinterest’s Thai version of the same page; menu names are translated and may differ slightly in English.
Why this happens: the possible causes
Why a claim fails to verify. Our notes are labeled.
- The tag isn’t in the homepage’s <head>Check this first
Pinterest says to paste it in the <head> section of your index.html, before <body>.
- The file isn’t in the root folderCheck this first
Pinterest says it can’t access the file if it’s in a subfolder.
- DNS hasn’t updated yetPossible
Pinterest says DNS changes usually take minutes but can take up to 72 hours.
- A cached copy of your sitePossible
Our note: caching plugins or a CDN can keep serving the old page without the tag. Clear your site cache after adding it.
- Claiming from the app or a personal accountLess likely
Pinterest says to claim from a computer; claiming is part of a business account’s settings.
Try these 60-second checks first
- Use a computer, not the app.
- Make sure you’re in your business account.
- Enter the exact address of your site, without extra spaces.
Which method for your host
| Platform | Method |
|---|---|
| Big Cartel, BigCommerce, Blogger, PrestaShop, Storeenvy, Weebly, Wix, WordPress, Zenfolio | HTML tag |
| Bluehost, FatCow, GoDaddy, HostGator, HostMetro, iPage, SiteGround | HTML file |
| Shopify, Tumblr | HTML tag or HTML file |
| Squarespace | Connect accounts |
| Etsy, Instagram, YouTube | Claimed in Pinterest settings as accounts, not websites |
How to fix it, step by step
Work through these in order. They start with the quickest, safest checks and only move to steps that sign you out or remove data later.
Fix 1: Method 1: HTML tag
Pinterest lists this method for site builders like WordPress, Wix and Blogger.
Computer (browser)
- In Pinterest: menu (down arrow, top right) > Settings > Claim > Claim next to websites.
- Copy the text under Add HTML tag and select Continue.
- Paste the tag into the <head> section of your homepage (index.html), before <body>. How you do this depends on your host or site builder.
- Back in Pinterest, enter your website URL and select Verify.
Our tip: if you use a caching plugin or a CDN (such as Cloudflare), clear the cache after adding the tag, then select Verify again. On WordPress, many SEO plugins have a field for the Pinterest tag.
Did it work? Pinterest shows your website as claimed.
Did Fix 1 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 1. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 2: Method 2: HTML file
Pinterest suggests this for hosts like GoDaddy, Bluehost, HostGator and SiteGround.
Computer (browser)
- In Claim, select Download under the HTML file option, then Continue.
- Upload the file to the root folder of your web server, not a subfolder.
- Back in Pinterest, enter your URL and select Verify.
Our tip: open yoursite.com/ followed by the file name in a browser. If it doesn’t load, Pinterest can’t see it either.
Did it work? Pinterest shows your website as claimed.
Did Fix 2 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 2. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Fix 3: Method 3: DNS TXT record
Works when you can’t edit your site’s files, as long as you can manage its domain.
Computer (browser)
- In Claim, copy the text under Add TXT record, then select Continue.
- Log in to your domain host and add a TXT record with that text in the DNS settings. If it asks for a host, enter @.
- Wait for the change to take effect, then enter your URL in Pinterest and select Verify.
Pinterest says DNS changes usually take a few minutes but can take up to 72 hours. Our note: edit DNS carefully; changing or deleting other records can take your site or email offline.
Did it work? Pinterest shows your website as claimed.
Did Fix 3 solve it?
Great, you fixed it with Fix 3. Tell us it worked, or bookmark this page in case it happens again.
Etsy shops, subdomains and more than one site
- Etsy and similar shops are marketplace or social accounts, not websites. Pinterest has a separate process for claiming Instagram, Etsy and YouTube accounts.
- Subdomains (shop.example.com) count as separate websites unless they lead to the same place as your main domain. Subdirectories (example.com/uk) can also be claimed.
- You can claim more than one website on one Pinterest account.
After you’ve claimed it
- Pinterest says you can remove the tag or file afterwards; the claim stays until you change the website in your settings.
- You get analytics for Pins from your site (including ones other people create), your profile picture and a Follow button on those Pins, and a globe checkmark next to your website on your profile.
- Pins you save from your site now appear in your Created tab: see Created vs Saved.
- You can now connect an RSS feed and set up rich Pins.
Still won’t verify?
Our tips: switch to a different method (the HTML file or DNS record often works when the tag doesn’t), check you claimed the exact domain your site loads on (with or without www), and wait a day before trying again. If it still fails, use Contact us in Pinterest’s Business Help Center.
How to know it worked
- Your website shows a globe checkmark on your Pinterest profile.
Still not working? Your next steps
- Need a business account first? See Pinterest business account.
Official help routes
SocialAppFix can’t see or change your account. For account decisions, recovery and appeals, only the platform’s own tools can help. These links go to the official sites.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Pinterest say it can’t find my meta tag?
Pinterest says the tag must be in the <head> section of your homepage. Our tip: clear any site or CDN cache after adding it, or use the HTML file or DNS method instead.
How long does DNS verification take on Pinterest?
Pinterest says DNS changes usually take a few minutes but can take up to 72 hours.
Can I claim my Etsy shop as a website on Pinterest?
No. Pinterest treats Etsy as a marketplace account, claimed separately in your settings.
Can I remove the Pinterest tag after verifying?
Yes, for the tag or file. Pinterest says the claim stays until you change the website in your settings.
Can I claim my website from the Pinterest app?
No. Pinterest says you must claim it from a computer.
Did this solve your problem?
Your answer stays in your browser — nothing is sent or stored. The “tell us” link opens your own email app.
Out of date or didn’t work? Email us — never include passwords or codes.
Sources and how we checked this guide
We base steps on the platforms’ own help pages and the phone makers’ official guides. Menu names change often and can differ by device, app version and region. Where a platform page could not be independently read, we link it so you can check the current wording yourself.
- Claim your website (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Claim your website (Thai version, step details) (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Created and saved content (external site, opens in a new tab)
- Auto-publish Pins from your RSS feed (external site, opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed 7 November 2026 by the SocialAppFix editorial team against the sources above. Next scheduled review: 7 May 2027. Editor: Michael Michael. How we write and review guides.
What changed
- 7 November 2026: First published.
SocialAppFix is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Pinterest. We never ask for passwords, login codes or payment to fix an account.