Can't see personal profile picture during start up.

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Level 1

12 points

Can't see personal profile picture during start up.

I'm using macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 and since I got my macbook pro (about 8 months ago) I cannot get it to display the profile picture that I selected in the Users & Groups when I start up my computer. I always see the default flower image.

It is not a huge problem but it annoys me that I cannot fix this. I've been googling and asking people at work some of them have the same problem and can't find a solution either other's that have experienced the same problem but saw it spontaneously fix itself one day.

Any tips, or even workarounds would be appreciated.

For example, is the default flower image stored as a jpg somewhere that I can replace with my own image (just thinking out loud).

MacBook Pro 16″, macOS 14.4

Posted on Aug 24, 2024 4:23 PM

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Answer 1

PRP_53

Level 10

88,579 points

Aug 25, 2024 4:36 AM in response to JohanRijpma

OP wrote " The problem or "the bug"

Hum, on 3 different M1, M2, M3 machines I own and operate.

I can not duplicate this " problem or "the bug "

If you believe this to be " the bug " ?

Suggest you take the time to Report this " Bug " to Apple as a " Bug Report "

If enough " me and many others experience " this issue

Maybe Apple will look into this matter

Feedback - macOS - Apple

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Answer 2

Aug 24, 2024 4:29 PM in response to JohanRijpma

JohanRijpma wrote:

I'm using macOS Sonoma 14.4.1 and since I got my macbook pro (about 8 months ago) I cannot get it to display the profile picture that I selected in the Users & Groups when I start up my computer. I always see the default flower image.

The current stable release of Sonoma including bug fixes, security updates is macOS 14.6.1 — I would start there

Keep your Mac up to date - Apple Support

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Answer 3

PRP_53

Level 10

88,579 points

Aug 25, 2024 3:04 AM in response to JohanRijpma

Only for future needs and without the need of AI / LMM assistance

With a little effort, one can find many useful documents directly from Apple Support

With the right wording " Change user picture "

Presto >> Change your login picture on Mac

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Answer 4

JohanRijpma Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 24, 2024 4:50 PM in response to leroydouglas

I will get the update thank you for the reminder!

However all the updates so far didn't fix this problem.

Chat GPT helped me find the default image.

Macintosh HD > Library > User Pictures > Flowers > Whiterose.heic

I replaced it with my own image (giving it the same name) and now it finally works!

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Answer 5

JohanRijpma Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 25, 2024 3:52 AM in response to PRP_53

It would be nice if it were that simple. The problem or "the bug" is that after following these Apple Support steps the user picture keeps jumping back to the default image. This is what me and many others experience. But I'm glad this strange workaround of replacing the default image fixes it for the time being.

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Answer 6

JohanRijpma Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 25, 2024 6:11 AM in response to PRP_53

Thank you for the suggestion. I think I did a bug report a few months ago.

I only have this problem on my M3 machine my other Macbook doesn't have this issue.

Like I mentioned in the initial post it is not really a high priority problem but I know several colleagues who are experiencing the same thing. And while looking for an answer I found other people on this apple community, reddit and in the youtube comments (of video's that explain "how to change profile picture") that it always jumps back to the default image on the login/startup screen. Hope my workaround is useful for them.

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Answer 7

PRP_53

Level 10

88,579 points

Aug 25, 2024 7:10 AM in response to JohanRijpma

Small word of advise , in a friendly way.

Listening to the Social Media Outlets when it comes to Apple and macOS are full of all kinds of misinformation, disinformation, uninformed and Apple Haters

As for usage of AI / LMM to solve Apple Technical Issues

AI / LLM are basically a Super Version of Predictive Text which is based upon a Data Set.

When that Data Set is based upon older data points, the outcome of the response will be equally out dated and / or unreliable

AI is also the newest form for Data Mining by Large Corporations.

Suggest being very careful about this.

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Answer 8

JohanRijpma Author

Level 1

12 points

Aug 25, 2024 7:49 AM in response to PRP_53

Thanks for the friendly advice.

I'm very aware of the limitations and problems of AI but In this case however it was simply a useful tool in helping me find something that I didn't know the exact name and location of.

I know that my colleagues are not uninformed apple haters and I strongly doubt that people looking to solve this specific little issue on other platforms are either. I just mentioned the other social media outlets to emphasize that there are "many other people" experiencing this issue outside of the social media outlet that we are on now.

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Answer 9

PRP_53

Level 10

88,579 points

Aug 25, 2024 8:05 AM in response to JohanRijpma

OP wrote " I just mentioned the other social media outlets to emphasize that there are "many other people" experiencing this issue outside of the social media outlet that we are on now. "

This question of your is specific to your computer situation.

Drawing Others into a very specific computer issue only muddies the waters and really does not add any additional weight to the issue

Each Apple computer is unique with unique and personalized configuration

So making one computer issue could not possible become all computers

Otherwise, the 3 machines under my control would also be affected

Enough said on the User Icon issue

Good luck to you and your Others uses experiencing this issue

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