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

# Using the Libravatar service with GitLab

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
easily switch to the Libravatar avatar service or even your own Libravatar
server.

## Configuration

In the [`gitlab.yml` gravatar section](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/blob/672bd3902d86b78d730cea809fce312ec49d39d7/config/gitlab.yml.example#L122), set
the configuration options as follows:

### For HTTP

```yaml
  gravatar:
    enabled: true
    # gravatar URLs: possible placeholders: %{hash} %{size} %{email} %{username}
    plain_url: "http://cdn.libravatar.org/avatar/%{hash}?s=%{size}&d=identicon"
```

### For HTTPS

```yaml
  gravatar:
    enabled: true
    # gravatar URLs: possible placeholders: %{hash} %{size} %{email} %{username}
    ssl_url: "https://seccdn.libravatar.org/avatar/%{hash}?s=%{size}&d=identicon"
```

### 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 `http://libravatar.example.com` and the
`plain_url` you need to supply in `gitlab.yml` is

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

### Omnibus GitLab example

In `/etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb`:

#### For HTTP

```ruby
gitlab_rails['gravatar_enabled'] = true
gitlab_rails['gravatar_plain_url'] = "http://cdn.libravatar.org/avatar/%{hash}?s=%{size}&d=identicon"
```

#### For HTTPS

```ruby
gitlab_rails['gravatar_enabled'] = true
gitlab_rails['gravatar_ssl_url'] = "https://seccdn.libravatar.org/avatar/%{hash}?s=%{size}&d=identicon"
```

Then run `sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure` for the changes to take effect.

## 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: `plain_url: "http://cdn.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.
Note that 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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