Saving GIFs and Idea Pins From Pinterest

Not every pin is a single photo. Pinterest supports animated GIFs, short-form video, and multi-page “Idea Pins” that string several images or clips together. Each behaves slightly differently when you go to save it.

Animated GIFs

Many “GIFs” on Pinterest are actually short videos rather than true .gif files, because video compresses far better. When you paste a link, the tool detects which one it is and offers the matching format — an MP4 for video-backed animations, or the image file for a genuine GIF.

Idea Pins

Idea Pins can contain multiple pages. Because they are a composite format, the preview focuses on the primary media of the pin. Save what the tool surfaces, and open the pin in Pinterest if you need to step through every page individually.

Which links work best

1. Use the full share link from an individual pin rather than a board or profile URL.
2. Both pinterest.com/pin/… and short pin.it/… links are supported.
3. If a pin is private or age-restricted, it can't be fetched — only public pins work.

Whatever the format, the same principle applies: save for personal use, and credit or ask the creator before reusing their work.