To create or change a Facebook avatar, open the Facebook app and look for Avatars in Menu, using See more if needed. Open the editor, make your changes, and save them. If the shortcut is missing, check your profile’s Edit profile area for an Avatars option.
Updated : Reworked the steps around the Avatars editor, added missing-menu help, and clarified that changing an avatar is separate from changing a profile photo.
What is a Facebook avatar?
An avatar is a cartoon character you customise inside Meta’s apps. You can choose available features such as hair, face, clothes, and accessories, then use supported avatar stickers or other avatar features. Meta’s avatar-customisation overview explains the kinds of appearance choices. An avatar is separate from the ordinary photo on your profile.
Making an avatar does not verify your account, change your name, or automatically replace every profile picture. Some appearance options and uses differ by account, app version, and location.
Create your own Facebook avatar
- Open the updated Facebook app on Android or iPhone and check which account is active.
- Tap Menu, then Avatars. Expand See more if that is where the shortcut appears.
- Choose the manual creation option if it is offered. You do not need to look exactly like the suggested starting character.
- Work through the available face, hair, body, clothing, and accessory choices.
- Use the save or completion button shown by the editor, then wait for it to finish.
If Facebook offers creation from a selfie, treat the result as a starting point you can adjust. You can use the manual controls instead when available. Do not install a separate “avatar unlocker” or give an outside website your Facebook password.
The Facebook avatar help page is the reference for the controls offered to your platform. Labels and availability can change, so follow the options on your own screen if they differ from older screenshots.
Change your avatar’s hair, clothes or face
Go back to Avatars and choose the edit control for the character you already made. Change the relevant category, preview the result, and save. Returning to the existing editor is different from deleting the avatar and starting again.
| What you want to change | Where to start |
|---|---|
| Cartoon hair, face or outfit | The avatar editor |
| Your normal profile photo | Your profile-picture controls |
| A sticker in a message | The chat’s sticker or avatar picker |
| Which account you are editing | Facebook’s account/profile switcher |
If your goal is the normal photo, use our Facebook profile-picture guide. Check the audience and posting choices shown before confirming that separate change.
Why can I not find Avatars?
- Check the account. A second account or profile may have different settings.
- Look beyond the first menu screen. Try See more and the Avatars area in Edit profile if offered.
- Update the full Facebook app. A mobile browser or a lighter app may show different controls.
- Reopen the app. A loading problem may hide tools temporarily.
- Check Facebook’s help for your device. A missing feature is not proof that your account is banned.
Using the updated avatar
Open a supported comment or chat sticker picker and choose an avatar sticker. Check the version shown there after saving. Already sent messages, downloaded images, and old posts should not be expected to change just because you edited the character.
If you also want an avatar in Instagram, see our Instagram avatar guide. Do not assume every account will synchronise automatically; review the linking choices Meta shows you.