is there a way to use profile images as author’s post featured image

Hi @smiranda. Thanks for using PublishPress Authors.

You can use the plugin itself to show the image for the featured author.

However, if this “post featured image” feature is part of a theme, it will require some custom code.

Hi @smiranda,

We haven’t heard from you in a week so are closing this discussion for now. Please post back again if you have more questions

Hi @smiranda ,

If that code does not work, could you try to use the following code?

add_action('save_post', 'set_author_avatar_as_featured_image', 10, 3);

function set_author_avatar_as_featured_image($post_id, $post, $update) {
    // Only run for posts (you can modify this for other post types)
    if ($post->post_type !== 'post') {
        return;
    }
    
    // Skip if this is an autosave or revision
    if (wp_is_post_autosave($post_id) || wp_is_post_revision($post_id)) {
        return;
    }
    
    // Skip if featured image already exists (optional - remove this if you want to override)
    if (has_post_thumbnail($post_id)) {
        return;
    }
    
    // Get the post author
    $author_id = $post->post_author;
    
    // Get author's avatar and set as featured image
    $attachment_id = get_or_create_avatar_attachment($author_id);
    
    if ($attachment_id) {
        set_post_thumbnail($post_id, $attachment_id);
    }
}

/**
 * Get or create attachment from author's avatar
 */
function get_or_create_avatar_attachment($user_id) {
    // Check if we already have an attachment for this user's avatar
    $existing_attachment = get_user_meta($user_id, '_avatar_attachment_id', true);
    
    if ($existing_attachment && wp_attachment_is_image($existing_attachment)) {
        return $existing_attachment;
    }
    
    // Get the avatar URL
    $avatar_url = get_avatar_url($user_id, array('size' => 512));
    
    // Skip default avatars (Gravatar default images)
    if (strpos($avatar_url, 'd=mm') !== false || strpos($avatar_url, 'd=blank') !== false) {
        return false;
    }
    
    // Download and create attachment
    $attachment_id = upload_avatar_to_media_library($avatar_url, $user_id);
    
    if ($attachment_id) {
        // Store the attachment ID in user meta for future use
        update_user_meta($user_id, '_avatar_attachment_id', $attachment_id);
    }
    
    return $attachment_id;
}

/**
 * Upload avatar image to WordPress media library
 */
function upload_avatar_to_media_library($image_url, $user_id) {
    // Include required WordPress functions
    require_once(ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/media.php');
    require_once(ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/file.php');
    require_once(ABSPATH . 'wp-admin/includes/image.php');
    
    // Get user info for filename
    $user_info = get_userdata($user_id);
    $username = sanitize_file_name($user_info->user_login);
    
    // Download the image
    $temp_file = download_url($image_url);
    
    if (is_wp_error($temp_file)) {
        return false;
    }
    
    // Prepare file array
    $file_array = array(
        'name'     => $username . '-avatar.jpg',
        'tmp_name' => $temp_file
    );
    
    // Upload to media library
    $attachment_id = media_handle_sideload($file_array, 0, 'Author avatar for ' . $user_info->display_name);
    
    // Clean up temp file
    if (file_exists($temp_file)) {
        unlink($temp_file);
    }
    
    if (is_wp_error($attachment_id)) {
        return false;
    }
    
    return $attachment_id;
}

/**
 * Optional: Bulk update existing posts to use author avatars as featured images
 * Run this once by visiting yoursite.com/?bulk_update_author_avatars=1
 */
add_action('init', 'bulk_update_author_avatars');

function bulk_update_author_avatars() {
    // Only run if the URL parameter is set and user is admin
    if (!isset($_GET['bulk_update_author_avatars']) || !current_user_can('manage_options')) {
        return;
    }
    
    $posts = get_posts(array(
        'numberposts' => -1,
        'post_type'   => 'post',
        'meta_query'  => array(
            array(
                'key'     => '_thumbnail_id',
                'compare' => 'NOT EXISTS'
            )
        )
    ));
    
    $updated_count = 0;
    
    foreach ($posts as $post) {
        $attachment_id = get_or_create_avatar_attachment($post->post_author);
        
        if ($attachment_id) {
            set_post_thumbnail($post->ID, $attachment_id);
            $updated_count++;
        }
    }
    
    wp_die("Updated {$updated_count} posts with author avatars as featured images.");
}

/**
 * Optional: Clear stored avatar attachments when user profile is updated
 * This ensures fresh avatars if the user changes their Gravatar
 */
add_action('profile_update', 'clear_stored_avatar_attachment');

function clear_stored_avatar_attachment($user_id) {
    delete_user_meta($user_id, '_avatar_attachment_id');
}

/**
 * Optional: Add admin notice to explain the feature
 */
add_action('admin_notices', 'author_avatar_featured_image_notice');

function author_avatar_featured_image_notice() {
    $screen = get_current_screen();
    
    if ($screen->id === 'post' || $screen->id === 'edit-post') {
        echo '<div class="notice notice-info is-dismissible">
            <p><strong>Auto Featured Image:</strong> If no featured image is set, the author\'s avatar will automatically be used as the featured image when the post is saved.</p>
        </div>';
    }
}

You can add on the function.php or you can also use Code Snippet plugin to apply the code.

Hi @smiranda

These were suggestions from AI sources, such as Claude and ChatGPT. They seem to be able to extend our plugin successfully. You’re welcome to give those a try to solve this for your requirements.

Our support for Authors Pro members does include custom code from our team. For Free users here in the WordPress forums we’re able make suggestions like these.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 2 months ago by Steve Burge.

Hi @smiranda. Yes, that’s correct. The Pro support can go further and get more specific.