How to Find Slack Members Without a Profile Picture
Three ways to find Slack members still using the default avatar, from manual checks to automated scanning, so you can nudge them to add a real photo.
In a small workspace you can spot the people still using Slack’s default avatar at a glance. In a workspace of a few hundred members, finding everyone on the colored-initials placeholder becomes a real chore. Here are three ways to do it, from fully manual to fully automated.
Why it’s worth finding them
A member without a real profile photo is harder to recognize in channels, threads, and huddles. In larger organizations, a wall of colored initials also makes the workspace feel unfinished and quietly erodes trust, especially when you’re working with people you’ve never met in person. Tracking down who’s missing a photo is the first step to fixing it.
Method 1: Scan the member list by hand
Slack does let you browse everyone in the workspace:
- Click the workspace name, then choose Tools & settings.
- Open Manage members (owners and admins) or use the People directory.
- Scroll through the list and look for the solid colored squares with initials instead of a photo.
- Note each person and follow up with them individually.
This works, but it doesn’t scale. The list can run to hundreds of rows, there’s no filter for “missing photo,” and the moment new people join you’re back to scrolling again.
Method 2: Start from the admin export
On paid plans, workspace owners can export a member list from the admin dashboard. The export won’t tell you who has a photo, but it gives you a complete roster to cross-reference. You still have to check each profile, so this mostly helps you confirm you haven’t missed anyone.
Method 3: Scan automatically with Tidybot
The reliable way to find every member without a profile picture is to let a tool check for you. Tidybot scans each profile in your workspace, flags everyone still on the default avatar, and can message just those people with a friendly reminder to upload a real photo. New members are picked up automatically as they join, so the list never goes stale.
Instead of scrolling and cross-referencing, you get an always-current view of who’s missing a photo, and the nudging happens on its own. See how to require a profile picture in Slack for the full approach.
Once you’ve found them
Finding people is only half the job. The follow-up matters just as much:
- Point members to a short guide on how to change their Slack avatar.
- Keep reminders friendly and specific, not a mass broadcast everyone ignores.
- Re-check periodically, since new hires and profile resets reopen the gap.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I see a list of Slack members without a profile picture?
- Slack has no built-in report for this. You can scan the member list manually and look for the colored initials avatars, use the admin analytics export as a starting point, or use a tool like Tidybot that scans every profile and flags who is still on the default picture.
- Does Slack tell admins who hasn't set a profile photo?
- No. Slack's admin dashboard shows account status and activity, but it doesn't surface which members are missing a profile photo. You have to check profiles yourself or automate the scan.
- How do I remind members to add a profile picture?
- You can post a general message in a company channel, but that misses most people. A more reliable approach is to message only the members who are actually missing a photo. Tidybot does this automatically, sending polite reminders in each person's timezone.
