Good to Know
These are gas-only transactions requiring ETH on Ethereum Mainnet.
The Manager role can update the avatar and header. For wrapped names, the Manager is merged into the Owner role.
The Upload Image method supports gasless changes after the initial transaction - update your images as many times as you want without paying gas again.
Avatar and header can be added during registration, subname creation, or at any time using the Edit Profile button.
Note: Only .eth names and onchain subnames are supported in the ENS App. For project subnames (base.eth, uni.eth, etc), use their platform.
What Do Avatar and Header Do?
The avatar is your profile picture, displayed across Web3 services that support ENS. It also appears as the background image on your ENS name's NFT metadata.
The header is a banner image displayed at the top of your ENS profile, similar to a cover photo on social media.
Without Avatar | With Avatar |
Default ENS card  | Customised ENS card with your image  |
Methods for Setting Avatar and Header
Avatar Options:
Select NFT: Choose an Ethereum NFT from your connected wallet.
Upload Image: Upload an image from your device. Enables gasless changes after the first transaction.
Paste URL: Enter an image URL directly via the Records tab.
Header Options:
Upload Image: Upload an image from your device. Enables gasless changes after the first transaction.
Enter Manually: Paste an image URL directly.
Gasless Avatar and Header changes with 'Upload Image'
The Upload Image option allows for gasless changes after the first transaction. This means that you initiate a gas-only transaction the first time, then can use upload image to gaslessly change your avatar and header as many times as you want in future (for the same name in the same wallet).
The source code for the upload image service is found here.
How to Set an Avatar
Method A: Upload Image
Step 1: Open Edit Profile
Navigate to the ENS App.
Connect your wallet.
Search for your name and open the Profile tab.
Click Edit Profile.
Step 2: Click the Camera Button
Click the Camera button on your profile.
Select Upload Image from the menu.
Choose an image file from your computer.
Step 3: Resize and Sign
Use the slider to crop the image to your liking.
Click Continue.
Click Sign and Upload to start the upload process.
Your wallet will prompt you to sign.
Note: This saves the image locally. The next step publishes it to the blockchain.
Step 4: Confirm the Transaction
Click Save.
Click Open Wallet and confirm the transaction.
Once complete, your avatar will be displayed.
When ready, Click Save, then Open Wallet and confirm the transaction. Once complete, the avatar will display.
Method B: Select NFT
Open Edit Profile and click the Camera button.
Select Select NFT from the menu.
Choose an Ethereum NFT from your wallet.
Click Save, then confirm the transaction.
Method C: Paste URL via Records Tab
Navigate to the Records tab of your name.
Click Edit Records.
Click Add Record.
Enter
avataras the record key and paste your image URL as the value.Click Save, then confirm the transaction.
How to Set a Header
Method A: Upload Image
Step 1: Open Edit Profile
Navigate to the ENS App.
Connect your wallet.
Search for your name and open the Profile tab.
Click Edit Profile.
Step 2: Click Add Header
Click the Add header button.
Select Upload Image from the menu.
Choose an image file from your computer.
Step 3: Resize and Sign
Use the slider to crop the image to your liking.
Click Continue.
Click Sign and Upload to start the upload process.
Your wallet will prompt you to sign.
Note: This saves the image locally. The next step publishes it to the blockchain.
Step 4: Confirm the Transaction
Click Save.
Click Open Wallet and confirm the transaction.
Once complete, your header will be displayed.
Method B: Enter URL Manually
Open Edit Profile and click Add header.
Select Enter Manually from the menu.
Paste your image URL.
Click Save, then confirm the transaction.
Using GIFs and SVGs
GIFs can work for ENS avatars and headers, but large file sizes may cause issues with some clients or websites, leading to slow or failed loading.
Important: The Upload Image option automatically converts images to JPG format. If you want to use GIFs or SVGs, upload them to a separate image hosting service that provides a direct public URL, then paste the URL manually via the Records tab (for avatars) or Enter Manually option (for headers).
Your Avatar Across Web3
Once set, your avatar appears across services that support ENS:
ENS App: Displays in the top-right corner alongside your wallet address.
Uniswap: Displays in the top-right corner of the app.
OpenSea: Shows on your ENS name's NFT page. OpenSea has its own profile picture settings, but avatars set on ENS names are visible when viewing the name itself. You may need to refresh metadata on OpenSea to see updates.
Common Questions
What are gasless avatar and header changes?
The Upload Image option allows gasless changes after the first transaction. You pay gas once to enable the feature, then can update your avatar or header as many times as you want without additional gas fees (for the same name in the same wallet).
How do I fix the avatar to cover the entire background?
The image needs to be square (equal width and height) to cover the entire background without borders. If your avatar appears with borders on the sides or top, the image isn't square. Try using Upload Image, which allows you to resize and crop the image.
My avatar isn't showing on the ENS App.
This may be due to an issue with the avatar metadata. Check it on nftchecker.io. If a problem is detected, try using the Upload Image method to set your avatar manually.
My avatar or header isn't showing on third-party sites.
Changes update instantly on the ENS App, but third-party sites may take time to refresh. Some sites allow you to manually refresh metadata. Contact the project's support directly if issues persist.
Can I use a GIF?
Yes, but large file sizes may cause loading issues on some sites. Note that Upload Image converts images to JPG format. To use GIFs or SVGs, host them on a separate image service and paste the URL manually.