Are you looking to change your profile picture in WordPress, but don’t want to use Gravatar? In this article, we will show you how to change your profile picture in WordPress without Gravatar.
One of the most popular ways to change your profile picture in WordPress is by using the Gravatar service. However, many users are not familiar with Gravatar and prefer to use their own image.
If you want to change your profile picture in WordPress without using Gravatar, then there are two methods you can use. Firstly, we will show you how to change your profile picture by using a WordPress plugin. Secondly, we will walk you through changing your profile picture without having to install any plugin on your website…
So, let’s get started!
But before sharing the steps to change the profile picture in WordPress, let’s understand what Gravatar is.
What is Gravatar?
Gravatar is a free service that allows you to create a global avatar. This avatar can be used on various websites, including WordPress. All you need is an email address to sign up for a Gravatar account. As soon as you sign up, you will be able to upload your image and use it on any website that supports Gravatar.
Gravatar is short for Globally Recognized Avatar. This service was created by Tom Preston-Werner, and in 2007, it was acquired by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com.
With the use of Gravatar, you will be able to create a single avatar and use it across various websites. This will help you in two different ways. Firstly, you do not need to upload your image to each website separately. Secondly, people who visit different websites that you comment on can easily recognize you by your avatar…
But why do we need to remove them from our website?
There can be many different reasons why you would want to change or remove your profile picture in WordPress. Below, we have listed a few of them:
- Your website has lots of comments, and loading each avatar takes time, resulting in a slow-loading website.
- You want to keep your identity private and not use your real photo on the internet.
- You simply do not like your current Gravatar image, and you would like it changed only for a particular website.
- You find the terms of service for Gravatar too restrictive.
Whatever your reason is, if you want to know how to change your profile picture in WordPress without using Gravatar, then continue reading.
How to Change Profile Picture in WordPress without Using Gravatar
Now that you know why you might want to change your profile picture in WordPress, let’s take a look at how you can do it. There are two methods for changing profile pictures in WordPress without using Gravatar.
These methods are;
- Changing the profile picture using a WordPress plugin
- Changing the profile picture without any plugin
Let’s start with the first method.
Method 1: Changing Profile Picture Using WordPress Plugin
The first method to change the profile pictures in WordPress is by using a free plugin. This method is very easy as you don’t have to visit Gravatar. All you need is to install and activate a plugin on your WordPress blog.
There are many plugins that can handle this task, but we recommend using the two plugins listed below. The first one is WP User Avatar. To install, visit “Plugins > Add New” and search for “WP User Avatar.”
Once you have installed and activated the ProfilePress plugin, go to “ProfilePress > Settings” in your WordPress admin area (as shown in the image above).
On the next screen, click on “Profile & Cover Photo“. Here, you have multiple options available, one of which is to disable Gravatar. If you wish to disable Gravatar from your WordPress blog, simply select that option.
On the same “ProfilePress > Settings” page, you should see the “Default Profile Picture” option. Here, you can select any default profile picture or upload your own custom profile picture (as shown in the image above).
Once you have uploaded your profile picture, it will be visible on your WordPress blog. As you can see from the image above, I was able to successfully change my profile picture without using Gravatar.
If you want to allow your visitors to upload their own profile pictures, you can easily do this by using this plugin. To enable this feature, simply paste the shortcode “[avatar_upload]” into posts, pages, or widgets.
Note that only logged-in users will be able to take advantage of this feature.
The second plugin I recommend is Simple Local Avatar. This plugin is trusted by over 100,000 WordPress users and is easy to install and activate.
To get started, go to “Plugins > Add New” in your WordPress admin area and search for “Simple Local Avatar.” Once you find the plugin, click on the “Install Now” button and then activate it.
Next, go to “Users > Profile” in your WordPress admin area, as shown in the image above. This will open up your WordPress profile settings.
Once you open your profile settings, scroll to the bottom of the page. You should see the “Upload Avatar” option under “Avatar“. Simply click on this to choose your profile picture from your media library. Then, save your changes.
And that’s it! You have successfully changed your profile image in WordPress without using Gravatar.
✍️ Author’s Note;
WP Local Avatar is not the only plugin that helps you change your profile picture on your WordPress website without using Gravatar. There are many plugins available in the WordPress repository that can do the same.
Here, I’m listing some alternative plugins that can help you achieve the same results:
- Ultimate Member: This plugin allows users to create and manage their profiles, including uploading custom profile pictures.
- Profile Builder: Along with other features, it also allows users to change their profile pictures.
- WP User Avatar: This plugin specifically focuses on letting users upload avatar images directly from their media library.
- Simple Local Avatars: A lightweight plugin that offers a simple way for users to upload their own profile pictures.
- Basic User Avatars: Similar to Simple Local Avatars, this plugin also provides an easy way for users to upload custom avatars.
Method 2: Changing Profile Picture Without Plugin
This method is for those who prefer not to use too many plugins. We will be adding some code to the functions.php file, so before proceeding, be sure to take a backup of your WordPress blog just in case.
To add a custom profile picture in WordPress, you first need to create and upload your image file. Go to “Media > Add New” in your WordPress admin area. After uploading your image, click on the “Edit” button.
Once you click on the “Edit” button, a new page will open with your image details. Here, you need to copy the File URL and keep it handy.
To add a custom profile picture to WordPress, you first need to access your theme’s functions.php file. You can do this by going to “Appearance > Theme Editor” in your WordPress admin area.
Once you’re in the Theme Editor, find the functions.php file. Now, simply add the following code to the end of the file:
Note: Remember to replace the $new_avatar = ‘https://thewpx.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/wpx-icon-512.png’ line of code with your own profile picture URL that you copied in the earlier step.
After adding your custom code to the functions.php file, go to “Settings > Discussion” in your WordPress admin area. You should now see your custom profile picture option available. Simply select the avatar and save your changes.
Your custom avatar should now be visible on your WordPress blog!
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We hope you enjoyed our blog about how to change your profile picture in WordPress without using Gravatar. If you’d like to change your profile picture, simply follow the methods shared above.
If you have any other questions or concerns about changing your profile picture in WordPress, please feel free to leave a comment below. We would be happy to help!
Thank you for reading! We’re always excited when one of our posts is able to provide helpful information on a topic like this.
