Unfortunately, I have bad news for you, and that too on a Monday: In the course of this article we will inevitably deal with my visage. Sorry! If you are capable of suffering enough, you should still read on, because I will explain everything you need to know about the latest WhatsApp feature that is currently making its way into the popular messenger.
This is how you create a 3D avatar as the new star of your profile
We are talking about the possibility of creating yourself as a 3D avatar and using it as a profile picture in the future. You are also familiar with the principle from many services in the gaming sector, such as Microsoft’s Xbox Live. Anyone who has ever played The Sims will find their way around the editor anyway.
Where can I find the feature? You can find the new function in the settings of WhatsApp. Depending on the operating system, proceed as follows:
- Android: Tap on the three dots in the top right corner and then on
settings
. There you will find the new sectionAvatar
. Tap on it and the editor will open. Later you can also edit or delete your avatar here. - iOS: Tap Settings on the bottom right of the menu bar. There, too, you should be able to see the new Avatar category at a glance.
I can’t see the function, now what? Keep Calm! That’s no reason to write a status about it directly or to lament your suffering on Instagram. The developers write in the official blogthat the function is currently being rolled out. This means that not all devices are on at the same time, and you may have to wait a few days longer.
If you don’t see the new feature in the settings yet, you’ll have to wait a few more days.
The editor is very easy to use and is not stingy with options. In addition to basic settings such as head shape, mouth, eyebrows, lips and of course the hairstyle, many other details are covered: birthmarks, bindis, piercings and even hearing aids are also offered, which is very commendable!
All you have to do is hop from category to category and choose your look. Very helpful: You can switch on the front camera of your smartphone at any time to compare your real face with your virtual self.
For my taste, however, it would have been nice to have added a few additional colors to the glasses. I’m wearing a royal blue frame, but in the editor I only had the choice between ice blue and mint green. I decided then out of necessity for dark green, because this color looked the most like something.
If you like the end result, you can save the 3D avatar for friends and family to view in the future. The avatar can also be used as the basis for a new profile picture. Go to the avatar settings Create profile picture
.
You even get a personalized sticker set for everyday chat use. Your 3D avatar poses in a variety of poses and expresses a variety of emotional states so you can communicate instantly without using words. In one fell swoop, my virtual alter ego has a greater emotional range than I do. Nothing earth shattering, but a very nice gimmick in my opinion!
You will also receive numerous customized stickers that you can use in chats.
And of course you can delete your 3D self at any time. To do this, simply tap in the settings Delete avatar
and you’re back to your classic profile picture. So you can safely try out the new WhatsApp feature and see if you like it.
If you not only want to use WhatsApp on your smartphone, but also on your PC and Mac, my colleague Patrick will explain how you can set up Messenger on your home computer in no time at all:
WhatsApp Web: How to use the desktop app on Windows and macOS
Have you created your 3D avatar yet? If so, how do you like the new feature? Fun pastime or in your eyes rather useless gimmick without added value? Let us know what you think about this topic in the comments!
