GIFs have become an integral part of our daily conversations, making them more interesting and interactive. However, just like any other feature, GIFs can sometimes fail to respond as they are prone to errors and crashes. If you encounter this problem while using iMessage or any other iOS app, don’t worry. In this article, I will share some solutions to help you fix the issue of GIFs not working on your iPhone. So let’s get started!

1. Check your internet connection

If you are having an issue with iPhone GIFs not working, it is most likely due to an unstable internet connection. To fix this, make sure you have a reliable internet connection. If you can’t fix the reason for the slow network, try increasing the cellular network speed manually.

You can even contact your Internet Service Provider to troubleshoot and resolve any connection issues you may be experiencing. With a stable and reliable internet connection, you should be able to view GIFs on your iPhone without any issues.

2. Force close the app

One of the quickest solutions to fix any errors that the iMessage app might encounter is to force quit the app. Force Quit closes all background app processes, including any glitches that might be preventing GIFs from loading.

Simply swipe up on an app from the bottom center of the screen until the app switcher appears. Swipe up in the same way to force close the app.

Force close WhatsApp and restart

Now wait 15 seconds and restart the app.

3. Check for app updates

If you’re having issues with GIFs not working in a specific app, check to see if an update is available for that app. App updates usually include bug fixes and performance improvements that can resolve issues with the app.

4. Restore iOS on iPhone

Apple releases updates frequently to fix bugs and improve the overall performance of the device. If your iPhone GIFs are still not working, try updating your iPhone software to the latest version.

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Click “General” → “Software Update”.
  3. If an update is available, select Download and Install.

    Go to Settings, General, Software Update, download and install it.

After updating your device, you will be able to use GIFs again without any issues.

5. Remove and add # images feature

Additional features are subject to error and error. If you are unable to use GIFs in iMessage on your iPhone, you can remove them and add them again to fix possible errors.

  1. Launch the iMessage app → Open a chat of your choice.
  2. Swipe right on the bottom menu. Find and click on More (the icon with three dots).
  3. Click Edit.

    Open iMessage, and tap

  4. Click the minus sign next to # photos to remove them from your favourites.
  5. Now click on “Remove from favourites”.
  6. Click Finish and restart your device.

    Press the minus sign, remove from favorites, do it in the iMessage app.

  7. Go to the same interface and click Edit.
  8. Scroll down to More apps and select the (+) symbol.
  9. Click Finish to complete the process.

    Tap on the plus icon and do so in iMessages.

  10. In this case, you will again get #images as a feature.

After you’ve made the appropriate settings, go back to the chat and try to use GIFs as usual.

6. Uninstall and reinstall the third party keyboard

There is a high possibility that the underlying problem is third party keyboard apps that you may be using. In this case, removing and re-adding the keyboard to your device can fix any bugs interfering with your iPhone. For this:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Choose General → Select Keyboard.
  3. Click Keyboards for an overview of default keyboards and third-party keyboards.

    Access Shared keyboard, Keyboard, and open Keyboard in Settings

  4. Now click on Edit → click on the minus sign (-) → Delete.
  5. Click Finish and restart your device.

    Click Edit, Minus Signature, Delete and Done in the app settings.

  6. Now go back to the same interface → select Add New Keyboard.
  7. Select an external keyboard if it is installed.

    Add a new keyboard, choose the keyboard you want, and start using the keyboard in the Settings app.

7. Disable Reduce Motion

Motion Reducing is widely used to prevent rapid battery degradation. However, this feature reduces animations and motion effects on your iPhone, which may affect the display of GIFs.

  1. Open the Settings app.
  2. Go to Accessibility → Motion.
  3. Disable reduce motion if it is enabled.

    Open Accessibility & motion and turn off the feature

After completing this procedure, try to send or receive GIFs on your iPhone again. This should fix the problem and ensure that your GIFs are working properly.

8. Reset the language and region

Feature # Images are limited to a few areas. So, if you have recently changed your device’s language or region settings, this may affect the way GIFs are displayed. Resetting the language and region settings to the default settings can help resolve this issue.

Follow the steps below to reset the language and region settings:

  1. Launch the Settings app.
  2. Open General → Language and Region.
  3. Choose the region.

    Click on

  4. Find your current location and select the appropriate keyboard.
    Here I choose English (United States).

    Choose the region. Change the keyboard in the application settings

  5. Wait for some time for the changes to happen.

Now that you’re back in your custom settings, GIFs should work properly on your device.

9. Restart your iPhone

If none of the above steps work, try restarting your iPhone again. This will fix any underlying issues that prevent your iPhone from working with GIFs.

10. Factory reset your device

Factory reset is a simple process that allows your iPhone to erase all its data and settings, and restore its original factory configuration. This can help resolve any issues caused by corrupted software, software updates, or if your iPhone is not working properly. The same applies to unresponsive GIFs on iPhone. However, it is important to backup your device before resetting iPhone to avoid unnecessary data loss.

Finally, if none of the above factors solve your problem, you need to contact Apple Support. This can help diagnose any kind of problem and offer a solution specific to your device. However, make sure that you can access your device’s serial number in case of verification.

Frequently Asked Questions Why do my GIFs only work in some apps but not others on my iPhone?

This may be due to compatibility issues with some apps or settings on your iPhone. Some applications do not support external GIFs through the keyboard.

Why do my GIFs look grainy or low quality on my iPhone?

GIF file size per view is not optimized. If you end up with low-quality GIFs, they will almost certainly be distorted.

Why aren’t my GIFs showing up in my iPhone’s photo library?

If a GIF file is saved in an unsupported format, it will not be saved to the Pictures library. Try saving the GIFs elsewhere or converting them to a compatible format.

Why do my iPhone GIFs only work sometimes?

If your device has a bad connection or the software has bugs, then it is glitch one way or another. In addition, the reason can also be the application you are using to send GIFs, as some applications may not support GIFs or may have restrictions on their use.

an end…

GIFs not working on iPhone can be very frustrating. Fortunately, there are some troubleshooting steps you can take to fix this.

Thanks for reading, and feel free to post your concerns below.

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