This is a quick tool I threw together in my free time the last two days to make changing avatars to custom ones easier for myself. It works by terminating the account service on your Switch which will lead to a crash. While I have had 0 problems testing it, it does write to system save data, which some might consider risky. Also, guaranteed ban online. You've been warned.

Avatars are 256x256 JPG files. Place them in the folder sdmc:/avatar/. Avatool will only see files with the extension '.jpg'
Once on the main selection screen:

• L and R change the targeted avatar image
• Up and Down control the file menu
• A will overwrite the target with the selected source image

If the write was successful, you will see the target image change. Reboot and it should show on the home menu and profile screens.

Keep in mind this isn't supposed to be anything fancy.

https://github.com/J-D-K/Avatool/releases

 

[nowaczuk]

Hi, big thx for this, but it worked only partially.
on home-screen the avatar is empty, on the user-page it is complete white, only the user-selection on game-start is correctly.
any idea why?
i cant add links to the images, to show the problem

 

[JK_]

Hi, big thx for this, but it worked only partially.
on home-screen the avatar is empty, on the user-page it is complete white, only the user-selection on game-start is correctly.
any idea why?
i cant add links to the images, to show the problem

That's ok. I had a hunch and I think I'm right. This is what you're getting, correct?:

Spoiler

When you Export As with GIMP, you need to open the advanced options and uncheck "Progressive." After I did that to the same image:

Spoiler

 

[nowaczuk]

Now it worked
big big big thx for this

 

[Sciguy429]

Dang I was literally just debating makeing something like this...
Oh well, the tool worked perfectly for me, thanks!

 

[Shadowfied]

Ayooo
Thank you JK!

 

[ruyor]

Getting this crash immediately after it mounts the save, launching the NRO through the Album method or through the HBMenu NSP.

 

[JK_]

Getting this crash immediately after it mounts the save, launching the NRO through the Album method or through the HBMenu NSP.

Is it always the same title id? I updated Atmosphere and have tried to get the, I'm assuming, album applet crash. Never happens for me though.

 

[Beerus]

NICE TIME FOR SOME ahegao Profile Pics

 

[ruyor]

Is it always the same title id? I updated Atmosphere and have tried to get the, I'm assuming, album applet crash. Never happens for me though.

It is a different TitleID when using the HBMenu NSP. I'll give the Avatool NSP a go and see what happens. I also uploaded all of my recent Atmosphere crash reports, I had cleaned out the folder right before I tried this out, so they should all be crashes from Avatool.

--Edit--

Avatool NSP also crashes at the same point

 

[Justinde75]

That hank hill avatar is perfect
If Ninty would sell this i'd buy it instantly

 

[Ericthegreat]

Hey guys for those who don't know, if this works online will 100% get you banned.

 

[eyeliner]

Hey guys for those who don't know, if this works online will 100% get you banned.

From what I gather, if using this, you are already past that mark. Same thing as themes.

Unless users are Kongs... Donkey Kongs.

 

[Ericthegreat]

From what I gather, if using this, you are already past that mark. Same thing as themes.

Unless they are Kongs... Donkey Kongs.

Confirmed themes cause ban? I dont ever put my switch online as I really dont care about it, but thats really sad of Nintendo, this is like in .hack where a couple players got banned for changing their gear color

 

[eyeliner]

Confirmed themes cause ban? I dont ever put my switch online as I really dont care about it, but thats really sad of Nintendo, this is like in .hack where a couple players got banned for changing their gear color

If a freaking avatar gives you ban, it's only natural themes do it also.
But hey, that what one gets by making the console ours.
It's a damn shame, really.

Why do companies hate us so much that we can't make the console truly ours?

 

[Ericthegreat]

If a freaking avatar gives you ban, it's only natural themes do it also.
But hey, that what one gets by making the console ours.
It's a damn shame, really.

Why do companies hate us so much that we can't make the console truly ours?

Well, the issue is, you think everyone is making their avatar normal things, like an anime character or something, but in reality, many would make their avatar a picture of their genitals. (or someone else's genitals that are larger, that they can then claim as their own).

 

[eyeliner]

Well, the issue is, you think everyone is making their avatar normal things, like an anime character or something, but in reality, many would make their avatar a picture of their genitals. (or someone else's genitals that are larger, that they can then claim as their own).

A report button, or an option to hide the other players avatar would suffice, if that is a major concern. Or even a validation after the upload.
Easy solutions for a non problem.
But that is just me.

 

[Ericthegreat]

A report button, or an option to hide the other players avatar would suffice, if that is a major concern. Or even a validation after the upload.
Easy solutions for a non problem.
But that is just me.

Validation is fine I guess, but some would probably eventually get through, I really dont care either, but it kinda is a big deal, since its a device targeted at children....

 

[Wombleton]

thank you, worked perfectly after reboot

 

[Ev1l0rd]

Confirmed themes cause ban? I dont ever put my switch online as I really dont care about it, but thats really sad of Nintendo, this is like in .hack where a couple players got banned for changing their gear color

Themes don't cause bans as far as I'm aware, it's literally using LayeredFS and themes aren't reported as far as I'm aware.