Mac user profile picture original file?

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Level 1

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Mac user profile picture original file?

Where is the user's profile picture stored (the picture seen during login)? I'd really like to save my user profile picture, but I want to find the original file.

A user's profile picture can be changed through Users & Groups in System Preferences, and they offer you default user profile pictures, as well as the option to take a picture immediately with the camera. I changed my profile picture through this Camera option, but now I don't have the original file of the picture.

I am operating on Big Sur 11.2.3 with MacBook Pro 2020. I have seen other people solve this problem, but not with Big Sur.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Posted on Jun 18, 2021 10:04 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Barney-15E

Level 10

117,214 points

Jun 19, 2021 5:10 AM in response to jc1328

It is embedded in the user account information (it might not be the same resolution as the source).

dscl . -read /Users/`id -un` JPEGPhoto | tail -1 | xxd -r -p > ~/Desktop/pic.jpg

Copy/paste the command into Terminal, hit return, and a file will be created on your Desktop named pic.jpg

Credit: https://pupuweb.com/solved-retrieve-macos-user-account-profile-photo/

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Answer 2

jc1328 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 19, 2021 4:55 AM in response to PRP_53

That would be a good precaution for next time, but I really wish to find the original file for my current user profile picture.

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Answer 3

PRP_53

Level 10

92,497 points

Jun 19, 2021 4:38 AM in response to jc1328

Just take a New Photo and use it. Then Import the desired photo to Photos Application for future usage.

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Answer 4

jc1328 Author

Level 1

8 points

Jun 19, 2021 7:05 AM in response to Barney-15E

It works! I'm not sure if the generated file is the original resolution and uncropped picture, but at least I retrieved a version of the original file. Thanks for the help.

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Mac user profile picture original file?

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