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Support animated profile avatars (APNG / animated WebP) in account settings

  • May 21, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 39 views
zhaolei

Today, profile avatars in Figma account settings only display as static images. The Help Center states that GIF uploads are converted to a static image. There is no supported way to use an animated avatar in collaboration surfaces (multiplayer cursors, comments, Community profile, FigJam stamps, etc.).

Other design tools in the same market already support animated profile avatars (for example, MasterGo supports APNG for dynamic avatars). Users who want a more expressive personal identity in the product currently have no first-party option in Figma.

Proposed solution

  1. Allow animated profile avatars in Account settings (and team/org avatars if applicable).
  2. Support at least:
    • APNG (preferred: supports transparency, often better quality than GIF)
    • Animated WebP (optional, good compression)
    • GIF (optional, for backward compatibility — but should actually play, not be flattened to a static frame)
  3. Define clear limits, for example:
    • Max file size (e.g. 2–5 MB)
    • Max dimensions (e.g. 500×500 minimum already exists; cap at 1024×1024)
    • Max duration / loop (e.g. 3–5 seconds, looped)
    • Frame rate cap (e.g. 24–30 fps) for performance
  4. Playback behavior
    • Animate in: file browser, multiplayer presence, comments, Community profile, FigJam stamps
    • Respect prefers-reduced-motion (show first frame or static fallback)
    • Pause animation when avatar is very small (e.g. < 32px) to save CPU
  5. Accessibility & safety
    • Warning if animation is fast/flashing (photosensitive risk)
    • Moderation/rating alignment if avatars appear in Community

Why this matters

  • Personal expression and consistency with how designers already use motion in their work
  • Parity with regional competitors and user expectations
  • APNG avoids GIF’s 256-color limit and one-bit transparency issues

Alternatives considered

  • GIF-only: widely supported but lower quality; many users already export APNG from other tools
  • Animation only in design files (prototype GIF fills): does not solve identity avatar use case
  • Gravatar: not a reliable workaround; Figma still effectively treats avatars as static in product UI

Success criteria

  • User uploads APNG → avatar animates for collaborators in Figma UI
  • Upload respects size/duration limits with clear error messages
  • Reduced-motion users see a static avatar without losing account functionality

Thanks for considering this — happy to share example APNG assets or test in beta if helpful.

    2 replies

    Vee Wei
    • Vee Wei
    • New Member
    • May 21, 2026

    Today, profile avatars in Figma account settings only display as static images. The Help Center states that GIF uploads are converted to a static image. There is no supported way to use an animated avatar in collaboration surfaces (multiplayer cursors, comments, Community profile, FigJam stamps, etc.).

    Other design tools in the same market already support animated profile avatars (for example, MasterGo supports APNG for dynamic avatars). Users who want a more expressive personal identity in the product currently have no first-party option in Figma.

    Proposed solution

    1. Allow animated profile avatars in Account settings (and team/org avatars if applicable).
    2. Support at least:
      • APNG (preferred: supports transparency, often better quality than GIF)
      • Animated WebP (optional, good compression)
      • GIF (optional, for backward compatibility — but should actually play, not be flattened to a static frame)
    3. Define clear limits, for example:
      • Max file size (e.g. 2–5 MB)
      • Max dimensions (e.g. 500×500 minimum already exists; cap at 1024×1024)
      • Max duration / loop (e.g. 3–5 seconds, looped)
      • Frame rate cap (e.g. 24–30 fps) for performance
    4. Playback behavior
      • Animate in: file browser, multiplayer presence, comments, Community profile, FigJam stamps
      • Respect prefers-reduced-motion (show first frame or static fallback)
      • Pause animation when avatar is very small (e.g. < 32px) to save CPU
    5. Accessibility & safety
      • Warning if animation is fast/flashing (photosensitive risk)
      • Moderation/rating alignment if avatars appear in Community

    Why this matters

    • Personal expression and consistency with how designers already use motion in their work
    • Parity with regional competitors and user expectations
    • APNG avoids GIF’s 256-color limit and one-bit transparency issues

    Alternatives considered

    • GIF-only: widely supported but lower quality; many users already export APNG from other tools
    • Animation only in design files (prototype GIF fills): does not solve identity avatar use case
    • Gravatar: not a reliable workaround; Figma still effectively treats avatars as static in product UI

    Success criteria

    • User uploads APNG → avatar animates for collaborators in Figma UI
    • Upload respects size/duration limits with clear error messages
    • Reduced-motion users see a static avatar without losing account functionality

    Thanks for considering this — happy to share example APNG assets or test in beta if helpful.

    I really need it！

      zhaolei
      • zhaolei
      • Author
      • New Member
      • May 21, 2026

      Today, profile avatars in Figma account settings only display as static images. The Help Center states that GIF uploads are converted to a static image. There is no supported way to use an animated avatar in collaboration surfaces (multiplayer cursors, comments, Community profile, FigJam stamps, etc.).

      Other design tools in the same market already support animated profile avatars (for example, MasterGo supports APNG for dynamic avatars). Users who want a more expressive personal identity in the product currently have no first-party option in Figma.

      Proposed solution

      1. Allow animated profile avatars in Account settings (and team/org avatars if applicable).
      2. Support at least:
        • APNG (preferred: supports transparency, often better quality than GIF)
        • Animated WebP (optional, good compression)
        • GIF (optional, for backward compatibility — but should actually play, not be flattened to a static frame)
      3. Define clear limits, for example:
        • Max file size (e.g. 2–5 MB)
        • Max dimensions (e.g. 500×500 minimum already exists; cap at 1024×1024)
        • Max duration / loop (e.g. 3–5 seconds, looped)
        • Frame rate cap (e.g. 24–30 fps) for performance
      4. Playback behavior
        • Animate in: file browser, multiplayer presence, comments, Community profile, FigJam stamps
        • Respect prefers-reduced-motion (show first frame or static fallback)
        • Pause animation when avatar is very small (e.g. < 32px) to save CPU
      5. Accessibility & safety
        • Warning if animation is fast/flashing (photosensitive risk)
        • Moderation/rating alignment if avatars appear in Community

      Why this matters

      • Personal expression and consistency with how designers already use motion in their work
      • Parity with regional competitors and user expectations
      • APNG avoids GIF’s 256-color limit and one-bit transparency issues

      Alternatives considered

      • GIF-only: widely supported but lower quality; many users already export APNG from other tools
      • Animation only in design files (prototype GIF fills): does not solve identity avatar use case
      • Gravatar: not a reliable workaround; Figma still effectively treats avatars as static in product UI

      Success criteria

      • User uploads APNG → avatar animates for collaborators in Figma UI
      • Upload respects size/duration limits with clear error messages
      • Reduced-motion users see a static avatar without losing account functionality

      Thanks for considering this — happy to share example APNG assets or test in beta if helpful.

      I really need it！

      Exactly! Domestic design tool MasterGo already supports dynamic avatars, so why doesn’t Figma, the world-renowned design software, have this feature either? I really hope it gets added soon!

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