Why do some Inbox customers have a profile photo and others not?

06 Nov 2026 2 min read বাংলায় পড়ুন

Messenger and Instagram send the customer's profile photo, so the Inbox shows it in the chat list and in the chat. WhatsApp never gives a customer's photo to businesses, so WhatsApp chats show the first letter of the name in a coloured circle instead.

Where to find it

Admin › CRM › Inbox › Inbox, in the chat list and at the top of each chat. There is nothing to set up.

How it works

  1. A Messenger or Instagram customer writes. When their message arrives, the panel asks Meta for their profile photo.
  2. The panel keeps its own copy. Meta's photo links stop working after a while, so the photo is saved in your store's own private folder.
  3. It is checked again later. The photo is asked for again at most once every 7 days, when the customer writes. A new profile photo shows after that.

Example: at Rangdhanu Fashion, a Messenger customer shows her photo next to her name. A WhatsApp customer, 01XXXXXXXXX, shows the letter "R" for Rahima.

Which chats get a photo

Chat Photo
Messenger Yes, when Meta gives it
Instagram Yes, when Meta gives it
WhatsApp No, the first letter
Post comments No, the first letter
Website chat No, the first letter

Good to know

  • Private, like the chat's files. The copy opens only for people who may open that chat: the seller who has it and people with Inbox — every chat.
  • Not every customer has one. If Meta gives no photo for a customer, or the picture is not an image or is bigger than 2 MB, the letter stays.

Common problems

  • A Messenger customer shows a letter. Meta did not give a photo for them yet. Wait for the customer's next message; the photo is asked for again at most once a week.
  • An old photo shows. The customer changed their photo recently. It is updated the next time they write after 7 days.
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