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Custom avatar not found via API (avatar_not_found)

10 days ago by Ross Jackson

I’m trying to generate a video using a custom avatar I created in the HeyGen Studio, but the API can’t see it. Every call to:

POST https://api.heygen.com/v2/video/generate
X-Api-Key: <my API key>
Content-Type: application/json

{
  "video_inputs": [{
    "type": "avatar",
    "avatar_id": "6c6486f966a74669b07b4b11146a0a94",
    "avatar_style": "normal",
    …
  }],
  …
}

returns HTTP 400 with:

{
  "error": {
    "code": "avatar_not_found",
    "message": "Avatar 6c6486f966a74669b07b4b11146a0a94 not found or no longer available."
  }
}

—but when I call the “List Avatars” endpoint:

GET https://api.heygen.com/v2/avatars
X-Api-Key: <same API key>

my avatar ID (“6c6486f966a74669b07b4b11146a0a94”) does not appear under either data.avatars[] or data.talking_photos[].

What I’ve checked so far:

  • In the Studio UI I can create a video using my custom avatar.
  • I’m calling exactly the v2 REST endpoints (no streaming API).
  • I’ve allowed 15+ minutes after creation for processing.
  • I’ve verified there are no stray whitespace or copy/paste errors in the ID.

Account / Region details:

Can you please help me understand why my custom avatar isn’t listed via the API and how to resolve the avatar_not_found error? Thank you!