Why do my Grok Bots all look the same after I set custom avatars?
Last checked October 29, 2026 · Grok Bot changes often
Staff said on October 27, 2026 that this is how it works now, not a break. On desktop, once a Bot has a custom picture its chat returns to plain bubbles; the Bot color applies only to the built-in character. On iOS a Bot with a custom picture takes its bubble color from the picture, so photos with a lot of neutral background tend to read gray. Keeping a color with a custom picture is a request on the team's list. To tell Bots apart, switch back to the character.
The situation
A user with 18 Bots gave each a custom avatar, but all chats ended up with the same colors, and they sometimes sent text to the wrong Bot. They asked for a separate accent color setting, and for more colors than the 11 available.
What staff said
| Platform | What happens with a custom picture |
|---|---|
| Desktop | Chat goes back to plain bubbles; the Bot color only applies with the built-in character |
| iOS | Bubble color comes from the picture, not your chosen color; neutral backgrounds read gray, so chats stay untinted |
Keeping a chosen color with a custom picture is already a request on the team's list. No timing was given.
Workarounds
- Desktop: open the Bot's Settings, click the avatar and choose Reset to the Bot to get the character and colored bubbles back.
- iOS: use a picture with a clearly colored subject. Staff said the tint shows the next time you open that chat.
- Put the role in the Bot's name, so the wrong-Bot mistake is harder even without color. A tidy lineup such as Lean Chief of Staff works well with clear names.
For other Bot-management questions, see How do I start a fresh conversation?.
Not tested by Boterly
We have not tried avatars on a live Bot. The user's report listed iOS 1.18.0 and the latest macOS release.