How long does it take for Pinterest ads to work?

Stage 1: ad review

• Pinterest says the ad review process can take up to 24 hours.
• If you edit targeting or the ad description after submitting, the ad goes back into review, which may take another 24 hours.
• If an ad is disapproved, Pinterest notifies you in Ads Manager and by email with the reason.

Stage 2: learning

• Pinterest shows new ads to different people to learn who is most likely to convert.
• The Learning indicator clears in about two weeks on average, depending on spend, conversions and engagement.
• Changes during learning can reset it, so wait until the indicator disappears before editing ads or budget, and don’t pause the campaign.
• Pinterest suggests assessing campaigns weekly or monthly rather than daily.

In practice

Plan a Pinterest test as about three weeks: one day for review, about two weeks of learning, then at least a week of stable results. Note that Pinterest no longer offers app install ads, so for apps it suits web or shopping journeys and mobile deep links into the app.

See where Pinterest fits an app media mix on our Pinterest ads page.