How to Upload a Custom Avatar for an Author

Molongui Authorship lets you upload a custom profile picture for any WordPress User. The image is stored locally on your website, so the author does not need a Gravatar account.

This guide explains how to upload a custom avatar for a registered WordPress User.

Before you begin

Make sure Local Author Avatars are enabled in Molongui Authorship settings. If local avatars are disabled globally, uploaded local profile pictures will not be used on the site.

Upload a custom avatar

1. Go to WordPress Dashboard > Users > All Users.
2. Click the user whose avatar you want to change.
3. Open the Author Profile tab.
4. Locate the Profile Picture panel in the right-hand sidebar.
5. Click Upload Picture.
6. Select an existing image from the WordPress Media Library or upload a new one.
7. Click Use this picture.
8. Click Update to save the author profile.

What happens after uploading the image?

The uploaded image becomes the author’s Local Avatar.

When Local Author Avatars are enabled, the local picture normally has priority over the other available avatar sources.

With the standard avatar settings enabled, the usual priority is:

Local Avatar → Gravatar → Custom Default Avatar

This means that once a Local Avatar is configured, Molongui Authorship will normally display it instead of the author’s Gravatar or a default avatar.

Change or remove the picture

To manage an existing Local Avatar:

1. Edit the WordPress User.
2. Open the Author Profile tab.
3. Find the Profile Picture panel in the sidebar.
4. Use the available controls to change or remove the current picture.
5. Click Update to save the changes.

What happens if you remove the Local Avatar?

Molongui Authorship automatically moves to the next available avatar source according to your global Author Avatar settings.

For example, if Gravatar is enabled, the author’s Gravatar may be displayed. If no Gravatar is available and a Custom Default Avatar is configured, the Custom Default Avatar can be used instead.

Using Guest Authors?

Guest Authors can also have their own locally uploaded profile picture.

See How to Upload a Custom Avatar for a Guest Author for the Guest Author workflow.