WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, allowing users to send messages, photos, videos and more to individuals or groups. One fun way to spice up your WhatsApp chats is by sending animated GIFs – short, soundless video clips that loop continuously. While WhatsApp has a built-in GIF browser, you can only access it when sending messages on Android. On iPhone, you’ll need to save GIFs to your camera roll before uploading them to WhatsApp. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to make and send your own GIFs through WhatsApp using an iPhone.
Finding and Downloading GIFs on iPhone
The first step is finding and downloading a GIF to your iPhone’s camera roll. Here are some ways to get GIFs:
- Search for GIFs in your mobile browser. Open Safari and search for terms like “funny GIFs”, “celebration GIFs”, “good morning GIFs” etc. Tap and hold on any GIF to save it.
- Get GIFs from apps. Apps like Giphy, Tenor and GIF Keyboard have large GIF databases. Search for GIFs, then tap the download icon to save them.
- Take screenshots of GIFs. Open a GIF in your browser, then take a screenshot using your iPhone’s built in screenshot feature. This will save a static image of the GIF to your photos.
- Record your screen. Open the GIF in your browser, then record your iPhone’s screen using the built-in screen recording function. You can then crop the video to just the GIF.
- Convert videos to GIFs. Use an app like IntoLive or GIFMaker to convert short video clips from your camera roll into GIFs.
Once you save or make your GIF, it will be available locally in your iPhone’s Photos app.
Uploading GIFs to WhatsApp from Photos
Once you have your GIF downloaded and saved, sending it through WhatsApp is easy:
- Open WhatsApp and go into a chat where you want to send the GIF.
- Tap the attachment icon (the little + symbol).
- Select “Photo & Video Library” from the options.
- Browse and select your saved GIF file from the Photos app.
- Tap “Send” to upload the GIF to the chat.
The GIF should send and appear animated in your chat (as long as your recipient also has a device and version of WhatsApp that supports animated GIFs). The process is the same whether you’re sending to an individual or group chat.
Using Third-Party keyboards to Send GIFs
In addition to uploading GIFs from your camera roll, some third-party keyboards like Giphy and Tenor allow you to send GIFs directly from within WhatsApp:
- Download the Giphy, Tenor or other GIF keyboard app.
- Open WhatsApp and go to the chat where you want to send a GIF.
- Tap the text field to bring up the keyboard.
- Tap the globe icon to switch to your third party keyboard.
- Search for and select a GIF, which will insert it directly into your message.
- Tap send to upload the GIF to the chat.
The advantage of using a dedicated GIF keyboard is you can browse and send GIFs without ever leaving WhatsApp. However, your recipients will need the same keyboard installed for the GIFs to appear animated.
Editing and Optimizing GIFs
For best results, you may want to edit or optimize your GIFs before uploading to WhatsApp:
- Use an app like GIPHY to crop, resize or make minor edits.
- Use a photo editor to add text, stickers or drawings to personalize your GIFs.
- Resize large GIFs to keep file sizes down for easy sharing.
- Use a GIF compressor to reduce file sizes without impacting quality.
- Add or change watermarks to brand your custom GIF creations.
Optimized GIFs will look better and transfer faster in WhatsApp. Just be sure to download and save your edited GIF before uploading.
Troubleshooting GIFs Not Animating in WhatsApp
Sometimes your recipient may see a still image instead of an animated GIF. Here are some possible reasons and fixes:
- Old WhatsApp version – Update to the latest version of WhatsApp.
- Recipient has media download disabled – Ask them to enable auto-download for media.
- Connectivity issues – Check your internet connection and try resending.
- Large file size – Use a compressor to reduce the GIF size before sending.
- Corrupted file – Try remaking the GIF and uploading again.
- Unsupported GIF format – Use a more universally supported format like GIF89a.
- Glitch in WhatsApp – Ask the recipient to close and reopen WhatsApp to refresh.
Troubleshooting your GIF issues will help ensure your animations appear correctly for all recipients.
Conclusion
Though WhatsApp doesn’t have a built-in GIF browser like on Android, iPhone users can still easily send animated GIFs by saving them to their camera roll first. Search and download GIFs online, take screenshots or screen recordings of them, convert video clips using apps, or use third-party keyboards like Giphy. Edit your GIFs to optimize them before uploading to WhatsApp. If your recipients don’t see the animations, troubleshoot potential causes like app versions, file sizes, connectivity, corrupted files, and more. With these tips, you’ll master the art of sending fabulous GIFs to elevate your WhatsApp conversations.