If you upload a GIF file to your Instagram feed as a photo, it turns into a still image. To post a GIF that moves, turn it into a short video (MP4) first and upload that, or use the GIF sticker in Stories. Comments and DMs have their own GIF button.
That's the whole trick in one line: Instagram's feed and Reels don't play uploaded .gif files as animations. The animation has to be saved as a video before Instagram will play it. Once it's a video, you post it the same way you'd post any clip from your phone.
Where you want the GIF, and the route that works
| Where you want the GIF | The route that works |
|---|---|
| A feed post | Turn the GIF into an MP4 video first, then upload it as a post |
| A Reel | Turn the GIF into an MP4 video, then upload it as a Reel |
| A Story | Add a GIF sticker on top of a photo or video, or upload your converted video |
| A comment | Use the GIF button in the comment box |
| A DM | Use the GIF button in the chat |
Comments, DMs and Stories are the easy ones, because the GIF library is built in. The feed and Reels need the extra step, so that's where most of this guide goes.
Turn a GIF into a video first
There are three ways to do this. Start with the first one that fits the GIF you have.
With the GIPHY app
If the GIF is on GIPHY, this is the quickest route, because GIPHY does the conversion for you.
- Open the GIPHY app and find the GIF.
- Tap the share option under it.
- Choose Instagram.
- GIPHY turns it into a video and hands it to Instagram.
- Pick where to post it, add your caption and share.
With Canva
This is the route I'd use for a GIF you made yourself, or an animated design for a brand or event.
- Open your animated design in Canva, or upload your GIF into a new design.
- Tap Share, then Download.
- Choose MP4 video as the file type.
- Download it to your phone.
- Open Instagram, tap + (create) and upload the video as a post or a Reel.
If you haven't made one yet, here's how to make a GIF in Canva from scratch. Canva lets you download the same design as a GIF or as an MP4, so save both: the GIF for messaging apps, the MP4 for Instagram.
With a screen recording, as a last resort
- Open the GIF on your phone so it plays full screen.
- Start your phone's built-in screen recorder.
- Let the GIF loop a few times.
- Stop the recording and trim the start and end in your photos app.
- Upload the trimmed clip to Instagram.
This works for almost anything, but the quality drops and you may catch bits of your screen in the edges. Use it only when the other two routes aren't an option.
The catch: make the clip a few seconds long
A GIF that's been turned into a video plays like a short, silent video and loops in the feed. Very short clips can be rejected or padded out when you upload them, so make the clip a few seconds long by repeating the loop before you upload.
In Canva, you can duplicate the animated page a few times so the loop runs more than once in the exported video. With a screen recording, simply let the GIF play several loops before you stop. Either way, check the video in your camera roll before you post. If it looks smooth there, it'll look smooth on Instagram.
While you're checking, look at the shape too. A wide GIF will sit in a thin strip in the feed and look tiny on a phone. If you're making the animation yourself, a square or upright design fills the screen far better.
Add a GIF sticker to your Story
Stories are the one place you can drop an animated GIF straight in, using Instagram's own sticker search, which is powered by GIPHY.
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- Open the Story camera and take or choose a photo or video.
- Tap the sticker icon at the top of the screen.
- Tap GIF.
- Search for a word, such as 'happy' or 'coffee', and tap the GIF you like.
- Drag it into place and pinch to resize it.
- Share your Story.
You can add more than one GIF sticker to the same Story, and they'll all keep moving. If you can't find the GIF option, look for the search bar in the sticker tray and type 'GIF'. If a menu name looks different in your version, search the app's settings or sticker tray for the word.
GIFs in comments and DMs
These two don't need any converting at all. In a comment, tap into the comment box and look for the GIF button next to the text field. Search for a word and tap the GIF to post it as your comment. In a DM, open the chat, tap the sticker or GIF button by the message box, search and tap to send.
GIF comments are a friendly way to reply to a post without typing much, and they stand out in a long comment thread. Keep them for light moments, though. On a serious post, a few kind words land better than an animation.
Copyright: whose GIF is it?
Only post GIFs you've made yourself or ones from the in-app sticker library. A clip from a TV show or someone else's video, uploaded as your own post, is still someone else's work, and it can be taken down. The sticker library is there so you don't have to take that risk.
Sending a GIF somewhere other than Instagram is simpler, because most chat apps play them as they are. If that's what you're after, here's how to send a GIF on WhatsApp, and how to send a GIF on Messenger too.
What I'd do
For a quick reaction, I'd use the GIF sticker in Stories or the GIF button in comments and DMs. For a feed post, I'd make the animation in Canva, repeat the loop so it runs a few seconds, export it as MP4 and upload that.
Frequently asked questions
Why doesn't my GIF move on Instagram?
Instagram's feed and Reels don't play uploaded GIF files as animations. Upload a GIF as a photo and you get a still frame, so convert it to an MP4 video first.
Can I post a GIF to Instagram from GIPHY?
Yes. In the GIPHY app, use the share option and choose Instagram. GIPHY turns the GIF into a video that Instagram can play.
How do I add a GIF to an Instagram comment?
Tap into the comment box and use the GIF button to search for one, then tap it to post.
Will my GIF have sound on Instagram?
No. A GIF has no audio, so the converted video plays silently and loops. If you want sound on a Reel, you can add music in the Reels editor.
