---
stage: Systems
group: Distribution
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/product/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
type: howto
---

# Using the Libravatar service with GitLab **(FREE SELF)**

GitLab by default supports the [Gravatar](https://gravatar.com) avatar service.

Libravatar is another service that delivers your avatar (profile picture) to
other websites. The Libravatar API is
[heavily based on Gravatar](https://wiki.libravatar.org/api/), so you can
switch to the Libravatar avatar service or even your own Libravatar
server.

You cannot use any Libravatar service including Gravatar in [FIPS mode](../development/fips_compliance.md).

## Change the Libravatar service to your own service

NOTE:
You can use only the MD5 hash in the URL for the Libravatar service. See [issue 370057](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/370057) for adding SHA-256 support.

In the [`gitlab.yml` gravatar section](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/blob/68dac188ec6b1b03d53365e7579422f44cbe7a1c/config/gitlab.yml.example#L469-476), set
the configuration options as follows:

**For Omnibus installations**

1. Edit `/etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb`:

   ```ruby
   gitlab_rails['gravatar_enabled'] = true
   #### For HTTPS
   gitlab_rails['gravatar_ssl_url'] = "https://seccdn.libravatar.org/avatar/%{hash}?s=%{size}&d=identicon"
   #### Use this line instead for HTTP
   # gitlab_rails['gravatar_plain_url'] = "http://cdn.libravatar.org/avatar/%{hash}?s=%{size}&d=identicon"
   ```

1. To apply the changes, run `sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure`.

**For installations from source**

1. Edit `config/gitlab.yml`:

   ```yaml
     gravatar:
       enabled: true
       # default: https://www.gravatar.com/avatar/%{hash}?s=%{size}&d=identicon
       plain_url: "http://cdn.libravatar.org/avatar/%{hash}?s=%{size}&d=identicon"
       # default: https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/%{hash}?s=%{size}&d=identicon
       ssl_url: https://seccdn.libravatar.org/avatar/%{hash}?s=%{size}&d=identicon"
   ```

1. Save the file, and then [restart](restart_gitlab.md#installations-from-source)
   GitLab for the changes to take effect.

## Set the Libravatar service to default (Gravatar)

**For Omnibus installations**

1. Delete `gitlab_rails['gravatar_ssl_url']` or `gitlab_rails['gravatar_plain_url']` from `/etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb`.
1. To apply the changes, run `sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure`.

**For installations from source**

1. Remove `gravatar:` section from `config/gitlab.yml`.
1. Save the file, then [restart](restart_gitlab.md#installations-from-source)
   GitLab to apply the changes.

## Disable Gravatar service

To disable Gravatar, for example, to prohibit third-party services, complete the following steps:

**For Omnibus installations**

1. Edit `/etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb`:

   ```ruby
   gitlab_rails['gravatar_enabled'] = false
   ```

1. To apply the changes, run `sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure`.

**For installations from source**

1. Edit `config/gitlab.yml`:

   ```yaml
     gravatar:
       enabled: false
   ```

1. Save the file, then [restart](restart_gitlab.md#installations-from-source)
   GitLab to apply the changes.

### Your own Libravatar server

If you are [running your own Libravatar service](https://wiki.libravatar.org/running_your_own/),
the URL is different in the configuration, but you must provide the same
placeholders so GitLab can parse the URL correctly.

For example, you host a service on `https://libravatar.example.com` and the
`ssl_url` you must supply in `gitlab.yml` is:

`https://libravatar.example.com/avatar/%{hash}?s=%{size}&d=identicon`

## Default URL for missing images

[Libravatar supports different sets](https://wiki.libravatar.org/api/) of
missing images for user email addresses that are not found on the Libravatar
service.

To use a set other than `identicon`, replace the `&d=identicon` portion of the
URL with another supported set. For example, you can use the `retro` set, in
which case the URL would look like: `ssl_url: "https://seccdn.libravatar.org/avatar/%{hash}?s=%{size}&d=retro"`

## Usage examples for Microsoft Office 365

If your users are Office 365 users, the `GetPersonaPhoto` service can be used.
This service requires a login, so this use case is most useful in a
corporate installation where all users have access to Office 365.

```ruby
gitlab_rails['gravatar_plain_url'] = 'http://outlook.office.com/owa/service.svc/s/GetPersonaPhoto?email=%{email}&size=HR120x120'
gitlab_rails['gravatar_ssl_url'] = 'https://outlook.office.com/owa/service.svc/s/GetPersonaPhoto?email=%{email}&size=HR120x120'
```

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