Hello there! If you‘ve spent much time browsing the comment sections on WordPress sites, you‘ve likely noticed that little gray mystery-person icon popping up a lot. That‘s the default avatar WordPress displays when a commenter doesn‘t have their own custom Gravatar image. While it does the job, it‘s not exactly exciting, is it?
The good news is, you can replace that boring default icon with a snazzy custom graphic of your own—and it‘s easier than you might think. In this guide, I‘ll walk you through why customizing your default Gravatar is worth your time and show you three ways to do it, step-by-step.
By the end of this post, you‘ll be ready to level up your WordPress comment section and wow your site visitors with a beautifully branded Gravatar. Let‘s get started!
Why Customize Your Default Gravatar?
Before we dive into the "how," let‘s talk about the "why." After all, you‘re busy, and fiddling with a tiny avatar image might not seem like the best use of your time. But trust me: updating your default Gravatar is a small change that can make a big difference in how professional and engaging your WordPress site looks. Here‘s why:
Visual Branding Matters
You‘ve put a lot of thought into choosing the perfect WordPress theme, crafting your color palette, and placing your logo just right. Customizing your default Gravatar is one more way to extend that carefully chosen visual identity through every inch of your site.
Think about it: your comment section is often the first place a visitor will interact directly with your brand. What message does it send if their first impression is a dull, impersonal icon that looks just like every other site‘s comment section? A branded Gravatar, on the other hand, signals that you‘re detail-oriented and value engagement.
Gravatars Are Popular
Gravatar is one of those internet staples that‘s easy to take for granted. But did you know:
- Over 9.5 million people have created a Gravatar account
- Gravatars are supported on nearly half a million websites
- Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, acquired Gravatar in 2007
With those kinds of numbers, you can bet a good chunk of your users will recognize and appreciate a custom Gravatar on your site. It‘s a small touch that can make a big impression.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Remember, your WordPress site doesn‘t exist in a vacuum. It‘s being silently compared to and judged against every other site in your niche. One easy way to make yours stand out? Ditching the dreaded mystery-person Gravatar.
A study by Pingdom found that the average webpage is 68% images. With visuals playing such a huge role in the user experience, can you afford to ignore an opportunity to customize?
Source: Pingdom
Okay, you‘re convinced. Now here‘s how to swap out that default Gravatar on your WordPress site.
How to Change Your Default Gravatar
There are three main methods for customizing your default Gravatar in WordPress:
- Choose a different built-in avatar
- Use a plugin like Thrive Comments
- Add custom code to your functions.php file or via a code snippet plugin
Which method is right for you? That depends on your skill level, goals, and how much control you want over the final result. To help you decide, here‘s a quick comparison:
| Method | Difficulty | Flexibility |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in avatars | Easy | Low |
| Plugin | Moderate | Moderate |
| Custom code | Advanced | High |
I‘ll walk you through each method so you can see the step-by-step process and choose the best option for your WordPress site.
Method 1: Use a Different Built-in Avatar
If you just want a quick and easy way to replace the mystery-person icon without uploading your own image, you can choose from a few other default avatar options that come baked into WordPress. Here‘s how:
- Log in to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Settings > Discussion.
- Scroll down to the Avatars section.
- Next to Default Avatar, select an option other than Mystery Person. You can choose from:
- Blank (no avatar image at all)
- Gravatar logo
- Identicon (a geometric pattern)
- Wavatar (a cartoon face)
- MonsterID (a fun monster face)
- Retro (an 8-bit style character)
- Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.
Here‘s a visual of the default WordPress avatar options so you can see how they compare:
Source: Kinsta
Easy, right? The downside of this method is you can‘t use your own custom graphic, and the built-in avatars will look pretty generic. If you want to upload a branded Gravatar, keep reading.
Method 2: Use the Thrive Comments Plugin
Want a custom-branded Gravatar without messing around with code? A plugin like Thrive Comments is the way to go. With Thrive Comments, you can upload your own avatar image right from the WordPress dashboard.
Thrive Comments is a premium plugin, but it comes with a lot more than just custom Gravatar functionality. It‘s a full-featured comment system that can help boost engagement on your WordPress site with features like:
- Upvotes and downvotes
- Badges and achievements for commenters
- Sorting and filtering options
- Instant comment editing
- Social login
- And more
You can pick up Thrive Comments as a standalone product or as part of the full Thrive Suite. Once you‘ve got the plugin installed and activated, here‘s how to set a custom default Gravatar:
- In your WordPress dashboard, go to Thrive Dashboard > Thrive Comments.
- Click on the Comments Design tab.
- In the Avatars section, toggle the Default Avatar switch on.
- Click Upload Image and either select an image from your Media Library or upload a new one. For best results, use a square PNG or JPEG image.
- Click the Apply Changes button.
Here‘s a quick GIF showing the process:
Source: Thrive Themes
That‘s it! Now when someone without a Gravatar comments on your WordPress site, they‘ll see your snazzy custom image instead of the standard gray mystery person.
Method 3: Use Custom Code
If you‘re comfortable editing your WordPress site‘s code, you can add a custom default Gravatar by tweaking your theme‘s functions.php file or using a code snippet plugin.
I should note that editing core theme files directly is no longer recommended because even a tiny mistake can break your site. Instead, consider using a child theme or opt for a code snippet plugin like the free Code Snippets to safely add custom code.
Here‘s how to change your default Gravatar with Code Snippets:
- Install and activate the Code Snippets plugin on your WordPress site.
- Go to Snippets > Add New in your WordPress dashboard.
- Give your snippet a name (e.g. "Custom Default Gravatar") and paste in the following code:
function wpb_custom_gravatar ($avatar_defaults) {
$myavatar = ‘https://yoursite.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/custom-gravatar.png‘;
$avatar_defaults[$myavatar] = "Default Gravatar";
return $avatar_defaults;
}
add_filter( ‘avatar_defaults‘, ‘wpb_custom_gravatar‘ );- Replace the URL in the code with the actual URL of the image you want to use as your default Gravatar. You can find the URL by going to Media > Library and clicking on the image.
- Under Scope, select Run snippet everywhere.
- Click the Save Changes and Activate button.
Your custom Gravatar code is now live! To use it:
- Go to Settings > Discussion in your WordPress dashboard.
- Under Default Avatar, select your custom option (it will have whatever name you used in the code next to "Default Gravatar").
- Click Save Changes at the bottom of the page.
Tips for Choosing a Great Custom Gravatar
Now that you know how to change your default Gravatar, what kind of image should you use? Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Keep it simple. Gravatars are tiny (48×48 pixels by default), so intricate designs will get lost. Stick to bold shapes and colors.
- Stay on brand. Use your brand colors and, if possible, a simplified version of your logo or icon. Consistent visuals help you look more professional.
- Avoid person-based images. Gravatars represent your commenters, not your team, so photos of people don‘t make sense here. Patterns or icons are a better choice.
- Consider contrast. Make sure your Gravatar will be easily visible against your site‘s background color. When in doubt, add a border.
- Use a square image. WordPress will crop rectangular images to a square, so starting with a square is your best bet.
Troubleshooting Custom Gravatars
What if you‘ve followed all the steps but your default Gravatar isn‘t showing up? Here are a few things to check:
- Clear your cache. If you‘re using a caching plugin, your old Gravatar might be stuck in the cache. Clear it and see if that helps.
- Check your image URL. If you used custom code, double-check that the image URL is correct. A typo or broken link will break your custom Gravatar.
- Test with a fresh comment. Gravatars are assigned when a comment is posted, so your new default might not show up on older comments. Test it by leaving a new comment with an email address that doesn‘t have a Gravatar associated with it.
- Confirm your Discussion settings. Make sure you‘ve selected your custom Gravatar option under Settings > Discussion. If the wrong option is selected, your changes won‘t take effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before we wrap up, let‘s cover a few common questions about default Gravatars in WordPress:
What happens if I change my default Gravatar?
Changing your default Gravatar only affects comments going forward. Any existing comments that used the mystery-person icon (or whatever your old default was) will still show that image. Only new comments from users without a custom Gravatar will use your new default.
Can I use an animated GIF as my default Gravatar?
Technically, yes. Gravatar supports GIFs, and so does WordPress. However, keep in mind that animation can be very distracting in a comment section. If you do use a GIF, keep the animation subtle and avoid rapid flashing or flickering.
Will a custom Gravatar slow down my site?
It shouldn‘t, as long as you use an image of reasonable size. Stick to raster file types like PNG or JPEG, and keep your image dimensions and file size on the small side. Remember, WordPress will resize your Gravatar to 48×48 pixels by default, so there‘s no need to upload a huge source file.
Can I turn off Gravatars completely?
Yes, it‘s possible to disable Gravatars entirely on your WordPress site. You can either install the free Disable Gravatars plugin, or add this code snippet to your site:
add_filter( ‘get_avatar‘ , ‘__return_false‘ );Just keep in mind that if you disable Gravatars, your comment section will have no avatar images at all, custom or otherwise. In most cases, a clean, custom Gravatar is a better bet than no Gravatar at all.
Conclusion
Whew, you made it to the end! You now know why customizing your default Gravatar is worth your time, and exactly how to do it using three different methods. Whether you opt for a built-in option, use a plugin, or flex your coding skills, ditching the mystery-person avatar is a great way to polish your comment section and strengthen your WordPress site‘s branding.
I hope this guide has inspired you to take control of your default Gravatar and create a comment section that truly represents your brand. If you have any questions or tips of your own to share, don‘t hesitate to leave a comment below. Thanks for reading, and happy Gravataring!
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