Table of Contents

How to Change Your iPhone Avatar: A Definitive Guide

Changing your iPhone avatar, whether it’s your Memoji, a contact photo, or your Apple ID profile picture, is a fantastic way to personalize your device and express yourself. The process isn’t always intuitive, however. Fear not! This guide breaks down exactly how to change these various avatars and offers a comprehensive deep dive into everything avatar-related on your iPhone.

The Quick Answer: How to Change iPhone Avatars

There isn’t a single “iPhone avatar” setting. You’re likely referring to one of several different images:

Your Memoji or Animoji: Used in Messages, FaceTime, and as stickers.
Your Apple ID Profile Picture: Associated with your Apple account and visible in iCloud, the App Store, and other Apple services.
Contact Photos: Images assigned to individual contacts in your Contacts app.

Here’s how to change each one:

Memoji/Animoji: Open Messages, start a new message or open an existing conversation. Tap the Memoji button (the monkey icon) in the app drawer. Either create a new Memoji by tapping the plus (+) button, or select an existing one. To customize an existing Memoji, tap the three dots (…) below it and choose Edit.
Apple ID Profile Picture: Go to Settings, tap your name at the top. Then tap “Personal Information” and tap “Profile Picture” to change your Apple ID photo. You can choose from existing photos, take a new one, or select a Memoji.
Contact Photos: Open the Contacts app, find the contact you want to edit. Tap Edit in the top right corner, then tap “Add Photo” or the existing photo. You can take a new photo, choose from your library, or select a Memoji.

Now, let’s dive into the nuances of each type of avatar and explore some frequently asked questions.

Understanding the Different iPhone Avatars

It’s crucial to understand the distinctions between the different types of avatars your iPhone uses. Misunderstanding which avatar you are changing can lead to unexpected results.

The Lively Memoji and Animoji

Memoji are personalized, customizable avatars that you create to resemble yourself. They’re a fun way to express your emotions in Messages and FaceTime. Animoji are animated characters based on animals or objects, also reactive to your facial expressions. Both leverage Apple’s TrueDepth camera on iPhones with Face ID.

Your Apple ID Profile Picture: Your Digital Identity

Your Apple ID is your passport to all things Apple. The profile picture associated with it appears in the App Store, iCloud, Apple Music, and other Apple services. This is arguably the most important avatar to personalize, as it is often linked to your payment methods and other personal information.

Contact Photos: Visualizing Your Connections

Assigning photos to your contacts provides a visual aid when communicating. Seeing a familiar face pop up on your screen when someone calls or texts adds a personal touch. While less about self-expression and more about association, contact photos are an important aspect of the overall iPhone avatar ecosystem.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Your iPhone Avatar

Let’s go into more detail about changing each type of avatar:

Changing Your Memoji

Open Messages: Launch the Messages app on your iPhone.
Start a New Message or Open an Existing One: It doesn’t matter which conversation you choose.
Access the App Drawer: Tap the Apps button (it looks like the App Store icon) in the text input field.
Tap the Memoji Button: Find the Memoji button (the monkey icon). You may need to swipe left in the app drawer to find it.
Create a New Memoji or Edit an Existing One:
- To create a new Memoji: Tap the plus (+) button. You’ll be taken to the Memoji creation screen where you can customize everything from skin tone and hairstyle to eyes, mouth, and accessories.
- To edit an existing Memoji: Scroll through your existing Memoji, tap the three dots (…) below the one you want to change, and then tap Edit.
Customize Your Memoji: Use the various customization options to tweak your Memoji to your liking. You can spend hours fine-tuning every detail.
Tap Done: Once you’re happy with your Memoji, tap Done in the top right corner to save your changes.

Changing Your Apple ID Profile Picture

Open Settings: Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
Tap Your Name: Tap your name at the very top of the Settings menu. This takes you to your Apple ID settings.
Tap “Personal Information”: In the Apple ID section, tap on the “Personal Information” option.
Tap “Profile Picture”: Tap the “Profile Picture” option to access the options to change it.
Choose a New Picture:
- Take a Photo: Use your iPhone’s camera to take a new photo.
- Choose from Library: Select a photo from your Photos app.
- Use a Memoji: Select one of your existing Memoji to use as your Apple ID profile picture.
Adjust and Crop: If you choose a photo, you can adjust its position and crop it to fit the circular frame.
Tap Done: Once you’re satisfied, tap Done to save your new Apple ID profile picture.

Changing Contact Photos

Open Contacts: Launch the Contacts app on your iPhone.
Find the Contact: Locate the contact you want to edit in your contact list.
Tap Edit: Tap the Edit button in the top right corner of the contact card.
Tap “Add Photo” or the Existing Photo: If the contact doesn’t have a photo yet, you’ll see an “Add Photo” option. If they already have a photo, tap on the existing image.
Choose a New Photo:
- Take a Photo: Use your iPhone’s camera to take a new photo.
- Choose from Library: Select a photo from your Photos app.
- Add Memoji: Select a Memoji to use as the contact photo.
Adjust and Crop: Adjust the photo to fit the circular frame and crop it as needed.
Choose a Filter (Optional): Apply a filter to the photo for a unique look.
Tap Done: Tap Done in the top right corner to save the new contact photo.

FAQs: All Your iPhone Avatar Questions Answered

Here are some frequently asked questions about iPhone avatars:

1. Can I use an Animoji as my Apple ID profile picture?

No, you can only use Memoji as your Apple ID profile picture. Animoji are primarily for use within Messages and FaceTime.

2. Why isn’t my Apple ID profile picture updating everywhere?

It can take some time for your Apple ID profile picture to update across all Apple services. Ensure you’re signed in to all your devices with the same Apple ID. Sometimes, signing out and back in can force an update.

3. Can I use a GIF as my contact photo?

No, contact photos must be static images. GIFs and Live Photos are not supported.

4. How do I remove a contact photo?

To remove a contact photo, edit the contact, tap on the existing photo, and then choose “Remove Photo.”

5. Can I assign a Memoji to a contact?

Yes, you can assign a Memoji as a contact photo. Simply follow the steps for changing contact photos and choose the Memoji option.

6. Are Memoji available on older iPhones?

Memoji creation requires an iPhone with a TrueDepth camera (iPhone X and later). However, you can still receive and view Memoji on older iPhones.

7. How many Memoji can I create?

There’s no specific limit to the number of Memoji you can create.

8. Can I use a photo from iCloud Drive as my Apple ID profile picture?

You can only choose photos from your local Photos app library. You can download a photo from iCloud Drive to your Photos app and then use it.

9. Why can’t I see my friend’s contact photo when they call me?

Ensure your friend’s contact card in your Contacts app has a photo assigned. Also, make sure you have them saved in your contacts and that caller ID is enabled.

10. How do I share my Memoji with others?

You can share your Memoji as stickers in Messages. Simply tap the Memoji button, select the Memoji you want to share, and then choose from the available sticker poses.

11. Can I change the background color of my Memoji sticker?

No, you cannot directly change the background color of Memoji stickers. The background is transparent.

12. Is there a way to sync contact photos across all my Apple devices?

Yes, ensure that iCloud Contacts is enabled in your iCloud settings on all your devices. This will automatically sync your contacts, including photos, across your iPhone, iPad, and Mac.