How to upload gif on instagram android
How to Post a GIF on Instagram from Any Device
How to post a GIF on Instagram
How to turn a video into a GIF for Instagram
How to post a GIF on an Instagram Story
How to send a GIF on Instagram DM
Best Instagram GIF apps
GIFs are a fun way to connect with your audience by referencing viral trends or nostalgic moments. And if you don’t how to post a GIF on Instagram, you’re missing out.
They’re useful for memes, but you can also share custom GIFs that add to your brand’s voice. Hootsuite’s mascot, Owly, is a particular fan of GIFs.
Keep reading to find out how to post a GIF on Instagram, including how to slide them into your DMs.
Bonus: Download a free checklist that reveals the exact steps a fitness influencer used to grow from 0 to 600,000+ followers on Instagram with no budget and no expensive gear.
Technically, Instagram doesn’t support GIF files for an Instagram post. There are two workarounds to this problem:
Option #1: Use a GIF from GIPHY
GIPHY is a one-stop shop for all of your GIF needs. It also has a simple tool to turn any GIF into a 15-second .mp4 file. Perfect for posting directly on your Instagram feed.
Option #2: Upload a GIF as a video
You’ll need to convert your GIF to a video to post it on your Instagram feed. You can use a free tool like Adobe Express to convert a GIF into a .mp4 file. And then you can upload the video to your feed. Ta-da!
Now let’s talk about the step-by-step process of posting a GIF on Instagram from your phone or your computer.
Android/iOSTo post directly from GIPHY:
1. Download the GIPHY app.
2. Find a GIF you want to post.
3. Click the paper airplane icon on the bottom right side of the GIF.
4. Choose the Instagram icon.
5. Select where you want to post it on Instagram. You have 4 options: Chats, Feed, Reels, or Stories. Tap on Feed.
6. This opens up your Instagram app. Then you can add text, stickers, or other effects to customize the GIF.
7. Click on Next to add a caption, edit the cover, tag people, or add a location.
8. Then choose Share. Your GIF uploads as a reel to your profile.
To upload your own GIF:
1. To convert a GIF into a video, use a free tool like Adobe Express. You’ll need to sign up for an account first.
2. Click on Upload your GIF.
3. Upload your GIF and then select Download.
4. That’s it! Now you can upload the video directly to your Instagram feed.
DesktopTo post a GIF from GIPHY:
1. Open the GIPHY website and ensure you’re logged in. (You need an account to do this on desktop).
2. Find a GIF you want to post.
3. Click the Share icon on the right side of the GIF.
4. Choose the Instagram icon.
5. A pop-up appears asking for your email address. Then GIPHY will email you a .mp4 file of the GIF.
6. Check your email! GIPHY has emailed you the .mp4 file.
7. Download the .mp4 file and then upload it as your Instagram post.
To upload your own GIF:
1. To convert a GIF into a video, use a free tool like Adobe Express. You’ll need to sign up for an account first.
2. Click on Upload your GIF.
3. Upload your GIF and then select Download.
4. That’s it! Now you can upload directly to your Instagram feed.
How to turn a video into a GIF for InstagramYou can’t create GIFs directly on Instagram. You’ll need to use a different app or your phone’s camera roll to turn a video into a GIF. You can find our detailed guide on how to make a GIF for more info.
You could use Adobe Express mentioned above to turn a video into a GIF, but you might want to consider GIPHY for easy sharing. People using GIPHY can find your GIFs and use them in their projects or messages. Ultimately, this helps build brand awareness.
Below we’ll discuss how to turn a video into a GIF using GIPHY, but other apps can also create GIFs using video. (More on that later).
Or if you would rather watch a video on how to turn a video into a GIF, watch this:
1. Open the GIPHY app or website and ensure you’re logged in. You need an account to create GIFs, so sign-up to get started.
2. Click Create in the top right corner.
(On mobile, select “Uploads” and choose “Create”).
3. From here, you can upload a video or add a video URL link. The video must be under 100 MB and shorter than 15 seconds. Keep in mind that the URL option is only available on desktop.
4. Next, you can use the sliders to trim the video.
5. Click Continue to Upload. You can edit your GIF further by adding a caption, filters, or stickers.
Now you’re ready to share your GIF with the world. Easy as that!
How to post a GIF on an Instagram StoryThere are three ways to post a GIF on an Instagram Story.
Option #1: Upload a GIF
1. Open Instagram Stories.
2. Add a GIF to your Stories by searching for it in your phone gallery and clicking it.
3. This inserts the GIF into your Instagram Story, and you can add text, stickers, and other effects before you publish.
Option #2: Use the GIF feature within Instagram
1.
Upload or take a photo and add it to your Instagram story.
2. Click on the sticker icon in the upper right menu.
3. Choose the “GIF” feature.
4. The menu will show you trending GIFs or you can search for a GIF. Click on it to insert it into your Story.
5. If you want, add text, images, doodles, or effects.
6. Then you can click Next to publish!
Option #3: Post directly from GIPHY
1. Open the GIPHY app.
2. Select a GIF you want to post.
3. Tap the paper airplane icon to share.
4. Select Stories to post on Instagram Stories.
6. This opens up your Instagram app. Then you can add text, stickers, or other effects to customize the GIF.
7. Click on Next to share your GIF on Instagram Stories.
How to send a GIF on Instagram DMYou can also send GIFs to your besties through direct messages on Instagram. Here’s how to do it:
1.
Open the chat with the person or group you want to message.
2. Tap the sticker icon next to Message…
3. Choose the GIF icon in the bottom right corner.
4. You can scroll through to find trending GIFs or use the search function to find one.
5. Click on the GIF to automatically send it to the chat.
Best Instagram GIF appsCustom GIFs are a great way to boost your brand awareness and share engaging content to connect with your audience. But you can’t create GIFs using Instagram. It’s necessary to use another app to create GIFs to post on Instagram.
Here are the most popular apps to create GIFs for Instagram:
GIPHY
GIPHY has the largest library of GIFs. It’s perfect to find the precise GIF to convey your message or to create your own custom GIFs. It’s also the only GIF maker on this list you can use on your computer.
Bonus: Download a free checklist that reveals the exact steps a fitness influencer used to grow from 0 to 600,000+ followers on Instagram with no budget and no expensive gear.
Get the free guide right now!
Cost: Free
Available on: GIPHY has an app for Android and iOS. It’s also available on desktop, but there is no feature for direct posting to Instagram.
Best for: Uploading GIFs to a library for other people to use.
GIF Maker, GIF Editor
GIF Maker, GIF Editor has over 10 million downloads. It has a ton of features including adjusting the speed, cropping the GIF, and adding or deleting certain frames in the animation.
Cost: Free, but if you want an ad-free experience you can upgrade for $2.99.
Available on: Android
Best for: People needing a GIF editor with all the features.
ImgPlay
ImgPlay is a GIF maker using photos, live photos, burst photos, or videos. You can also trim your GIF, add filters, and merge multiple videos into one.
Cost: Free, but you’ll need to pay for premium features.
Available on: ImgPlay has an app for Android and iOS.
Best for: People wanting to make professional-level GIFs.
GIF Maker by Momento
Momento can take your photos, live photos, and videos and turn them into GIFs. You can add a creative flair by adding stickers, text, and effects.
Cost: Free, but you’ll need to pay for premium features.
Available on: iOS
Best for: Quickly create fun GIFs to share on social media.
Posting GIFs on Instagram is a winning strategy to make your content more engaging and show off your brand’s voice.
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How to post a GIF on Instagram
Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
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. Because Instagram is a platform that champions 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
THE SHORT ANSWER
To post a GIF on Instagram, download the GIPHY app, then log in. Find the GIF you want to share, then tap the paper airplane button to open sharing options. Within sharing options, press the Instagram button, then share the GIF to either your Chats, Feed, or Stories.
KEY SECTIONS
- Using GIPHY to post GIFs on Instagram
- Converting GIFs to videos
- Posting GIFs on Instagram stories
You have two main options for actually posting GIFs onto your Instagram account. You can’t upload a normal looping GIF to your account because GIFs are an unsupported image file type. However, videos are supported, so you can use GIPHY to upload GIFs as videos, 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.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
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.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
From the results, choose your GIF, then press the button that looks like a paper airplane to open sharing options.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
In the sharing options pop-up, press the purple button that looks like the Instagram logo. This will take you to the SHARE menu for Instagram.
From the SHARE menu, tap Feed to upload the chosen GIF as an Instagram post. This will redirect you to your Instagram account, where you can crop your GIF video and then edit it. When ready, tap the blue arrow in the top right to continue.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
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.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
READ MORE: How to add music to your Instagram story
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 GIF to Video.
GIF to Video
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
After downloading it, go into your device settings and grant GIF to Video permission in Files and media.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
Open the GIF to Video app. Along the bottom are four options: Local, GIPHY, Tenor, and Reddit. Select whichever source contains your desired GIF.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
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.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
Tap the blue checkmark on the New Post screen to finalize your post. Your GIF will now appear on Instagram as a video.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
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 tap Your story, then take a photo or select one from your gallery.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
Press the Aa button in the top right or tap anywhere on the image to start typing with Gboard.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
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.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
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.
Swipe in from the left or tap Your story at the top to open the Instagram camera, then take a photo or add one from your gallery.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
Tap the Stickers button in the top right; this looks like a smiley sticker being peeled back.
Curtis Joe / Android Authority
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
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.
Adding your GIF to Instagram stories: how to bypass restrictions
Why do you need to be able to add GIFs? On Instagram*, their choice is limited - once, this function is periodically disabled for various reasons - two, through SMMplanner it is not yet possible to separately link gifs to Stories - three.
If you read this article carefully, you will no longer be constrained by these restrictions.
But - read, and not just add to bookmarks.
Are gifs necessary?
GIFs are cool. Animation with Giphy is well suited for entertainment content, while homemade GIFs can be used for more serious purposes - it all depends on the author's imagination. For example, SMMplanner can use GIFs in Stories to make short and useful instructions on how to use the service. nine0003
For more information on how to schedule stories in the delayed posting service, see the article "Instructions: how to post a Story on Instagram* from a computer".
Can't add your own GIFs?
Only Giphy animations are available inside Instagram*. When you try to add your own to the Story, it will be added not as an animated image, but as a static picture. But this restriction can be bypassed - if:
- transcode the gif to MP4 using a special service; nine0018
- upload your animation with Giphy;
- use a graphics program (for example, Photoshop).
The first item on the list is simple: go to the CloudConvert service, upload the pre-downloaded GIF and convert it to an MP4 video file.
Save it on your computer, put it in History. Disadvantage of the method: you cannot insert animation on your photos or videos. But you can post a poll, add text or something else.
If you want to zoom out or move the added video, hold it down with two fingers. nine0003
Adding with Giphy
In the past, Instagram users* could add a GIF to their stories using Giphy directly from the service. Now, when you try to do this, you will see the following message:
Instagram * does not support the desire of users to insert a gif into StoriesHow will the service help now?
Option 1. Helps you convert a gif animation into a video file.
After registering on the site, click the button at the top of the "Download" page and select the file on your computerSet privacy, tags and upload to Giphy Click on the right menu "Media Files" and save the MP4 file to your computerIf you want to change something in your animation or add stickers, click the "Create" button, not "Upload".
It remains only to add the created GIF to the History.
Cons, respectively, here are the same as with any download of video files.
If you like to use the application on your phone instead of browser versions, then you will be disappointed - you cannot save videos to MP4 in the Giphy application. nine0003
But there is option 2. If you plan to often create your gifs and stickers, you are a brand representative or you just need them to increase your reach, register on Giphy as an artist...
...or as a brand representativeYou need to register thoughtfully, because after filling in all the required fields, your artist account will be verified. And only if it passes, then the gifs and stickers you created and uploaded can be found on Instagram* by tags. nine0003 Please note that you are required to indicate the web page that best represents your talent
Read more about verification on the service in the article "How to make your own GIF for Instagram Stories*" on the SMMplanner blog.
Create your own
To make a story with a gif, you don't have to be a Photoshop god, the main thing is to carefully read the article and repeat the process step by step.
We'll show everything on Adobe Photoshop, but maybe it's easier to do it in other programs. If you know the program more conveniently (or better for some reason), throw the name in the comments - this information will be useful not only to us, but also to our readers. nine0003
Step 1: Prepare the materials
Find the materials from which you will collect the gif to post in the story: photo, video, text and sound.
Find GIF and convert to MP4 using CloudConvert service.
Where to look for a GIF is up to you. One of the most common resources is Giphy. You can search for something more original, for example, in VKontakte groups, something simple in Yandex. Pictures.
Find the GIF you want, save the image to your computer, then run it through a gif to MP4 converter serviceYou can download from Giphy, as we found out above, immediately in the desired format.
You can take your video with sound. Do not forget to reduce its size: crop and save in a different quality, Photoshop does not like large video files.
Step 2: Creative in Photoshop
Open Photoshop, create a new file and specify the dimensions: 1080x1920, portrait orientation. You can put anything on it, you can put nothing on it. You can create multiple layers. In this case, as you add GIFs to Stories, they will be divided into several slides. nine0003 My picture (file). You can take any picture or photo
Open the animation file. The Timeline panel should appear at the bottom.
Move the mouse over the animation layer, hold down the left button and drag the layer into the document you created. Now the document also has a Timeline.
Another way: after opening the animation, just go to the window of the first document...
If dragged unevenly, convert the layer to smart object: hover over the layer, right-click, find the "Convert to Smart Object" function and click.
Now you can change the size of the animation itself by transforming by holding Ctrl + T, or follow the path: "Edit" → "Free Transform". nine0003 How to add a GIF on Instagram* to stories
In our screenshot, the stripes differ in size - if you do not want the animation to be longer or shorter than the background, you need to set them to the same duration.
Follow the same instructions to add other objects, layers, sound.
Video remains to be saved. In the "Timeline" tab, find the menu icon (several horizontal sticks), click on it and select "Export Video".
Can be saved via the main menu: File ➝ Export ➝ Video ExportDon't be afraid if you haven't found an export. In other versions of the program, the animation saving function may be called "View Video".
And in the main menu otherwise: File ➝ Export ➝ Watch VideoCheck the settings and click the "Render" button. Done, you can insert the GIF into the story.
Step 3: See what happened
You can publish the resulting video as a Story through Instagram*, or you can also use SMMplanner - for this you need to upload the saved video when planning a new post.
nine0003 Check the "Publish to Stories" checkbox - this is how you add a gif to Instagram Story *
Or add it through a special Stories Builder:
After selecting an account in the background tab, you can add a gif to Instagram stories *That's all. Write in the comments questions, clarifications and your thoughts about using GIFs in Stories.
The article has been updated. First published: April 18, 2018
nine0000 how to add — LiveDune Blog Beautiful gifs on Instagram are an opportunity to add emotions to stories, make the content more vivid and varied. For example, for commercial accounts, a GIF is a good way to emphasize and stand out from other users.
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How to add gifs to Instagram stories
There are two ways to add gifs to Instagram stories: the first is as a separate element, the second is as a separate story.
Let's analyze each of the options.
Gif for Instagram stories as an additional element
This is the old and familiar way to insert a gif into Instagram stories:
Make a new story.
At the top of the screen, click on the smiley sticker, then "GIF". nine0153
Choose any gif you like and place it in the desired part of stories.
The most popular GIFs are located in the Trending section. You can also search for gifs by keywords in both English and Russian. But the issue on Instagram is sometimes different, therefore we recommend that you enter the names of gifs alternately in two languages. For example: first enter “love” into the search, and then “love”, so the probability of finding a suitable GIF increases.
GIFs can be enlarged or reduced in size, as well as flipped by clicking on the animation. If you don't like the gif, you can delete it.
To do this, drag it down the screen and move it to the urn icon that appears. Instagram allows you to add any number of gifs to one story. Everything is limited only by common sense and aesthetic vision of the author of stories. nine0153
Gif on Instagram as a standalone stories
Instagram recently added another option to add a GIF as a standalone stories. This option is relevant when you want to place only a gif or use it as a background for text.
Go to the stories section and select Create.
Next, find "GIF" and enter the desired gif into the search.
Unfortunately, it cannot be reduced, it completely fills the stories screen. But this version of the gif can be used for a beautiful animated background. To do this, select a neutral background (ideally, so that no transitions are visible, or find a vertical GIF). Add text or other GIFs in the standard way. nine0003
How to add a gif that is not on Instagram
You can place a gif that is not in the standard list, for example, your own brand logo, using the GIPHY service.
To do this, install the application on your smartphone.
Select the appropriate gif in the "Explore" section or search for the one you want. Click on the gif you like, then on the paper airplane icon.
If you want to post a GIF directly to stories or Instagram feed, click on the paper airplane, then on the Instagram icon. If as an additional element in stories, then click on the paper airplane and save it through the icon in the upper right corner. nine0003
Next, open Instagram and create a new story. Go to your camera roll and copy the gif. Go back to stories and click "Add sticker". In this option, we recommend looking for gifs with a transparent background, so it will look more aesthetically pleasing and will not stand out from the general content. Also in GIPHY you can create and upload your own GIF, especially for commercial accounts:
Made with GIPHY
Animated stories always attract attention, but the audience reacts to them differently, it all depends on the niche of the account and subscribers.
Therefore, always study the statistics of stories in order to predict user behavior and thereby increase coverage.
Ideas for using GIFs in stories
GIFs must be used appropriately. Place it so that it complements the content, and does not take all the attention to itself. Therefore, we have made a small selection of ideas and beautiful GIFs on Instagram that will tell you how you can skillfully use them in your stories. nine0003
To announce a post, repost it in stories and add a GIF "New post", "Tap/Click here", "Fresh content" or simply place a clicking hand. Thus, you will suggest the necessary action to the subscriber and motivate them to interact with the content. You can simply post some ready-made entries in the form of "Good morning" or, for example, "Friday". So you just convey the mood and communicate with the audience at the same time.
GIFs on Instagram can also bring photos to life by adding sparkle, snow or rain. Or supplement a photo with food or coffee with smoke / steam.
This is a small element, but it adds so much charm to the photo, makes it lively and sets the mood. nine0153
Gifs on topics will add zest to an ordinary photo. For example, with the help of a GIF, you can create an effect of surprise by adding a GIF in the form of a shark to a regular photo from the sea or by placing a dinosaur in the jungle.
Conclusion
To make your stories unusual, choose interesting and beautiful GIFs on Instagram. At the same time, do not forget to observe a sense of proportion - do not add 10 gifs per story and do not use animation in each story. nine0187 Do not forget about readability - animation should emphasize, focus attention, and not interfere with the study of content. For example, if you highlight a word in the text by adding a sparkle gif to it, that's good. If you highlight the entire text with glitter, it becomes unreadable, and the user is most likely to quickly flip through such stories.
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