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Knowledge Base entry

What is a Snoovatar, and how do you customize your avatar?

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A Snoovatar is Reddit's customizable avatar system, based on the platform's iconic alien mascot Snoo, which has been Reddit's visual symbol since the platform's founding. In the Snoovatar system, every Reddit user can design a personalized cartoon character using Snoo as the base, customizing its skin color, hair style, clothing, accessories, and other cosmetic elements from a library of free and premium options. The Snoovatar is displayed as your profile picture on your Reddit profile and appears next to your username in certain views across the platform, replacing or supplementing the generic anonymous alien icon that accounts have by default. To create or customize your Snoovatar, you go to your profile page and find the avatar or icon editing option — on the current Reddit interface, this is accessible by clicking the edit icon near your profile picture. From there, you enter the avatar builder, which presents a modular dressing-room style interface where you can mix and match different visual elements. Many customization options are available for free; others are premium cosmetic items associated with Reddit's collectible avatar economy, which was an NFT-based trading system from 2022 through early 2026, though Reddit shut down its Reddit Vault and collectible avatar shop in January 2026. Some Reddit-partnered artists created limited-edition avatar sets that became tradeable collectibles during the NFT period; users who acquired those avatars can still display them. The free Snoovatar builder gives users enough customization to create a distinctive and personalized appearance without spending money. Importantly, the Snoovatar is cosmetic only and has no effect on karma, posting privileges, or any other functional aspect of the Reddit experience — it is purely an identity and expression tool.

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