This paper evaluates the recovery of gold through selective acid leaching of connector pins removed from waste central processing units (WCPU) of computers. The exclusive treatment of this electronic component appears as a promising alternative since it minimizes gold losses. The experimental approach consisted by leaching steps of different types of pins aiming at dissolving all the metals that make up them, except the precious one. Analysis of the pins (2–6 mm length and ~ 1 mm diameter) by scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive spectrometry indicated (i) substrates made by copper, iron‑nickel alloy or iron‑nickel‑cobalt alloy; (ii) thin external gold coating; and (iii) thin nickel or nickel‑cobalt sub-coatings. Chemical analysis by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry revealed that the prepared sample consists mainly by copper (43 wt%), iron (26 wt%) and nickel (20 wt%); attractive contents of cobalt (4.6 wt%) and gold (1.4 wt%) were also determined. Due to the complex geometry of the pins and distinct reactivity of the different alloys, leaching stages were conducted in H2SO4-H2O2 media (1st step), HCl-H2O2 media (2nd step) and HCl media (3rd step). Under promising leaching conditions at 25 °C, all the metals were dissolved and then fine particles and thin foils of high purity gold (~99%) were recovered. Gold losses around 2–4 wt% were observed, mainly as result of its oxidation in the HCl-H2O2 media. The approach used in this work for treating the secondary source allowed the recovery of the precious metal with minimal losses, and it has potential to recover other valuable metals from the leach liquors.