How to post a GIF on Instagram

However you pronounce GIF, there are many uses for these short moving images. Often used as alternatives to reactions on social media posts, in the proper context, they can emphasize text greatly. Instagram is a platform that values the influence of the visual medium more than anything; you would think that you could post GIFs quickly, right? Let’s discuss that more as we explore how to upload GIFs on Instagram.

Read more: How to add a link to your Instagram story

You have two main options for actually posting GIFs onto your Instagram account. You can’t upload a normal looping GIF to your account, as GIFs are an unsupported image file type. However, videos are supported, so you can use GIPHY to automatically upload GIFs as videos to your account, or you can manually convert a GIF to a video and then upload it that way.

How to post a GIF on Instagram (GIPHY)

Download and install GIPHY from the Google Play Store (Android) or the App Store (iOS). Once installed, open the app and press Get Started! to create an account or log in.

From the home screen, tap the magnifying glass-shaped button in the bottom toolbar to open the Search GIPHY field. Type in the keyword for your desired GIF, then press the search button.

From the results, choose your GIF, then press the button that looks like a paper airplane to open sharing options.

In the sharing options pop-up, press the button that looks like a camera. This will take you to the SHARE menu for Instagram. From the SHARE menu, press the button marked Feed to upload the chosen GIF as an Instagram post. This will redirect you to your Instagram account, where you can crop your video then edit it. Press the blue arrow in the top right corner to continue.

Press the blue checkmark in the top right of the New Post screen. This will upload your GIF from GIPHY as a video on your Instagram account.

How to post a GIF on Instagram (video conversion)

As previously mentioned, you cannot post GIFs directly to your Instagram feed. Instead, they must be converted to videos and then uploaded, which GIPHY does automatically if you share from there.

If you wish to do it manually instead, you will need to download a third-party app that can convert GIFs to videos. The one we will be using today is called GIF to Video.

GIF to Video

After downloading it, go into your device settings and give the GIF to Video app permission to Files and media.

Open the GIF to Video app. Along the bottom are four options: Local, GIPHY, Tenor, and Reddit. Select whichever source contains your desired GIF.

Select your GIF from the tiled list, then press CONVERT. The process shouldn’t take more than a couple of seconds. When the conversion has finished, press the Share button that looks like three connected dots.

From the SHARE menu, press Feed to upload the chosen GIF as an Instagram post. This will redirect you to your Instagram account, where you can crop your video then edit it. Press the blue arrow in the top right corner to continue.

Tap the blue checkmark on the New Post screen to finalize your post. Your GIF will now appear on Instagram as a video.

How to post a GIF on Instagram stories

Gboard

Did you know you can add full GIFs directly onto your Instagram story?

This trick comes courtesy of Gboard, so if you haven’t already done so, go ahead and download Gboard from the Google Play Store (Android) or App Store (iOS). You will also want to activate the Gboard in your settings as the default keyboard, so when you type on your Instagram story, you will be using Gboard.

The first step is to add a new story. You know the drill — swipe in from the left or tap Your story, then either take a photo with the Instagram camera or select one from your gallery.

Press the Aa button in the top right or tap anywhere on the image to start typing with Gboard.

Tap the Emoji button next to the space bar and select GIF from the bottom toolbar. Find the GIF you wish to insert from the options that appear or use the Search GIFs field to find the one you are looking for.

Finally, tap the GIF to upload it to the Instagram story using Gboard. You can reposition it as you like on the screen.

GIPHY Stickers

You have one more option for adding GIFs to your Instagram story. That would be stickers. Begin by swiping in from the left or tapping Your story at the top to open the Instagram camera. Take a photo or add one from your gallery to start editing together a new Instagram story post.

Tap the Stickers button in the top right; this looks like a smiley face on a square being peeled back.

Press the GIF sticker icon to browse through many different “GIPHY Stickers.” Use the Search GIPHY field at the top to find whatever you’re looking for, then tap that GIF to add it to your Instagram story.

Read more: How to download Instagram photos

FAQs

Why can’t I post a GIF on Instagram?

GIFs aren’t a naturally supported image file type on Instagram. Unless you’re using the GIF option to add one to your Instagram story from Gboard, you don’t have many options. However, you can always convert a GIF to a video and upload it that way.