The Story of Square Face Icons and Where to Create Yours Today
Square face icons became a staple of early 2010s web culture — simple, mix-and-match pixel faces used as avatars on forums, blogs, and profiles. Today you can still create that style in seconds. Here’s a brief look at where they came from and where to make yours: the Square Face Generator on our home page.
Flash-Era Origins
The original square face maker was a Flash-based tool by the artist h071019. Users could combine eyes, mouths, hair, and colors into instant pixel avatars. It spread on sites like Flash Museum and became a go-to for anyone who wanted a recognizable, personal icon without drawing from scratch. When Flash was phased out, that experience seemed gone — until tools like Ruffle brought it back to the browser.
Same Idea, Modern Browser
The Square Face Generator runs that classic square face logic in today’s browsers. No Flash install, no plugin. You get the same categories and style: mix elements, tweak colors, save a square face as a PNG. It’s the same creative idea — fast, free, and readable at small sizes — now on the home page and ready on desktop and mobile.
Why It Still Fits 2026
Profile pictures are still small. Discord, X, TikTok, and forums still need clear, recognizable icons. A square face or pixel avatar from the Square Face Generator does that job: distinct, nostalgic, and easy to make in under a minute. No account, no uploads, no tracking — just open the Square Face Generator, create, and save.
Make Yours
If you remember square face icons from back in the day, or you’re new to the style, head to the Square Face Generator and try it. Click Start, use Random or Manual, and export your pixel avatar. The story continues on the home page.