If you’ve created a community on your phone and set up multiple users, use Android avatars to identify each person. Switching between accounts becomes easier with visual cues. On Android 15, the avatar picker has a new feature that allows you to use your Google account photo. This is a welcome update if you are having trouble choosing a profile picture on your Google Pixel device. Previously, you could only choose from preloaded images, your gallery, or take a new photo. Whether you share your device with friends or family, here’s how to change your phone’s avatar.
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What is an Android avatar?
An Android avatar is the image associated with each user’s profile on your Android phone. It identifies who is currently using the device, especially if you set up multiple profiles. The avatar can be a photo, an animated icon or, on Android 15, the image of your Google account.
This is useful for family tablets, phones with guest accounts, or when you share a device with different people. It shows who is logged in, so you don’t accidentally use the wrong profile. This feature doesn’t make much difference if you are the only user.
You can change your avatar at any time in the Settings menu by selecting the profile you want to update. In Android 15, the avatar chooser allows you to choose the photo from your Google account as your avatar. This is a new addition. Previously, you could only choose from preset images, your gallery, or take a new photo with your phone’s camera.
How to change your avatar on Google Pixel
Android 15 introduced the Google Pixel Avatar Picker, a tool for managing your profile photo. Nothing has changed in how it works, except that the Multiple Users section in Settings now allows you to use your Google account image as your Android avatar. Plus, it’s exclusively for Pixel phones. Here’s how to use it:
- Open the settings app on your phone.
- Go to System > Multiple users.
- Choose a user and tap their avatar. It’s the circled photo frame above your username.
- Select images with the G logo below to use the photo from your Google account.
- You can also use the predefined icons, choose an image from your gallery or take a new photo with your phone’s camera.
How to Change Your Android Avatar on OEM Phones
You can change your avatar if your phone is running Android 14 or if you’re using a third-party phone like Samsung or OnePlus. The only difference is that you cannot use the photo from your Google account and must choose a photo or icon. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Settings > Users and accounts or other variations.
- Select Multiple users.
- Choose a user.
- Tap the current avatar. It’s the circled photo frame above your username.
- Choose how you want to modify the avatar. You can select your favorite images and icons or take a new photo with your phone’s camera.
- Press the checkmark in the upper right corner to save the changes.
- Repeat these steps for other accounts to change their avatars.
The sync process is one-way, so changing your Google account image updates the avatar picker. However, changing your profile avatar does not affect your Google account. This shouldn’t be a problem if it’s something you rarely do.
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How to change your Google account photo
Your Google account image carries your identity across Google services. This image appears in Gmail, Google Meet, YouTube, etc. You may want to change it to reflect your Android avatar. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Settings > Google.
- Tap your account name.
- Select Google account.
- Tap your display image and select Change.
- Choose from Google artwork, the Photos app, or photos from your device.
- Adjust and crop the photo as you like. Then press Following.
- When you are satisfied with the result, press Save as profile picture.
When you change your Google account photo, it automatically applies to your Android avatar. If you don’t want them to be the same, go to the Multiple Users section in Settings to change it. Google account images appear in the top row next to the camera and gallery icons in the Avatar Picker app. They are marked with a “G” logo for easy identification. If you have multiple Google accounts on your device, their profile photos also appear for selection.
You can change your Google account photo from the Settings menu and any Google-related app. For example, you can update your profile picture in Chrome and refresh your image across all Google services.
Update your avatars and accounts
When updating your Android avatar or Google account photo, check which accounts are linked to your device. In the Settings menu, find old or unused accounts and permanently delete them. Keep only the accounts you need to simplify management of your devices, increase security, and avoid confusion, especially if you have personal and work profiles.
