PINTWIST GUIDE 02
How to install PinTwist: Chrome Web Store or load from source
Install PinTwist from the Chrome Web Store in one click, or build from GitHub and load unpacked. Know when the toolbar and pin overlays mean it is live.
Install from the Chrome Web Store (recommended)
Open the PinTwist listing on the Chrome Web Store and add the extension. You do not need an iScaleLabs account. After install, open a Pinterest tab and refresh so the content script can attach.
Success looks concrete: a PinTwist banner/toolbar across the top of the Pinterest page, and save/reaction/share/repin/comment/age overlays on pin tiles. If you only see vanilla Pinterest, refresh again or confirm the extension is enabled for the site.
- Add PinTwist from the Chrome Web Store
- Open Pinterest and hard-refresh the tab
- Confirm toolbar + pin overlays before you sort
Install from source (developers)
PinTwist is open source on GitHub under Apache-2.0. Clone the repository, install dependencies with corepack pnpm install, build with corepack pnpm run build, then load the unpacked build in Chrome via Manage extensions → Developer mode → Load unpacked.
Source install is for people who want to audit the code, fork it, or run a local build. For most POD sellers the Web Store path is enough. Either way the extension runs in your browser profile; nothing is sent to an iScaleLabs server.
First actions after install
Start with a board or search you already use. Notice metrics on the pins, try hiding overlays when you need to read a phrase cleanly, then run a multi-page sort on the metric you care about (saves, repins, reactions, comments, or last activity).
Open Local catalog after a few sorts to confirm rows are saving on your machine. Export a CSV when you want to hand a research set to Claude, Codex, or your own process.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a PinTwist account?
No. There is no iScaleLabs sign-in for the extension. It uses your existing Pinterest session in Chrome.
Why don’t I see overlays after install?
Refresh the Pinterest tab, confirm PinTwist is enabled, and check you are on a page where pins load (search, board, related pins). The toolbar across the top is the quickest live check.
Is the GitHub zip the same as the Web Store build?
Both are the open-source product. The Web Store build is the packaged extension for most users; GitHub is the source you can build and load unpacked yourself.