Tech Reference

How to save, view, and share GIFs on your iPhone or iPad

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You can easily save and view GIFs on most iPhones and iPads. Shutterstock
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If you want to send your friends funny GIFs in texts or emails, or you simply want to save a few favorites on your phone to amuse yourself, you're in luck — so long as you have an iPhone or iPad running an iOS 10 or newer operating system.

And if you don't, you're still likely able to save GIFs on an iOS device — just download an app like Google Photos, or the Giphy app.

One more note: while you can save and send GIFs from an iOS 10 system, only iOS 11 and later phones (or tablets) let you actually play the GIF right there in your photo library. It's phones and tablets with this ability we'll be covering from here on out.

How to save a GIF to your iPhone or iPad

First, of course, you need to find the GIF you want to save. I went with GIFs of pandas falling over as I prepped for this article, because of course.

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Search for any keywords in Google Images and add "gif" to it.  Steven John/Business Insider

1. Search for a GIF on Google Images via your mobile browser. 

2. Once found, tap on the GIF to open it as much as possible (so you are not viewing it in search results, e.g.)

2. Hold your finger down on the GIF until a new menu opens up.

3. In this new menu, tap the words "Save Image."

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Tap "Save Image."  Steven John/Business Insider

And, if you now want to see the GIF you just saved:

4. Open the "Photos" app on your device.

5. The GIF will be available in "All Photos," but to keep them sorted, tap the "Albums" icon on the taskbar at the bottom of the screen.

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Any GIF you save will be placed in your Camera Roll immediately.  Steven John/Business Insider

6. Scroll down to the list reading "Media Types" and tap "Animated."

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There are categories for nearly every type of photo.  Steven John/Business Insider

7. You will be taken to all of your saved GIFs — from here you can view, share, or delete them as you please.

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Tap the GIF to open and play it.  Steven John/Business Insider

Enjoy!

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Steven John has been a freelance writer for more than a dozen years and has been a regular contributor to Business Insider since 2017. His work includes a focus on the tech world, covering companies including Apple, Microsoft, Meta, Google, and others. He also reviews restaurants, shares how-to cooking articles, and writes general interest pieces.Steven also writes for publications including Architectural Digest, The Daily Beast, Forbes, and more. In the past, he also wrote for New York Magazine, Mashed, U.S. News & World Report and other outlets. He runs his own outdoor lifestyle site, Dad Gear Review, and co-hosts the Fact Trekkers podcast with his son. He has had two novels published, Three A.M. and Outrider. He graduated from Emerson College with a degree in communications focused on filmmaking.He is an avid outdoorsman and can be frequently found in a kayak or on a mountain trail, often with his family along for the adventure.Expertise:Tech industryTech hardwareOutdoorsCookingRestaurantsDIYPopular articles:Microsoft: A history of the software giant co-founded by Bill Gates, its products and services, jobs, layoffs, and moreYouTube is a major entertainment force. Here's the platform's history, plus how to create a channel and upload videos.Inside the life and career of Bill Gates, the Microsoft co-founder, billionaire, and philanthropistTim Cook net worth: How the Apple leader earns and spends his moneyBecoming an Amazon seller is a simple process. Here's what's involved, plus how you make money and get paid.