How to Send a GIF in a Text on iPhone and Android
Send a GIF in a text message from an iPhone or Android phone: the built-in GIF search, a GIF you saved, and what to do when a GIF will not animate.
You can send a GIF in a text from any recent iPhone or Android phone in one of two ways: search for one inside the messaging app, or attach a GIF file you already saved, like a photo. This guide covers both, plus the most common reason a GIF arrives as a still picture.
Send a GIF from an iPhone
Search inside Messages. Open a conversation, tap the + button next to the text field, then choose #images (under More if it is not listed). Type a word such as "birthday" or "thanks", tap a GIF to add it to the message, and send.
Send a GIF you saved. Saved GIFs live in the Photos app, in the Animated album. In Messages, tap +, choose Photos, pick the GIF and send it. It plays as a loop in the chat.
Paste a GIF. In a browser or another app, touch and hold the GIF, choose Copy, then touch and hold the message field and choose Paste.
To save a GIF from a web page on iPhone, touch and hold it and choose Save to Photos or Add to Photos.
Send a GIF from an Android phone
Search with the keyboard. In Google Messages or Samsung Messages, tap the emoji or sticker icon in the text field, then the GIF tab, search and tap one to send. Gboard shows the same GIF search from its emoji key, so it works in most apps.
Send a GIF you saved. Tap the + or attachment button, choose your gallery, pick the GIF and send it.
To save a GIF from a web page on Android, touch and hold it and choose Download image.
Why a GIF does not move after you send it
Most often the GIF was sent as an MMS picture message, for example between an iPhone and an Android phone without RCS chat. Many carriers cap MMS at 1 MB or less and shrink larger files, which can leave only the first frame.
To fix it:
- Make the file smaller. Run it through the free GIF compressor or GIF resizer, then send it again.
- Use a chat app. iMessage, RCS chat, WhatsApp and Messenger send larger files without shrinking them.
- Check the other phone. An older phone or messaging app may show only the first frame of any GIF.
Find or make the right GIF
The built-in search shows the same popular GIFs everyone else sends. For something more personal:
- Download a free holiday GIF, such as a happy Thanksgiving GIF, a merry Christmas GIF or a happy New Year GIF, with no sign-up.
- Make a happy birthday GIF with a name written on every frame.
- Turn a clip from your camera roll into a GIF with the free video to GIF converter, or type a message with the typing text GIF maker.
Questions
Can I send a GIF by SMS? Not as plain SMS text; a GIF is sent as an MMS picture message, which needs mobile data and may be shrunk by your carrier.
Does sending a GIF cost money? It counts as a picture message on your plan. Over iMessage, RCS or Wi-Fi chat apps it uses data instead.
What size GIF should I send in a text? Under 1 MB is the safest for picture messages. Chat apps such as iMessage and WhatsApp accept much larger files.
Can a GIF have sound? No. The GIF format has no audio, so a GIF always plays silently.