Why Does WordPress Use Gravatar for Avatars?

How Gravatar Integration Works

When a comment is submitted, WordPress checks Gravatar's service for an avatar registered to that commenter's email address and displays it if found, falling back to a generic default icon if the email has no registered Gravatar. This happens automatically without any site-specific configuration, since it's built into WordPress core's comment display logic.

Options If This Isn't Wanted

• Disabling avatars entirely under Settings → Discussion removes this feature sitewide, showing no avatar at all next to comments.
• Choosing a different default avatar style (also under Settings → Discussion) for commenters without a registered Gravatar, without disabling the feature for those who do have one.
• A privacy consideration worth being aware of: checking Gravatar involves sending the commenter's email (or a hash of it) to Gravatar's servers, which is relevant to disclose in a privacy policy if the site operates under GDPR or similar regulations.
• A plugin-based alternative avatar system exists for stores wanting locally uploaded avatars instead of relying on the external Gravatar service.

Configuring This to Your Preference

1. Review Settings → Discussion to see and adjust the current avatar configuration.
2. Disable avatars entirely if not wanted, or choose a preferred default style.
3. Update the privacy policy to disclose Gravatar's use if comments are enabled and this data sharing applies.

Decide what you want, then check it

1. Review Settings → Discussion. The Avatars section has a Show Avatars switch and a choice of default image for people without a Gravatar.
2. Know where avatars appear. They show beside comments and also anywhere else the theme or WooCommerce displays a user's picture, such as product reviews.
3. Understand the privacy side. WordPress asks Gravatar about a hash of each commenter's email address. Choosing a blank default avatar still involves that lookup. Only turning avatars off stops it.
4. Consider local avatars. A plugin that stores avatars on your own server avoids the external lookup, at the cost of managing the images and a little extra setup.

Privacy policy wording

If avatars stay on and your site has visitors in places with strict privacy rules, mention Gravatar in your privacy policy. Exactly what you must say depends on where you operate, so treat it as a question for whoever advises on your policy.

Need comment/avatar behavior customized further? See WordPress bug fix.