GIF on Instagram is now becoming a thing, you might see your friends or people that you follow posting GIF on Instagram, and you want to do it as well since GIF is more interactive than just a plain picture.
Though it would be helpful to know that Instagram application doesn’t have GIF support, that’s why it’s not that easy to post unlike pictures. But there are ways that you could follow here in order to do so.
Part 1. What is A GIF?
GIF means “Graphic Interchange Format” and we can often see this through the web. Have you seen headings or texts that has glittery, sparkling and seems like moving? That’s one type of GIF that contains minimal animated movements.
Also, GIFs can be images that is moving is just a short period of time from one to five seconds like a dog walking.
Uploads are just limited up to 15 seconds though its highly recommended using up to 6 seconds and the size of the file should only be up to 100 megabytes. Again, it is advisable to keep it to 8 seconds and the video quality up to 720p, but try to keep it at 480p.
Part 2. Ways on How to Post GIF on Instagram
Post GIF via Mac or Windows
Since Instagram doesn’t support GIF files, one of the workarounds is we have to manually convert the file into MP4 file to do this just follow these two options:
- You can use a third-party application which then you need to install like Flume or
- Visit a website that converts your file for free like ezgif.com, www.gif-2-mp4.com and www.freefileconvert.com
How to Install Third-Party Application or Flume
- Visit the App Store > Type in Flume on the search bar > Select Download. You can also use Flume directly to publish GIF on your Instagram, just like how you post something on Instagram and connect it to your Facebook account.
Just in case that you no longer want to use a third-party app like Flume, you can use GIPHY to post GIF on Instagram and here are the steps:
- Visit the website giphy.com and then browse through all the hundreds of GIFs that you wish to post
- Select on your preferred GIF and it will show you its information page
- Look for the Share it tab and on the right side you will see Instagram then click on that
- A text box will appear then input your email address
- Hit on Send. You will receive an email notification that GIPHY successfully converted your GIF chosen file to MP4
- Save it on your files, preferably under your library of photos in iPhone then can now share it to Instagram
Post GIF through Your iPhone using GIPHY
We all can admit that posting in Instagram is more accessible than using your machine. That’s why GIPHY an application that is made available in App Store and Play Store that you can download for free lets you share GIF’s easily:
- In App Store or Play Store search for GIPHY app, the select Download
- Launch the Application then look for GIF’s that you want to upload
- Click on Share at the right corner at the bottom, it will give you options on how you can share it
- Click on Instagram icon
- It will ask you if you allow GIPHY to have access on your photos then select on Accept
- You will have two options to share by Story, Post or Feed
In the event that you selected the Story, GIF will occupy the entire screen and remove almost remove the majority part of image, here are some workaround:
- Leave Stories > Re launch Stories > Select the image of the GIF from your photo library then it will display the entire GIF
Post GIF on Your Stories in Instagram
Stories and News Feed on Instagram are two different things, Stories only last for 24 hours and your followers can view it while News Feed are saved on your gallery and it will not be removed unless you delete them.
You can also see who the people are who viewed your story unlike on feed you will only see likes and comments. Here’s how to post GIF’s directly on your stories not using GIPHY, we will use GIF Keyboard this time as a workaround
- In App Store search for GIF Keyboard, download the App and then Launch it
- You will then need to go to your Settings then select on GIF Keyboard and allow the app to access your keyboard
- Go back to Instagram and then Launch stories, you may take a photo or video, or you can also Upload one
- Use your GIF Keyboard and you can launch it using the ABC on the left bottom side of your keyboard
- Locate your desired GIF
- Select and copy the GIF, then launch the textbox to paste the GIF
