Table of contents

1. Check your Gravatar account and email address2. Make sure Gravatars are enabled in WordPress settings3. Clear your browser and site caches4. Disable conflicting plugins that might block avatars5. Test your theme for Gravatar compatibility6. Update WordPress, themes, and pluginsBonus: Use fallback avatars for users without GravatarsConsider a custom avatar plugin for more controlNext stepsAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Admin → Gravatar

Gravatar on WordPress not working? Here’s how to change it

Gravatar is the default avatar system used by WordPress. It pulls a user’s profile image based on their email address and displays it in blog comments, author bios, and user profiles. When it works, it helps personalize your content and adds a layer of trust. But when it doesn’t, you’re left with a blank space—or worse, a broken image.

Whether your avatar isn’t showing or you just want to update it, here’s how to fix the issue step by step.

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1. Check your Gravatar account and email address

Gravatar is tied directly to your email address. If your WordPress profile is using an email that doesn’t have a Gravatar associated with it, your image won’t show.

Visit Gravatar.com and log in with your WordPress.com credentials. (Gravatar is a service owned by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com.)
Under “My Gravatars,” check which email addresses are associated with your account.
If your WordPress user account uses a different email, add that email to your Gravatar profile and assign it an image.
Don’t forget to confirm the email address in your inbox—unverified addresses won’t work.

This step is essential because your WordPress site looks for a matching Gravatar image based on your exact email. Even a small typo in your address can prevent your image from showing.

2. Make sure Gravatars are enabled in WordPress settings

WordPress includes a setting that can disable avatars across your entire site. If it’s turned off, no Gravatar image will appear, even if your account is set up correctly.

Go to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to Settings > Discussion.
Scroll down to the Avatars section.
Check the box labeled Show Avatars to ensure avatars are enabled.
Choose a Default Avatar—this is the image that appears for users who don’t have a custom Gravatar.
Adjust the Maximum Rating based on the type of images you allow (G is safe for all audiences; PG, R, and X allow progressively more mature content).

Disabling avatars is sometimes done for performance reasons, but for most sites, showing Gravatars helps make blog posts and comments more engaging by adding a personal touch.

3. Clear your browser and site caches

Caching is one of the most common reasons Gravatar changes don’t show up right away. WordPress pages, and even individual images, can be cached in your browser, your website, or your content delivery network (CDN). Here’s how to clear each type:

Clear browser cache

In Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Clear Browsing Data, then select “Cached images and files.”
In Firefox: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data, then click “Clear Data.”
Reload the page with Ctrl + F5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + R (Mac) for a hard refresh.

Clear WordPress caching plugin

If you use a plugin like W3 Total Cache, WP Super Cache, or LiteSpeed Cache, open its settings in the WordPress dashboard and click the “Clear All Caches” or “Purge Cache” button.
Do this after changing your Gravatar or updating settings to make sure the site loads fresh data.

Clear CDN cache

If you use Cloudflare, log into your Cloudflare dashboard, go to the “Caching” tab, and click “Purge Everything.”
This removes cached images and site files stored across the globe and forces a new version to load.

Caching is helpful for performance, but it can cause display issues when things like profile images or comments change.

4. Disable conflicting plugins that might block avatars

Some plugins can interfere with how Gravatars are loaded or displayed. For example, certain comment enhancement tools, security plugins, or even user profile plugins might override the default avatar behavior.

To check for a plugin conflict:

Go to Plugins > Installed Plugins.
Deactivate all plugins temporarily.
Check if your Gravatar now appears.
If it does, reactivate your plugins one at a time while checking the site after each one.

If the issue returns after activating a specific plugin, that one is likely causing the conflict. From there, you can look for alternative plugins, adjust settings, or reach out to the plugin developer.

5. Test your theme for Gravatar compatibility

Sometimes, it’s not a plugin—it’s your theme. If your WordPress theme is missing the necessary get_avatar() function, or if the CSS hides the image, your Gravatar won’t show up.

To test:

Go to Appearance > Themes.
Activate a default theme like Twenty Twenty-Four.
Reload a post or comment section and look for your Gravatar.

If the Gravatar appears with the default theme, then your current theme might need some adjustments. Look for template files like comments.php or author.php, and confirm they include <?php echo get_avatar( $user_id ); ?>. Also, inspect the avatar with browser developer tools to check if it’s being hidden with CSS like display: none.

6. Update WordPress, themes, and plugins

Outdated WordPress components can cause strange behavior with things like avatars. It’s always best to keep everything up to date.

Go to Dashboard > Updates.
Install any available updates for WordPress core, active plugins, and your theme.
After updating, clear your site cache and browser cache again to ensure you’re seeing the most recent version of your site.

If you’re using an older theme or plugin that hasn’t been updated in years, consider replacing it with a modern alternative that follows current WordPress standards.

Bonus: Use fallback avatars for users without Gravatars

Not everyone sets up a Gravatar. That’s where fallback avatars come in. These are default images WordPress uses when no custom avatar is available.

Go to Settings > Discussion > Avatars, and choose one of the following:

Mystery Person – a generic silhouette.
Gravatar Logo – shows the Gravatar branding.
Identicon, Wavatar, MonsterID, or Retro – colorful auto-generated avatars based on email hash.
Blank – leaves the avatar space empty.

Fallback images help maintain visual consistency, especially in blog comments or author boxes. You can also use a plugin to upload a custom fallback avatar that better matches your site’s design.

Consider a custom avatar plugin for more control

If you want full control over user avatars, especially without requiring Gravatar, several plugins let you manage avatars locally:

Simple Local Avatars: Lets users upload avatars directly in their WordPress profile without needing a Gravatar account. Lightweight and beginner-friendly.
ProfilePress (formerly WP User Avatar): Adds avatar uploads, user profiles, and login forms. Includes more features than most people need, but it’s flexible if you’re building a community site.
Ultimate Member: Great for membership sites or forums. Offers customizable user profiles and avatar uploads.

Using a plugin is helpful if your audience doesn’t use Gravatar or if you want more control over how avatars look and function. They’re especially useful for ecommerce, membership, or LMS sites where users expect a fully customizable profile.

Next steps for fixing Gravatar on WordPress

Getting your Gravatar to show properly in WordPress can seem frustrating, but the fix is usually straightforward. Whether it’s a settings issue, a cache problem, or a theme conflict, you can resolve it with a few careful steps.

Start with your Gravatar account and email, then walk through each fix—like clearing cache, updating your site, or testing plugins—until the issue disappears. You can also use a plugin for total avatar control if Gravatar isn’t the best fit.

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