One of the small but meaningful features many long-running forums used to rely on was the ability to use off-site images for avatars and profile photos.

Invision previously supported this through a third-party plugin called HQ Avis, which allowed members to link externally hosted images rather than uploading files directly to the server. That plugin eventually became obsolete, and the functionality disappeared with it.

Bringing this capability back at a native level could serve both communities and infrastructure. Allowing off-site avatars would reduce local storage and bandwidth demands, while giving users more freedom to maintain consistent visual identities, especially in communities where avatars are part of recognition and culture rather than decoration.

From a moderation and platform perspective, this could remain fully optional. Permissions, file-type limits, or size restrictions could still apply, and communities that prefer local-only hosting could simply leave the feature disabled.

As Invision 5 continues to focus on performance and modernization, this feels like a small quality-of-life feature that aligns with both. It restores flexibility that many communities once depended on, while offering practical benefits on the backend.

Just wanted to put the idea forward for consideration.

11 hours ago, OhSoRy said:

One of the small but meaningful features many long-running forums used to rely on was the ability to use off-site images for avatars and profile photos.

Invision previously supported this through a third-party plugin called HQ Avis, which allowed members to link externally hosted images rather than uploading files directly to the server. That plugin eventually became obsolete, and the functionality disappeared with it.

Bringing this capability back at a native level could serve both communities and infrastructure. Allowing off-site avatars would reduce local storage and bandwidth demands, while giving users more freedom to maintain consistent visual identities, especially in communities where avatars are part of recognition and culture rather than decoration.

From a moderation and platform perspective, this could remain fully optional. Permissions, file-type limits, or size restrictions could still apply, and communities that prefer local-only hosting could simply leave the feature disabled.

As Invision 5 continues to focus on performance and modernization, this feels like a small quality-of-life feature that aligns with both. It restores flexibility that many communities once depended on, while offering practical benefits on the backend.

Just wanted to put the idea forward for consideration.

Very eloquently stated. 👏