One of the great things about texting is the capability of communicating beyond words. Animated GIFs are a great way to express emotions and enhance your text messages. In this article, we’ll share updated information on how to text a GIF on iOS and Android, and explore some of the advantages of using such an increasingly popular format.
How to Text a GIF on iOS and Android in 2025
How Do I Text a GIF on iPhone?
You can add animated GIFs to text messages using the default keyboard feature. These are the steps to send GIFS on the iMessage app:
- Open the Messages app.
- Start a new conversation or select an existing one.
- Tap the App Drawer icon (the ‘A’ symbol) next to the text input field.
- Tap the #images icon to access the built-in GIF library.
- Use the search bar to find a specific GIF or browse the trending ones.
- Tap the desired GIF to add it to your message.
- Press the Send button.
Note: If the #images icon is missing, you may need to enable it. Go to Settings > General > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard, and select #images.
Alternative Way – Using Third-Party Apps (e.g., GIPHY)
- Download the GIPHY app from the App Store.
- Open GIPHY and find the GIF you want to share.
- Tap on the GIF, then tap the Share icon.
- Select Message to insert the GIF into a text message.
Choose the recipient and press Send.
How do I Text a GIF on Android?
Here are several different ways to text a GIF using Android smartphones:
Using the Default Messaging App
- Open your messaging app.
- Start a new conversation or open an existing one.
- Tap the emoji icon located near the text input area.
- Select the GIF option to access the GIF library.
- Use the search bar to find a specific GIF or browse available categories.
- Tap the desired GIF to add it to your message.
- Press the Send button.
Using Gboard (Google Keyboard)
- Ensure Gboard is set as your default keyboard.
- In your messaging app, tap the text input field to bring up Gboard.
- Tap the emoji icon, then select the GIF tab.
- Search for and tap the GIF you want to send.
- It will be inserted into your message; press Send.
Using Third-Party Apps (e.g., GIPHY)
- Download the GIPHY app from the Google Play Store.
- Open GIPHY and browse or search for a GIF.
- Tap on the GIF, then tap the Share icon.
- Choose your preferred messaging app.
- Select the recipient and press Send.
Note: Some messaging apps, like WhatsApp, have integrated GIF search features. WhatsApp, for instance, allows users to search and send GIFs directly within the app, thanks to its integration with GIPHY.
Are GIFs Better Than Videos?
The main advantage of animated GIFs over videos is that they fulfill the same purpose but in a much more compressed way. So if the receiver is short of storage in his or her phone, it’ll be much easier to download a GIF than a much heavier video file.
On the other hand, when GIFs are used properly they can be much easier to understand and follow than a video. They’re also easier to digest and require no sound; like, for example, animated GIFs showing the steps to assemble a certain item.
Texting GIFs for Marketing Purposes
If you need to text GIFs or any other audio-visual content in a more massive way and for marketing reasons, doing it manually can be extremely time consuming, difficult, and prone to human mistakes. In these cases, the most convenient thing to do is to use an MMS messaging software.
MMS is the acronym for ‘Multimedia Messaging Service’. This is a common term in the SMS marketing jargon because GIFs, photos, and even videos are commonly used on commercial text messaging. If you ever need to use MMS messaging, Trumpia has a very intuitive, easy to use User Interface. Check how to text a GIF, video, or any other images using Trumpia in this tutorial video:
