Instagram Avatar: How to Make, Edit and Use One

Avatars give you a way to react, reply and decorate stories without posting your actual face. You build a character once, and Instagram turns it into a set of stickers that look like you. Here's how to make one, where it shows up, and the one thing to know before you hit delete.

How to create an Instagram avatar

1. Tap Profile or your profile picture in the bottom right.
2. Tap Edit profile, then tap Create avatar.
3. Choose Create from selfie or Create manually, then pick a skin tone.
4. Shape the face, eyes, hair and the rest. Tap Mirror if you want to see yourself on camera while you build it.
5. Tap Save and continue.
6. Choose an outfit, hairstyle and extras.
7. Tap Save in the top right.

Instagram says avatars are made in the Android, iPhone and iPad apps. If you sync your Facebook and Instagram profiles, you can use the same avatar on both, which saves building it twice.

Selfie or manual: which should you pick?

Option	How it works	Good if
Create from selfie	Starts from your photo, then you adjust	You want a quick result that looks like you
Create manually	You pick every feature yourself	You want full control, or prefer not to use your face

Either way, you can change details before you save, and you can edit the avatar any time afterwards.

Where your avatar shows up

Once it's saved, Instagram gives you personalised stickers of your avatar. You can use them in two places:

• Chats: send an avatar sticker as a reply in a direct message.
• Stories: add an avatar sticker to a story like any other sticker.

To send one in a chat, tap Messages, open the conversation, tap Sticker in the bottom right, then tap Avatar in the bottom left and pick a sticker. It's a nice way to answer a message with a reaction when typing feels like too much.

Editing, switching or deleting your avatar

• Edit: go to your profile, tap Edit profile, then Edit avatar. Change anything you like and save.
• Make another one: Instagram lets you switch between multiple avatars in your Meta account. From Edit profile, tap Edit picture or avatar, open the avatar tab, tap Edit avatar, then Options and Create new below Switch Avatar.
• Delete: in the avatar editor, tap Options, then Delete avatar and confirm.

Here's the catch: Instagram says deleting your avatar is permanent and can't be reversed. If you only want a change of look, edit it or make a second avatar instead. You'll keep the work you've already done.

Can't find Create avatar?

1. Make sure you're in the app. Avatars are built in the Android, iPhone and iPad apps.
2. Update Instagram from your app store, then look under Edit profile again.
3. If you already have an avatar, the button will say Edit avatar instead of Create avatar.
4. If your accounts are linked, check the Facebook side too, since a synced avatar can be shared between them.

Avatar ideas for business accounts

If you run a small business account and don't want to show your face in every story, an avatar can carry the friendly, human feel for you. Use it to react to customer messages, to announce a quick update, or to add personality to a behind-the-scenes story. It isn't a replacement for real photos of you and your work, but it's a light touch that makes your account feel run by a person, not a logo.

Want to give your profile more polish while you're there? See how to get verified on Instagram, and if you're tidying up what people can find, here's whether a business account can be private.

Are avatars private?

Your avatar is a character you choose to share, so treat it like any other sticker. It appears where you put it: in the chats where you send it and the stories where you add it. If you built it from a selfie and later change your mind, edit the features or delete it, remembering that deleting can't be undone.

A quick checklist before you share your avatar

• Check the details. Zoom in on the face and outfit before you save, so the stickers look the way you want.
• Think about where it'll appear. Avatar stickers go wherever you send them, so pick a look you're happy for friends, family and customers to see.
• Keep a second avatar for fun. If you want a costume or a seasonal look, create a new avatar rather than overwriting your main one.
• Sync with care. If your Facebook and Instagram profiles are synced, the same avatar can show on both apps.

Those four checks take a minute and save you rebuilding your character later.

My verdict

Instagram avatars take a few minutes to build and give you a set of stickers that look like you for chats and stories. Start from a selfie for speed, tweak it until it feels right, and edit rather than delete if you get bored of the look, because deleted avatars are gone for good.

Frequently asked questions

How do I make an avatar on Instagram?

Go to your profile, tap Edit profile, then Create avatar. Build it from a selfie or manually, then tap Save.

Can I use my Instagram avatar on Facebook?

Yes, if you sync your Facebook and Instagram profiles you can use the same avatar on both.

How do I send my avatar in an Instagram DM?

Open the chat, tap Sticker in the bottom right, tap Avatar in the bottom left, then tap the sticker you want.

Can I get my avatar back after deleting it?

No. Instagram says deleting your avatar is permanent and can't be reversed, so edit it or create a new one instead.

Is it possible to have more than one avatar?

Yes. Instagram lets you create and switch between multiple avatars in your Meta account.