How To Download Avatars From VRchat

To download avatars from VRChat, you must create or acquire a 3D model externally and then upload it to the platform using the VRChat Software Development Kit (SDK) and Unity. This is the only legal method, as directly extracting other users' avatars, known as "ripping," violates VRChat's Terms of Service.

What you need to know before you download avatars from VRChat

Ripping avatars from other users is strictly against VRChat's Terms of Service. Instead, the legal workflow involves acquiring a 3D model from an external source, either by creating your own, using avatar creation tools, or purchasing one from a legitimate marketplace, and then uploading it via the VRChat SDK. This process ensures you respect creators' rights and avoid violating platform rules. VRChat is actively working on technical deterrence to make asset ripping harder and riskier, and creators can report ripped or stolen avatars through VRChat's Copyright Policy and DMCA process.

Setting up the VRChat Creator Companion and Unity

You can get started quickly because the VRChat Creator Companion (VCC) handles the heavy lifting for you. The VCC is the recommended tool for setting up Unity and the VRChat SDK, and it helps install Unity Hub and the correct Unity version. This lets you focus on avatar creation rather than troubleshooting software conflicts.

1. Download and install the VRChat Creator Companion from the official VRChat website.
2. Open the VCC and follow its prompts to install Unity Hub and Unity version 2022.3.22f1.
3. Create a Unity Account when prompted by the VCC.
4. Use the VCC to install the VRChat SDK into your new Unity project.

Creating and verifying your VRChat account

Before you can upload any avatar, your account needs to meet a basic trust requirement. To upload an avatar, your VRChat account must have a trust rank of "New User" or higher, which is easy to achieve with a few steps.

1. Go to the VRChat website and sign up with your email address, username, and password.
2. Verify your email by clicking the link sent to your inbox.
3. Log into VRChat and spend some time in public worlds to reach the "New User" trust rank.

Acquiring a 3D avatar model legally

Legally obtaining a model is straightforward when you use the right sources. You can create your own model from scratch, use avatar creation tools, or purchase and download from legitimate marketplaces. This approach respects creators' rights and keeps your account safe from penalties associated with stolen assets.

Importing your avatar model into Unity

Once you have your model, importing it correctly ensures it meets VRChat's performance and content guidelines. VRChat has content guidelines for avatars, including requirements for optimization, performance, and appropriate content. Avatars must be optimized and not cause significant performance issues, with a performance rank of "Excellent," "Good," "Medium," or "Poor" being preferred.

1. Open the Unity project you created via the VRChat Creator Companion.
2. Import your avatar model file (such as an .fbx or .obj) into the project's Assets folder.
3. Import any required assets, such as textures, materials, or animation files.
4. Check the avatar's performance rank using the VRChat SDK tools and adjust if needed.
5. Ensure the avatar does not contain sexually explicit, provocative, hateful, violent, or discriminatory content, as VRChat does not permit such avatars in public spaces.

Customizing and editing your avatar in Unity

You can make the avatar truly yours with basic customization options. You can locally build and test avatars without uploading them to VRChat, meaning only you can see them. This is perfect for experimenting with materials, textures, and animations before going public.

1. In the Unity Editor, select your avatar and adjust materials, textures, and colors as desired.
2. Add or modify animations to give your avatar lifelike movements.
3. In the VRChat SDK control panel, go to the "Builder" tab.
4. In the "Offline Testing" section, select "Build & Test" to launch a local VRChat instance with your avatar.
5. Test your avatar in this private session, making further edits as needed.

Uploading your avatar to VRChat

When your avatar is ready, uploading it makes it available for use in VRChat worlds. Use the VRChat SDK control panel in Unity to upload the finished avatar, naming it and making it available for use in VRChat worlds.

1. In Unity, open the VRChat SDK control panel from the menu.
2. Give your avatar a name and optional description.
3. Review the content and performance guidelines one final time.
4. Click "Upload" to send your avatar to VRChat's servers.
5. Once complete, your avatar will appear in your VRChat avatar menu, ready to use in any world.