How to send GIF in iMessage

Device links

• iPhone
• Mac
• Device missing?

GIFs are amazing features that can be used to convey a special message to someone. Whether to describe your emotions or a situation, it is much more effective to do so with an animated image than with a simple emoji. If you’re looking for ways to send GIFs through your iMessage app, you’ve come to the right place.

This article shares detailed instructions on how to send GIFs in iMessage using an iPhone, iPad, and Mac. You’ll learn how to use your device’s default keyboard, but also how to share GIFs from third-party websites.

Without further ado, let’s pe in.

How to Send GIFs in iMessage on an iPhone

There are two different ways to send GIFs on iPhone: using the default keyboard or through third-party apps. The default iOS keyboard supports searching for GIFs directly in iMessage. All iPhones running iOS 10 and later have this feature. If you belong to this category, follow the steps below.

Send GIF using the default iOS keyboard

Here’s how to send GIFs in iMessage using default keyboard settings:

1. Open the iMessage app on your iPhone.

   

2. Select the chat where you want to send a GIF.

   

3. A list of icons will appear at the bottom of the screen. Select the red icon with a magnifying glass. It is the “#images” function.

   

4. Enter keywords for your GIF in the search box. For example, if you want to send a congratulatory GIF, you can type “Happy Birthday” or “Congratulations” or similar keywords depending on the occasion.

   

5. Choose the GIF you like by tapping on it.

   

6. Tap Send.

   

The iMessage app also allows you to add comments to a GIF. Simply type a message below the GIF before pressing Sendand the message will be delivered along with the GIF.

As you can see, sending a GIF using the default iOS keyboard only requires a few simple steps.

However, maybe you didn’t find a GIF you like and decide to search the web. If so, let’s explore how to share a GIF in iMessage from another app.

Share GIF from another app

Maybe the default iOS gallery doesn’t have a GIF that conveys the emotion you want to convey. Fortunately, you can look outside the iOS box and pick up almost any GIF on the internet. For example, GIHPY is the world’s leading GIF database and you can send one from there too.

Simply follow the steps below:

1. Find the GIF you like on GIPHY or any other website.

   

2. Tap the GIF to open it.

   

3. Long press the GIF and select Copy.

   

4. Open the iMessage conversation where you want to send that GIF.

   

5. Tap the text box and your keyboard will appear.

   

6. Tap the text box again, the Paste message, tap it.

   

7. You’ll see a preview of the GIF image in your text box. Press Send when you are ready.

   

How to send GIFs in iMessage on an iPad

GIFs add a dose of fun and dynamics to conversations. Sometimes, there is no better way to convey our feelings than with an animated image. Fortunately, sending GIFs on an iPad is a really simple task. If you’re using iOS 10 or later, you’ll be able to send animated images using your iPad’s default keyboard.

Simply follow the steps below:

1. As you may have already guessed, open the iMessage app on your iPad.
2. Navigate to the chat thread where you want to send a GIF.

   

3. Select the red magnifying glass icon in the middle of the bottom of the screen.

   

4. Type keywords for your GIF into the search box. For example, if you want to send a special GIF message, you can write “Get well soon” or “Congratulations” or something similar.

   

5. Choose the GIF you like by tapping on it.

   

6. If you want to add a comment along with the GIF, do so by typing your message in the text box and then tap Send.

Maybe you’re using an older iPad with versions older than iOS 10, or you didn’t find the appropriate GIF in the gallery. In that case, continue to the next p.

Send GIFs using third-party apps

You can always visit third-party websites and send GIFs from there. For example, GIPHY has millions of GIFs that you can search and send via iMessage.

Here’s how to find and send GIFs in iMessage using third-party tools:

1. Visit the website that features a GIF you like and tap the GIF to open it.

   

2. Tap and hold the GIF, then select Copy from the popup window.
   
3. Open the thread where you want to send that GIF and tap the text box to bring up the keyboard.
   
4. Tap the text box again to bring up the Paste message and then tap it.

   

5. A preview of the GIF image will appear in your text box. Press Send when you are ready.

   

If you visit a website other than GIPHY, the GIF you submit may appear as a link instead of an image. Unless you’re okay with that, make sure the address of the animated image you share ends in “.gif” so your iMessage can load it as such.

How to send GIFs in iMessage on a Mac

Finding and sharing GIFs on a Mac is no different than doing so on any other iOS device. Just find a GIF in the gallery and press the send button. If your Mac is running iOS 10 and later, you’ll be able to do this from the system’s default keyboard. If not, you can find one online and send it to the chat.

Depending on your needs and operating system, follow the steps below:

Send GIF using the default Mac keyboard

The easiest way to send GIFs in an iMessage chat is through #images function. Simply follow the steps below for detailed instructions:

1. Open the message thread you want to send a GIF to in your Messages app.

   

2. Play the App Store icon to the left of the iMessage box.

   

3. Select #imagesIt’s the red icon with a magnifying glass.

   

4. Type the keywords for the GIF in the search box.

   

5. Tap the GIF you want to send.

   

6. (Optional) Enter a message to accompany the GIF.

   

7. press the Return key on your keyboard to send the message.

   

Send GIFs using third-party apps

If you didn’t find a GIF you like, you can always search the web and send the GIF to your iMessage chat. The Messages app recognizes all links that end in “.jpg” and presents them as such once you send the link. But if the link does not have that ending, it will be sent as a normal link.

You can use GIPHY to send GIF images to your chat box without worrying about the format as they are always delivered as GIFs.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Go to www.giphy.com and search for the GIF you like. You can use other websites, but keep in mind that your GIF may not be delivered as an animated image.

   

2. Click on the GIF you want to send.

   

3. Click on the Share button next to the GIF.

   

4. Select Copy GIF link.

   

5. Open the iMessage thread where you want to send that GIF and paste it into the text box.

   

6. Hit the Return button to send the GIF.

   

iMessage GIFs explained

Sometimes stickers and emojis are not enough to convey our emotions and sending GIFs is the best way to do it. Fortunately, doing so on iPhone, iPad and Mac is very simple. Most users use the default keyboard and search for GIFs in the #images characteristic. Others simply copy the GIF link from any website and paste it into the text box.