How to Set User Avatar Image in WordPress
By default, WordPress uses a 3rd party website called “Gravatar” for user avatars. However, there are several drawbacks to using this service, such as slower site loading times and less control over avatar format and resolution. In this article, we will explore how to set a media library image as the user avatar in WordPress.
User avatars are displayed in various locations throughout WordPress, including the WordPress Admin Toolbar, the users dashboard, the avatar Gutenberg block, post author bios, post meta bylines, membership plugins, account pages, and grids displaying site authors.
One of the main reasons to avoid using Gravatar is the extra hit it adds to a 3rd party website, which can slow down page loading and decrease Google page speed scores. Additionally, relying on Gravatar can result in render blocking if the service is down. By hosting avatars locally from the WordPress media library, you have more control over the loading speed and performance of your site.
Setting a media library image as a user avatar in WordPress is relatively simple thanks to the available filters. One recommended approach is to use the pre_get_avatar_data hook to return a custom URL before WordPress makes any requests to Gravatar.com. The provided code snippet demonstrates how to modify a user’s avatar with an image from the media library.
To use this code snippet, you need to replace ‘YOUR_ATTACHMENT_ID’ with the actual image ID from the media library. You can easily find a user’s ID by logging into your WordPress site and navigating to the Users dashboard. The ID can be found in the URL of the user’s edit screen.
If you have multiple users and want to set custom avatar images without modifying the code for each user, you can add a setting to the User Edit screen in the WordPress admin. The second code snippet shared in the article adds a new field named “Custom Avatar” to the user edit screen, allowing you to enter the ID of an image in the media library or the full URL of any image to be used as the user’s avatar.
By utilizing these methods, you can customize user avatars in WordPress and improve the loading speed and performance of your site. Whether you choose to modify individual avatars or add a setting for users to set their custom avatars, the flexibility provided by WordPress allows you to create a more personalized and visually appealing user experience.
In conclusion, setting user avatar images in WordPress doesn’t have to rely on external services like Gravatar. With the ability to host avatars locally from the media library, you can have more control over the performance and customization of your site. By following the techniques and code snippets shared in this article, you can enhance the visual appeal and user experience of your WordPress site.
