# Custom User Avatars — free WordPress plugin

> Let users pick their profile picture from the Media Library instead of Gravatar. It shows everywhere WordPress shows an avatar. No settings needed.

Source: https://dcarock.com/plugins/custom-user-avatars

- Type: free WordPress plugin
- Price: free (GPL-2.0)
- Version: 1.0.0
- Requires: WordPress 6.0+, PHP 7.4+
- Download: https://dcarock.com/plugins/custom-user-avatars

## What it does

Gives every user profile a **"Custom Avatar"** field with a **"Choose from Media Library"** button. The picture you choose *replaces Gravatar* wherever WordPress shows that user's avatar, so your team, authors and customers get real profile pictures without signing up anywhere.

 
 
- **Profile field:** adds a "Custom Avatar" section to every user profile. 
- **Media Library:** pick the picture with one button. *Only images* can be chosen. 
- **Everywhere:** replaces Gravatar in the admin bar, Users list, comments, author boxes, the Avatar block and *the REST API*. 
- **Comments:** get the right picture too, *also when the commenter is matched by email address*. 
- **Fast:** always uses the sharp, small *Thumbnail size*, so pages stay fast. 
- **Remove:** a Remove button brings Gravatar back *at any time*. 
- **Permissions:** only people who can upload files can change a picture; others see theirs with a short note. 
- **Profile Picture row:** points to your custom picture instead of telling you to visit Gravatar. 
- **Carry over:** pictures chosen with the "NoBS – Custom User Avatars" plugin *carry over automatically*. 
- **No settings:** activate it and the field is on every profile. 
- **Reversible:** deactivate it and Gravatar comes back; *everyone's choice stays saved*.

## Setup

1. **Install & Activate it.** In WordPress go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin, choose the .zip and click Install Now, then Activate.
2. **Open a profile.** Go to Users › Profile (or edit any user) and scroll to "Custom Avatar". There are no other settings.
3. **Choose a picture.** Click "Choose from Media Library", pick an image, then click Update Profile.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does it work with my theme?

Yes, with any theme that shows avatars the standard WordPress way, which is almost all of them, plus the Avatar block.

### Who can change their picture?

Everyone who can upload files (by default authors, editors, shop managers and administrators). Administrators can set a picture for any user.

### Does it work with page caching?

Yes. After changing a picture, clear your cache once so cached pages show the new one.

### Is it really free?

Yes. Free forever, no sign-up, no ads, and it doesn't track you.

### What happens to my data when I delete the plugin?

Nothing is lost: the images stay in your Media Library and each user's choice is kept, because Arock Toolkit and other versions of this plugin use the same profile field.

## Changelog

- **1.0.0** (2026-11-14): - First release as a standalone plugin (the same tool as in Arock Toolkit, with the same profile pictures).