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How to Make VRChat Avatars: Beginner to Advanced Guide

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by

David Turner

Creating your own avatar in VRChat is one of the most rewarding and engaging aspects of the virtual reality experience. Whether you’re a newbie just dipping your toes into avatar creation or an experienced designer looking to enhance your skills, this guide will walk you through every essential step. From the foundational tools to advanced customization techniques, you’ll discover how to bring your digital self to life.

TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read)

To make VRChat avatars, you’ll need Unity, the VRChat SDK, and possibly a modeling tool like Blender. Beginners can start with free models and basic Unity setup, while advanced users can import custom models and add complex animations or expressions. Patience is key—as you learn more, your avatars will become more expressive and personalized. The process can be technical, but the creative freedom it offers makes it worth the effort.

Getting Started: Tools You Need

Before jumping into avatar creation, make sure you have the right set of tools installed and ready:

  • Unity – VRChat currently recommends Unity 2019.4.31f1 for the best compatibility. Make sure to download the correct version.
  • VRChat SDK – This is provided by VRChat and integrates with Unity to help you upload your avatars into the game.
  • Blender (optional but recommended) – A powerful and free 3D modeling tool. Use it to create or modify 3D models.
  • Visual Studio (for advanced users) – Useful if you want to write custom scripts or logic.

Finding or Creating a 3D Model

You can either download a pre-made model or create your own from scratch:

Option 1: Download a Pre-Made Model

There are many websites offering free or commercial 3D models suitable for VRChat. Popular sources include:

Always check licensing terms before using a model. Some may restrict usage or require attribution.

Option 2: Create Your Own Model

If you prefer complete control over your avatar’s look, you can design one from scratch using Blender. This requires a knowledge of modeling, texturing, and rigging.

Importing into Unity

Once you have your model, the next step is to bring it into Unity.

  1. Open your Unity project where the VRChat SDK has already been installed.
  2. Import your model (usually in FBX format) into the Unity assets folder.
  3. Create a new scene or use an existing one to place your model.

Setting Up the Avatar Descriptor

In Unity, you’ll need to add a VRChat Avatar Descriptor component to your model. This step tells VRChat how to interpret your model as an avatar.

  • Select your model’s root object in the hierarchy.
  • In the Inspector, click Add Component and choose VRC_AvatarDescriptor.
  • Configure the Viewpoint (where the camera sits in first-person), the avatar’s height, and lip sync settings.

Rigging and Animations

An avatar must have a humanoid rig to work in VRChat. Many models already include a rig, but it’s important to check:

  1. Select the imported model in Assets.
  2. In the Inspector, go to the Rig tab and set Animation Type to Humanoid.
  3. Click Configure to verify bones are mapped correctly—head, hands, feet, etc.

Adding Animations

You can customize expressions, gestures, and emotes using Unity Animator components and blending logic. Advanced users often create complex animation controllers that enable:

  • Talking with lip-syncing and facial expressions
  • Trigger-based animations (e.g., clapping, dancing)
  • Custom blendshapes for facial movement

Testing Your Avatar

VRChat allows local testing of avatars using their SDK.

  1. Open the VRChat SDK menu in Unity.
  2. Click Show Control Panel.
  3. Upload your avatar using the Builder tab. Fix any issues listed before publishing.
  4. Once uploaded, launch VRChat and test your avatar in a private world.

You can go back and tweak your avatar as many times as needed. Adjust movement, expressions, or even the shader if required.

Advanced Customization

Shaders and Materials

Shaders control how your avatar looks in-game. Some of the best shaders for VRChat include:

  • Poiyomi Shader – Highly popular for anime avatars
  • LilToon – Great for toon styles with advanced features
  • Unity Standard Shader – Good for realistic avatars

Applying a shader requires adding it to the avatar’s material and adjusting transparency, brightness, and other parameters in the Inspector window.

Dynamic Bones and PhysBones

These systems let you add movement and physics to hair, clothes, and accessories:

  • Dynamic Bones (legacy, paid plugin) – Widely supported but being phased out.
  • PhysBones (built-in) – VRChat’s current supported system, optimized and free.

Add a VRC PhysBone component to parts of the avatar mesh, such as tails or ponytails, to let them respond to motion in real-time.

Custom Menus and Parameters

Advanced users can create custom radial menus and toggles for different outfits, poses, or expressions by editing the avatar’s Expression Parameters and Menus.

  • Go to VRChat SDK > Expressions tab.
  • Create a new Expression Parameters asset.
  • Create a new Expression Menu and link it to your avatar through the Descriptor.

Tips for Creating a Great Avatar

  • Keep Performance in Mind – Use optimized models and textures. Avoid too many dynamic elements or high-poly meshes.
  • Name Assets Clearly – Helps with debugging and future updates.
  • Join the Community – Look for VRChat Discord servers, Reddit threads, or YouTube tutorials to grow your skills.
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Common Pitfalls to Avoid

  • Model Not Visible in VRChat – Often due to incorrect rigging, missing materials, or an invisible viewpoint setting.
  • Model Won’t Upload – Fix issues listed in the SDK Builder tab. Could be due to script errors or incorrect components.
  • Laggy or Crashing Performance – Check polygon count, material complexity, and unused scripts.

Conclusion

Making VRChat avatars is both a technical and artistic journey. It starts simple—importing a model and applying basic descriptors—but evolves into a powerful method of self-expression. With time and effort, you can create avatars that move naturally, reflect your personality, and even become central to your online identity. Whether you’re starting with a pre-made base or designing from scratch, the tools and community are there to help you succeed.