# Users API returns users 'initials' avatars instead of real ones

**URL:** <https://community.developer.atlassian.com/t/users-api-returns-users-initials-avatars-instead-of-real-ones/53933>\
**Category:** Forge\
**Tags:** user, avatar, api\
**Created:** [November 24, 2021, 10:28am UTC](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/t/users-api-returns-users-initials-avatars-instead-of-real-ones/53933 "2021-11-24T10:28:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![clement\_garin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/atlassiandeveloper/user_avatar/community.developer.atlassian.com/clement_garin/32/38126_2.png) [@clement\_garin](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/u/clement_garin)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2021, 10:28am UTC](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/t/users-api-returns-users-initials-avatars-instead-of-real-ones/53933/1 "2021-11-24T10:28:42Z")

</div>

Hello,

Recently I noticed my app was displaying user ‘initials avatar’ instead of real ones. For context, I use both Jira `/rest/api/3/user` and `/rest/api/3/user/bulk` endpoints to retrieve users information in a **Forge function**.

When I use: `api.asApp().requestJira` I receive:

```auto
INFO 10:10:37.392 cf1f550a7edfaa80 >>> {
  '48x48': 'https://avatar-management--avatars.us-west-2.prod.public.atl-paas.net/initials/CG-4.png',
  '24x24': 'https://avatar-management--avatars.us-west-2.prod.public.atl-paas.net/initials/CG-4.png',
  '16x16': 'https://avatar-management--avatars.us-west-2.prod.public.atl-paas.net/initials/CG-4.png',
  '32x32': 'https://avatar-management--avatars.us-west-2.prod.public.atl-paas.net/initials/CG-4.png'
}

```

And if I switch to `asUser()` , I retrieve what I want:

```auto
INFO 10:09:41.102 95025bd49bb31a44 >>> {
  '48x48': 'https://avatar-management--avatars.us-west-2.prod.public.atl-paas.net/5bccf2f82bfc57158b2faa60/98b8c6d1-72cc-40bf-84bd-a008869c8aaa/48',
  '24x24': 'https://avatar-management--avatars.us-west-2.prod.public.atl-paas.net/5bccf2f82bfc57158b2faa60/98b8c6d1-72cc-40bf-84bd-a008869c8aaa/24',
  '16x16': 'https://avatar-management--avatars.us-west-2.prod.public.atl-paas.net/5bccf2f82bfc57158b2faa60/98b8c6d1-72cc-40bf-84bd-a008869c8aaa/16',
  '32x32': 'https://avatar-management--avatars.us-west-2.prod.public.atl-paas.net/5bccf2f82bfc57158b2faa60/98b8c6d1-72cc-40bf-84bd-a008869c8aaa/32'
}

```

This happen with both API V.2 and V.3. Did I missed a permission or a change in how these API work ?

Thanks,  
Clément

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![MichaelCooper](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/atlassiandeveloper/user_avatar/community.developer.atlassian.com/michaelcooper/32/44385_2.png) [@MichaelCooper](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/u/MichaelCooper)\
**Post date:** [November 30, 2021, 12:30pm UTC](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/t/users-api-returns-users-initials-avatars-instead-of-real-ones/53933/2 "2021-11-30T12:30:40Z")

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Can you check what happens if the user’s profile picture is changed to public?

To change your profile picture to public:

1. Go to [Profile and visibility](https://id.atlassian.com/manage-profile/profile-and-visibility)
2. Change **Who can see your profile photo?** to **Anyone**.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![clement\_garin](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/atlassiandeveloper/user_avatar/community.developer.atlassian.com/clement_garin/32/38126_2.png) [@clement\_garin](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/u/clement_garin)\
**Post date:** [December 1, 2021, 10:13am UTC](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/t/users-api-returns-users-initials-avatars-instead-of-real-ones/53933/3 "2021-12-01T10:13:42Z")

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Thanks for your response! Indeed, changing the privacy setting allow the app to retrieve the profile picture:

 ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/atlassiandeveloper/original/3X/3/b/3bcdc48fc3b8b3e610095a2938ebc8103a4233ee.png)

So, is this the expected API behavior ? If yes, the only acceptable solution is to use the act-as-user way then ?

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**Author:** ![LaszloBucsai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8dc957/32.png) [@LaszloBucsai](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/u/LaszloBucsai)\
**Post date:** [November 16, 2022, 10:58am UTC](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/t/users-api-returns-users-initials-avatars-instead-of-real-ones/53933/4 "2022-11-16T10:58:39Z")

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Hi, I’m facing the same issue, is there any other option to get profile pictures inside the organization that doesn’t involve asking everyone to change their profile picture visibility?

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**Author:** ![anon63159654](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e5b9ba/32.png) [@anon63159654](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/u/anon63159654)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 12:36pm UTC](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/t/users-api-returns-users-initials-avatars-instead-of-real-ones/53933/5 "2024-09-12T12:36:01Z")

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Hi, we are also experiencing this issue in Confluence. Are there any updates on this?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FabienLydoire](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/atlassiandeveloper/user_avatar/community.developer.atlassian.com/fabienlydoire/32/51218_2.png) [@FabienLydoire](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/u/FabienLydoire)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2024, 1:28pm UTC](https://community.developer.atlassian.com/t/users-api-returns-users-initials-avatars-instead-of-real-ones/53933/6 "2024-09-12T13:28:36Z")

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@anon63159654 I filled in a support request about this specific issue.  
I’ll let you know how it goes