Disable/Change other users google talk Avatars

February 11, 2009 6:17 AM

How do I keep peoples avatars from coming up in Google Talk window when i highlight their name?

When I use Google, some people i chat with use avatars that I'd rather not see. (like... a vampire blood dripping monster!!!! aaagh my kid can't sleep!!!) :)


So, I'm looking for a workaround.

either: a setting somewhere I can't find; or

the location on the hard disk where the avatars are stored that perhaps i could put a different image there instead of the one that they select. (or none at all)

(I can't believe I'm asking a AskMeFi on this, but can't find any good answers on Google...)

another possibility is using another client, perhaps? but then in gmail chat the old image would still come up?

posted by Izzmeister to computers & internet (6 comments total)

If you'd like to keep other people's Gmail pictures off of your Gmail pages, you can turn them off by using only those pictures that you've selected for them yourself.
posted by grippycat at 6:25 AM on February 11

thanks grippycat!

however.... that will MOT help in the software program "google talk".

so the question (mostly) still stands....

How do I keep peoples avatars from coming up in Google Talk window when i highlight their name?
posted by Izzmeister at 7:12 AM on February 11

Huh. Try this:
Here's how to view your Friends list without images
posted by grippycat at 7:17 AM on February 11

thanks grippycat!

however....

(sorry i know you are trying!!!)

that stops it from appearing in the window at all times (which i already had set to such.) I want it not to appear at all.. ever...!

right now it comes up when i mouse over the contact list...

do you know where on the harddisk the image is? i can edit it perhaps with a white square or something...
posted by Izzmeister at 8:46 AM on February 11

Hee! I fail at helping (I'll keep looking though!)
posted by grippycat at 9:04 AM on February 11

I went through the application and while, as was said earlier, I could make it so that the avatars didn't show in the chat window or in the main contact list window, if you mouse-over, you will always see it.

If this really bothers you, you could move to a different, more configurable IM client--

Pidgin (www.pidgin.im)
Trillian (www.trillian.im)
posted by gregvr at 10:04 AM on February 11