How to Post an Animated GIF on Instagram

Animated GIFs have become incredibly popular on social media in recent years. A GIF is a short, looping video clip that has no sound. On Instagram specifically, GIFs are commonly used in Stories and posts to add some fun visual interest.

However, Instagram does have some limitations when it comes to GIFs. You can’t directly upload a GIF file to Instagram like you can a photo or standard video.

But not to worry – there are still easy ways to share GIFs on Instagram. You just need to convert the GIF file into a video format that Instagram supports. Or, you can save and upload a GIF that is already in MP4 format. We’ll explain both methods in this guide.

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How to Post an Animated GIF on Instagram

Use Instagram App

Sharing a GIF on Instagram using the mobile app is a breeze. Here are the steps:

Open the Instagram app and tap the + icon to create a new Story or post.
For Stories: Tap the camera button and record a new Story. For posts: Select “Library” to access your camera roll media.
In your media gallery, find and select the GIF file you want to upload.
The GIF will now upload just like a standard video to Instagram. You can trim the length if needed.
Add any creative edits, captions stickers you want.
Tap “Share” and post your GIF to your Story or feed!

Note: GIF needs to already be converted and saved as an MP4 file, and select the “Library” option instead of the Instagram camera.

Instagram may take a few minutes to process and optimize the GIF video for their platform. But then it will be live for all your friends and followers to enjoy.

Upload from Browser

You can also easily upload GIFs to Instagram from a desktop browser. Here’s how:

Go to instagram.com and log into your account.
Click the + icon to create a new post and select Library or Drag & Drop to add your media.
Select your converted GIF file from your computer files.
The GIF will upload. Crop or trim the length if desired.
Add any captions, tags, or location info you want.
Click “Share” to post your animated GIF!

The browser upload method works great if you have GIF files saved on your computer already. And the same rules apply regarding file format – Instagram will only support GIFs converted and saved as MP4 or other video formats.

Make GIFs Instagram-Ready

Convert GIFs to Video Format

As we’ve explained, Instagram does not support native GIF files. So any GIF you want to share needs to be converted first into a video format like MP4.

There are many free online tools available to convert GIF files. We recommend using a reputable site like EzGif or Gifs.com to convert your GIFs. Simply upload your GIF file, choose MP4 as the output format, and download the converted video.

You can also use video editing software like Adobe Premiere or Final Cut Pro to import and convert GIFs before uploading them to Instagram.

Optimize GIFs for Instagram

To make your GIFs look their very best on Instagram, keep these tips in mind:

Use high-quality GIFs for best resolution
Trim longer GIFs to under 15 seconds
Add text overlays, stickers, and filters for extra flair
Use relevant hashtags so your GIFs are discoverable

Well-optimized, eye-catching GIFs are highly engaging on Instagram. So get creative and don’t be afraid to try out different styles and edits.

Conclusion

We hope this guide gave you all the tips you need to easily share GIFs on Instagram, both on mobile and desktop.

Sharing great GIF content is a fun way to engage your Instagram followers. Just remember to properly convert your GIF files first. With the right optimization and editing, your GIF posts will stand out in any feed!