How to Download Animated GIFs (2023)

GIFs are a fun way to spice up your online communication. These days you can even find them in business emails. If you want to join the digital revolution, you have to have an extensive GIF library.

Fortunately, the internet gets flooded with animated images and video loops. Whatever GIFs you desire probably exist and are awaiting download.

This article shows you how to download animated GIFs and discover the best places to get them.

How to Download Animated GIFs

The Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) was first introduced in the 1980s by the CompuServe Corporation.Their primary purpose was to enable operating systems to generate high-resolution images back then. These days, however, GIFs are an integral part of the internet culture and online communications.

Usually, GIFs contain tidbits of quirky animation played in loops. Depending on the actual content, the format varies,

You can practically find GIFs anywhere on the internet. Most browsers have built-in software that allows you to open and view them. If you want to share a GIF as a message, follow the steps below.

1. Select the gif URL from your browser.
   
2. Right-click on the GIF image and select Copy or highlight it and press Ctrl + C.
   
3. Open the chat room or website where you want to share the GIF.
   
4. Paste it by right-clicking the message box and selecting Paste or using the Ctrl + V keyboard shortcut unless it is an upload in which you choose the file.
   

However, the link won’t work if the GIF’s source page was removed from the database. The easiest solution is to save the file to your local drive to use it whenever you like. Here’s how to download animated GIFs from a website:

1. Hover your cursor over the GIF, right-click on it and choose Save image as from the list of options.
   
2. Decide where you want to save it and click on the folder.
   
3. Add a title and make sure the format remains the same. If the extension is anything other than .gif, the animation won’t work.
   
4. Click Save to complete the download.
   

Once complete, you can find the GIF in your chosen folder and use it as often as you like. Just keep in mind not all platforms support the format.

How to Download Animated GIFs on an iPhone

Unfortunately, Safari doesn’t have a built-in download manager. If you’re an iOS user, you’re going to have to do it manually with a few extra steps. Here’s how to download animated GIFs on an iPhone Camera Roll:

1. Open your browser and find the GIF you want to download.
   
2. Click on the GIF to open it. Don’t save it as a search result; the format will be unreadable.
   
3. Press down on the GIF to open a menu.
4. Choose Save Image from the list of options.
   
5. Exit the browser and open the Photos app.
   
6. Go to Albums and scroll to the bottom of the screen. There’s a list of all media in your device under Media Types.
   
7. Open the Animated section by clicking on the little arrow on the right-hand side.
   
8. Your downloaded GIF will be stored there, ready for use.
   

If the GIF doesn’t appear to be moving, don’t worry. The iPhone Photos app doesn’t support the format, but it should work fine once you send it. Only iOS 11 devices can show .gif files as animation.

Another way to download GIFs to your iPhone is by using a third-party app. It’s a great alternative to storing GIFs on your local drive without taking up space. GIFwrapped is one of the more popular free apps available for Apple devices. Here’s how to use it:

1. Go to the Apple App Store and download GIFwrapped.
   
2. Once the download is complete, click on the icon to open the app.
   
3. Browse the app for GIFs. You can also use the Search bar to find specific GIFs (for example, babypanda.gif).
   
4. When you find a GIF you like, click to open it. Press down to open a list of options.
   
5. Choose to Save to Library.
   

GIFwrapped is just one of many apps with an extensive library of popular GIFs from all over the web. You can use the Search Function on the App Store to find more free apps that allow you to download GIFs on your iPhone.

How to Download Animated GIFs on Android

Unlike iPhones, Android devices allow you to download files directly from the browser. Whenever you come across a GIF you like, you can save it to your phone in just a few steps. Here’s how to download animated GIFs on an Android:

1. Open your browser and go to the website containing the GIF you want to download.
   
2. Click on the GIF to open it. Press down to open a pop-up window.
   
3. Select Save Image or Download Image from the list of options.
   
4. Exit the browser and open your photo gallery to find the downloaded GIF. Sometimes it’s automatically saved to Downloads, so don’t worry if you can’t locate it in the Gallery app.
   

There are also third-party apps that allow you to integrate GIFs into your messages. One of the most popular GIF apps for Android devices is GIF Keyboard by Tenor. Here’s how to use it:

1. Open Google Play Store and type GIF Keyboard in the Search box. Double-check to make sure Tenor is the issuer.
   
2. Click Install to download the app.
   
3. Once the installation is complete, open the app by clicking on the icon.
   
4. Allow the app to access your Contacts and local storage space.
   
5. You can now use GIF Keyboard to share gifs on other apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

How to Download Animated GIFs on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook

Almost all browsers and computers have integrated viewing software that supports .gif files. If you’re a Windows OS user, you can download GIFs directly from Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or any other browser. The same goes for macOS and Chrome OS devices.

Regardless of the type of computer you have, the steps are almost identical. Here’s how to download animated GIFs on Windows, Mac, and Chromebook computers:

1. Open your browser.
2. Find the GIF you want to download. It doesn’t have to be from a specific website, like Tumblr or Pinterest. You can literally browse for GIFs by typing animated GIFs in your search engine.
   
3. When you find a GIF you like, click to open it. Then right-click to open a pop-up menu.
   
4. Choose to Save image as or Download image, depending on the browser.
   
5. Click on the folder where you want to save the image, and click Save.
   

Although the default extension is .gif, you can also download GIFs to your PC as videos. That means you’ll be able to open it with your media player. Here’s how to do it:

1. Open your browser and find an online MP4 converter. For example, online-convert.com is a free online converter.
   
2. Copy the URL of the GIF you want to convert.
   
3. Click on Convert File.
4. Once the file is fully converted, click the Download button.
   
5. Exit the browser and open the MP4 file in your media player.

Additional FAQs

How Do I Download a GIF From Giphy?

Giphy is probably the most popular online GIF database. The website interface divides into categories (e.g., Reactions, Animals, Trending), making it very user-friendly.

You can download GIFs directly from the website in just a few simple steps. Here’s how to do it:

1.Open your browser and go to giphy.com.

2.Browse the website by clicking on different categories.

3.When you find a GIF you like, click on the thumbnail to open it.

4.Right-click and select Save image as or Download Image, depending on the browser.

5.Rename the file, but don’t change the original .gif extension.

6.Click Save to finish the download.

If you want to save your GIFs as MP4 files, Giphy has a built-in video converter. Here’s how to download animated GIFs from Giphy as videos:

1.Click on the GIF you want to convert.

2.On the left-hand side panel, open the Media tab.

3.Find the MP4 bar (second-to-last one) and click on Copy.

4.Open a new tab in your browser and paste the copied URL into the search engine.

5.Right-click on the video to open a pop-up menu.

6.Choose Save video as from the options.

If you want to use Giphy on your phone, it’s available both on the App Store and Google Play.

How Do You Make a GIF Online?

If you want to make custom GIFs, you can use an online GIF creator. The process is straightforward and usually free to use.

GIFMaker is among the most popular online GIF generators. It allows you to upload images and videos and convert them into GIFs. The website doesn’t require registration, and it offers many customizing options. Here’s how to make a gif online by using GIFMaker:

1.Open your browser and go to gifmaker.me.

2.Click on Upload Images or Video to GIF, depending on your file.

3.Choose the file you want to upload by clicking on it. You can select multiple files by holding Ctrl or ⌘ and clicking on each one.

4.Make sure the file is either in .jpg, .png, or .gif format.

5.There’s a Control Panel on the left-hand side. You can adjust the animation speed, the number of repeats, and other settings.

6.Once you finish adjusting your GIF, choose the appropriate option (e.g., Create GIF Animation).

7.You can click View the GIF before you download it. If you’re unsatisfied, you can go back to the Control Panel and change the settings.

8.To save the file, click Download the GIF.

How Do I Create an Animated Picture?

There’s a wide range of tools you can use to create animated pictures or GIFs. Depending on what kind of operating system you have, you can download different programs. Most photo editors, such as Adobe Photoshop, are suitable for creating animated images.

Here are some animated photo makers you can use to make gifs or other forms of short animation:

·Gif Brewery (iOS only)

·Gif Toaster (available on Google Play as well)

·XnSketch

·Gimp

·Sketch Me! (Windows OS only)

GIF Giving

There’s certainly no shortage of websites where you can find the perfect GIF. You can download them to all of your devices in just a few simple steps. There’s also a wide range of GIF apps available for both iPhone and Android, respectively.

If you want to shake things up and make GIFs on your own, you can do that as well. Download a photo editor compatible with your OS or use an online GIF creator.

How often do you use GIFs in your everyday communication? Have you ever made a custom GIF? Share some of your favorite GIFs in the comments below.