How to download animated GIFs

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

Luckily, the internet is awash with moving images and video loops. In this article, we'll show you how to download animated GIFs and where are the best places to get them.

How to download animated GIFs?

GIFs (or Graphics Interchange Formats) were first introduced in the 1980s by CompuServe Corporation. Back then, their main purpose was to allow operating systems to generate high-resolution images. These days, however, GIFs are an integral part of internet culture and online communication.

Usually, GIFs contain original animations played in a loop. Depending on the content, the format may vary, but they are generally 8-bit wide.

You can find GIFs just about 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, it's quite simple. Here's how:

1. Select the URL of the gif in your browser.
   
2. Copy the link by right-clicking on it or using the keyboard shortcut “CTRL + C”.
   
3. Open the chat room or website where you want to share the GIF.
4. Paste it by right-clicking on it or using the keyboard shortcut “CTRL + V”.
   

However, if the page you got the GIF from has removed it from its database, the link won't work. The easiest solution is to save the file to your local drive so you can use it whenever you want. Here's how to download animated GIFs from a website:

1. Hover your cursor over the GIF, then right-click on it.
2. Choose "Save Image As" from the list of options.
   
3. Decide where you want to save it, then click on the folder.
   
4. Add a title and make sure the format stays the same. If the extension is other than .gif, the animation will not work.
   
5. Click "Save" to complete the download.
   

Once you're done, you can find the GIF in any folder you like. You can use it as often as you want – keep in mind that not all platforms support this format.

How to download animated GIFs on iPhone?

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

1. Open your browser and find the GIF you want to download.
   
2. Click on the GIF to open it. Do not save it as a search result; the format will be unreadable.
   
3. Tap the GIF to open a menu.
4. Choose "Save Image" from the list of options.
   
5. Quit the browser and open the “Photos” application.
   
6. Go to "Albums" and scroll to the bottom of the screen. There is a list of all media in your device under "Media Types".
   
7. Open the "Animated" section by clicking on the small arrow on the right.
   
8. Your downloaded GIF will be stored there, ready to use.
   

If the GIF doesn't seem to move, don't worry. The iPhone Photos app doesn't support the format, but once you send it, it should work fine. Only iOS 11 devices can display .gif files as animation.

Another way to download GIFs on your iPhone is through a third-party app. It's a great alternative to storing GIFs on your local drive without taking up space. Wrapped GIF is one of the most 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 application.
   
3. Browse the app for GIFs. You can also use the "Search" option to find specific GIFs (eg babypanda.gif).
   
4. When you find a GIF you like, click to open it. Press down to open a list of options.
   
5. Choose "Save to Library".
   

GIFwrapped is just one of many apps with a vast 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 with 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. Quit the browser and open your photo gallery to find the downloaded GIF. Sometimes it is automatically saved in "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 embed 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. Check if Tenor is the sender.
   
2. Click "Install" to download the application.
   
3. Once the installation is complete, open the application by clicking on the icon.
   
4. Allow the app to access your contacts and local storage.
   
5. Now you can use GIF keyboard to share gifs to other apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

How to download animated GIFs on Windows, Mac and Chromebook?

Almost all browsers and computers have built-in viewer software that supports .gif files. If you are using Windows operating system, 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 come from a specific website, like Tumblr or Piinterest. You can literally search for GIFs by typing "animated GIFs" into your search engine.
   
3. When you find a GIF you like, click to open it. Then right-click to open a context menu.
   
4. Choose "Save Image As" or "Download Image", depending on the browser.
   
5. Click the folder where you want to save the image, then click "Save."
   

Although the default extension is .gif, you can also download GIFs to your computer as videos. This means that you will be able to open it with your media player. Here's how:

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

Additional FAQs

How to download a GIF from Giphy?

Giphy is probably the most popular online GIF database. The website interface is divided into categories (e.g. Reactions, Animals, Trends), which makes it extremely user-friendly.

You can download GIFs directly from the website with just a few simple steps. Here's how:

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 "Save Image" or "Download Image", depending on the browser.

5. Rename the file, but leave the original .gif extension unchanged.

6. Click "Save" to complete 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 side panel, open the "Media" tab.

3. Find the MP4 bar (second to last) and click "Copy".

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

5. Right-click the video to open a context menu.

6. Choose "Save Video As" from the options.

If you want to use Giphy on your phone, you can simply download the app. It is available on both the App Store and Google Play.

How to create a GIF online?

If you want to create custom GIFs, you can use an online GIF maker. The process is incredibly simple and usually completely free.

GIF Maker is one of the most popular online GIF generators. It lets you download images and videos and convert them to GIFs. The website does not require registration and offers many customization options. Here's how to create a gif online using GIFMaker:

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

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

3. Choose the file you want to download by clicking on it. You can select multiple files by holding "CTRL" or and clicking on each of them.

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

5. There is a "Control Panel" on the left side. Here you can adjust the animation speed, number of repetitions and other parameters.

6. When you're done, choose the appropriate option below (for example, "Create a GIF animation").

7. You can click "View GIF" before downloading. If you are not satisfied, you can go back to the Control Panel and change the settings.

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

How to create an animated image?

There is a wide range of tools you can use to create animated images or GIFs. Depending on the type 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 create gifs or other forms of short animations:

Brewery GIF (iOS only)

Gif Toaster (also available on Google Play)

· XnSketch

· Gimp

· Sketch me! (Windows OS only)

GIF Donation

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

If you want to shake things up and create your own GIFs, you can do that too. Download a photo editor compatible with your operating system or simply use an online GIF maker.

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