By default, many WordPress themes display the author’s image (avatar) as a square. If you’d like to give your site a more modern and polished look, turning that image into a circle is quick and easy with a bit of CSS.
Step-by-Step: Make the Author Image Circular
Add this CSS to your site:
Option 1: Using the WordPress Customizer
- Go to Appearance → Customize.
- Click Additional CSS.
- Paste the following code:
.author-avatar img,
.avatar {
border-radius: 50%;
object-fit: cover;
}
4. Click Publish.
This code targets both the WordPress avatar and common class names like .author-avatar
and .avatar
.
Option 2: Add to Your Child Theme’s style.css
If you’re using a child theme (recommended for customizations), you can also add the same CSS to your style.css
file:
- Go to your child theme directory.
- Open the
style.css
file. - Add the same code to your
style.css
file. - Clear cache for changes to take effect.
Using a child theme ensures your custom styles won’t be lost during theme updates.
Tip:
If it doesn’t work, try adding !important
like this:
.avatar {
border-radius: 50% !important;
object-fit: cover;
}
This forces the browser to apply your rule even if the theme or plugin is overriding it.
Responsive and Clean
This method works on all devices and ensures that your author images maintain a clean, circular look, perfect for personal branding or team blogs.
If your theme uses different class names, you might need to inspect the avatar element using your browser’s developer tools and update the CSS selector.
That’s it! A tiny change that gives your site a big visual improvement. If you have any questions, drop them in the comments below 👇
Mohammad Dahamshi is a skilled Embedded Software Engineer and web developer. With experience in C/C++, Linux, WordPress, and DevOps tools, he helps businesses solve technical challenges and build reliable digital solutions. Fluent in Arabic, Hebrew, and English, he also runs Saratec, offering web design and digital marketing services.