Do you often see animated GIFs online or on social media platforms but don’t know how to download them? If yes, it can be embarrassing and annoying. But, do you really want to learn how to download them? If yes, I will freely teach you how to download them. Sounds interesting, right? Let’s get there. Read to the end.
Before we start learning how to download them, what is an animated GIF? An animated GIF is a short animated sequence of many graphic images in the same file. These animated GIFs have been in existence since the 1980s.
In the early days of the World Wide Web, they were quite popular and frequently used. However, they are no longer so now. However, recently, people are beginning to use them more and more on Facebook and Twitter.
Moreover, Animated GIF files are smaller than video files and are easy to add to websites in the form of static images. Interestingly, they’re very easy to download. A lot of popular web browsers like Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Firefox help you download a GIF and save it on your device. It is only when you save the GIF in the right format that you can open it in a supporting browser, online app, or desktop application and see it play.
Can I Download GIFs from Social Media?
The answer is yes. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter have their own methods for downloading static and animated GIFs. For instance, in Facebook and Pinterest, just click on the animated GIF, it will display it in a separate browser tab. Proceed to use the browser’s standard method for saving the GIF. However, a few years back including in 2018, animated GIFs could not be downloaded to a computer from either Twitter or Instagram. Technology keeps improving daily.
How Do I Download a GIF?
Certain browsers permit you to choose an animated GIF and save it when you want to download it to your computer. If it is Google Chrome browser, just the cursor on the GIF and right-click it. Proceed to choose “Save image as…” from the pops up menu. Select the folder you want to save the GIF file.
Once you’ve saved the downloaded GIF file, open it in a web browser or an application such as PowerPoint or Photoshop which supports the display of animated GIFs. Once the app doesn’t support animation, it will display as a static image or may not be displayed at all. Please note that certain animated GIFs are copyrighted to prohibit their use for commercial purposes. In this way, stay safe and avoid using it for commercial use.
How to Download a GIF to Your Mobile Phone
Furthermore, feel free to download animated GIFs to your mobile devices. For iPhones and iPads, just click and hold on to the GIF you intend to save. As long as the app you’re using supports downloading GIFs, you will see Save Image. Usually, the GIF looks static in the Camera Roll but animates when you display it in an app that supports animation.
Lastly, if you are using an Android device, go for the Giphy app. It has a library of animated GIFs that you can share in other apps or download to your phone’s image storage area. You can get it in the Google Play and iTunes store.
Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest.