How to Upload a Custom Avatar for a Guest Author

Guest Authors can have their own custom profile picture just like registered WordPress Users. The image is stored locally on your website and does not require a Gravatar account.

This guide explains how to upload a Local Avatar for an existing Guest Author.

Before you begin

Make sure Local Author Avatars are enabled in Molongui Authorship settings.

You must also have permission to upload files to the WordPress Media Library. If you do not, the Profile Picture panel will be read-only.

Upload a custom avatar

1. Go to Guest Authors in your WordPress Dashboard.
2. Click the Guest Author whose picture you want to change.
3. The Author Profile tab will be selected automatically.
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 in the Save panel to save the Guest Author.

Note: The location of the Guest Authors menu can be customized in Molongui Authorship, so it may appear under a different WordPress Dashboard menu on your site.

What happens after uploading the image?

The uploaded picture becomes the Guest Author’s Local Avatar.

When Local Author Avatars are enabled, it normally takes priority over Gravatar and default avatars.

With all standard avatar sources enabled, the usual priority is:

Local Avatar → Gravatar → Custom Default Avatar

Change or remove the picture

To manage an existing Local Avatar:

1. Edit the Guest Author.
2. Locate the Profile Picture panel in the sidebar.
3. Click Change Picture to select another image, or Remove to remove the Local Avatar.
4. Click Update to save your changes.

What happens if you remove the Local Avatar?

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

For example, if the Guest Author has an email address and Gravatar is enabled, their Gravatar may be displayed. If no Gravatar is available and a Custom Default Avatar is configured, the Custom Default Avatar can be displayed instead.

If the Guest Author has no email address, Gravatar is skipped automatically.