This article explains how to add a GIF to a tweet on Twitter. Twitter supports a GIF search engine (Giphy) and a GIF keyboard platform (Riffsy) for built-in GIF sharing.

What to Know

  • In the tweet composer box, select the GIF icon between the photo/video camera icon and the poll icon.Select a category or search for a phrase. Select the GIF you want to use. Select the X to delete it.Adding a GIF doesn’t affect your tweet character limit.

How to Tweet a GIF on Twitter

You can add a GIF to a tweet or tweet one by itself.

  • Log in to Twitter.
  • Click inside the tweet composer box or select the tweet composer button (marked by a quill/paper icon) to activate the buttons.
  • Select the GIF icon between the photo/video camera icon and the poll icon.
  • The GIF search box opens. Select the category of your choice to see the GIFs contained in them.
  • Alternatively, perform a specific search by entering a keyword or phrase in the search field at the top.
  • Select the GIF you want to use, and it inserts into your tweet automatically. It shows up inline on your profile feed and the home feed of users who follow you. You can insert up to four gifs in a single tweet.
  • Adding a GIF doesn’t affect your tweet character limit. Select the X in the upper-right corner of the GIF to delete it if you change your mind.

Why Share GIFs on Twitter?

Here are a few good reasons to share a GIF on Twitter instead of a standard image or video:

Log in to Twitter.

Click inside the tweet composer box or select the tweet composer button (marked by a quill/paper icon) to activate the buttons.

Select the GIF icon between the photo/video camera icon and the poll icon. 

The GIF search box opens. Select the category of your choice to see the GIFs contained in them.

Alternatively, perform a specific search by entering a keyword or phrase in the search field at the top.

Select the GIF you want to use, and it inserts into your tweet automatically. It shows up inline on your profile feed and the home feed of users who follow you. You can insert up to four gifs in a single tweet.

Adding a GIF doesn’t affect your tweet character limit. Select the X in the upper-right corner of the GIF to delete it if you change your mind.

  • GIFs tell stories better than classic images.
  • Unlike videos, GIFs get the point across silently, automatically, and quickly before looping back to the beginning.
  • GIFs help users express their emotions and reactions.
  • GIFs grab users’ attention.

Overall, GIFs are entertaining and fun to use on practically any social networking platform supporting them.

The Twitter GIF sharing feature is available both on Twitter via a web browser and the Twitter mobile app.

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