How to Search and Send GIFs with Messages on iPhone & iPad

Oct 17, 2016 - 13 Comments

Search and Send GIFS in Messages for iOS

The iOS Messages app for iPhone and iPad includes an animated GIF search feature which allows you to search for and send GIFs to any recipient, whether they have an iPhone with iMessage or not.


Embedded GIF search is just one of the many new fun and quirky Message features included in the latest versions of iOS, alongside stickers, apps, handwriting, and effects. With the image and GIF search feature, you can find animated GIFs and send them directly in Messages app, without having to leave the app and without having to locate a GIF elsewhere to send using the copy and paste method (which still works, of course). It’s all built into Messages, let’s walk through how it works.

Note that your iPhone or iPad must have a modern version of iOS to have the GIF search feature, iOS 10.0 or later includes this capability while earlier versions do not.

How to Search & Send GIFs in Messages for iOS/iPadOS

  1. Open the Messages app and open any message conversation, or start a new one
  2. Tap the arrow “>” button next to the text entry section to reveal additional messaging options
  3. Show the search gif option

  4. Tap the “A” button to access the message apps, stickers, and gifs
  5. Tap on the A button to access GIF search in messages

  6. Now tap on the four square bubble icon in the corner
  7. Tap the four bubble squares button

  8. Tap on the “#images” red magnifying glass button, this is the gif image search
  9. Search and send GIFs in messages for iOS

  10. Now tap into the search box where it says “Find images and videos” and type the GIF type you’d like to search for
  11. Tap into the search gif box in messages

  12. Navigate through the searched GIFs and tap on one to insert it into the message
  13. Tap to select a gif to send

  14. Send the inserted GIF as usual, or include a message with it if desired
  15. Sending an animated GIF in messages through GIF search feature

Now you have sent animated gifs easily, without ever leaving Messages app. The GIFS are embedded into the chat window like any other message or picture, but unlike stickers they aren’t glued onto a message to obstruct it.

Sending gifs in messages

Sending and receiving animated GIFs in your messages can be really fun or completely obnoxious, try it out yourself and see how it works. Like the other new Messages app features, there’s no way to opt-out or disable the gif search ability, so embrace it instead.

Seriously animated GIFs in messages

The native Messages gif search feature requires a newer version of iOS, meaning version 10.0 or later. If you’re not on a new iPhone or iPad and you don’t have the latest versions of iOS on your device, you can still receive GIFs from people who are sending them this way, and you can still send animated gifs yourself by using copy and paste as described here.

Wow gifs in iOS Messages

Do you enjoy the new native GIF search feature in Messages for iOS?

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Posted by: Paul Horowitz in iPad, iPhone, Tips & Tricks

13 Comments

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  1. Melinda Blanton says:

    I’ve noticed that my recent sent gifs are cached below in my search options. Is there a way to see who I sent them to without having to go through all my text threads? Thanks

  2. Navamalar says:

    tolong sy .pulang duit polisi saya. … bank pun saya ejen tipu saya. ..Saya ada tiga org anak. …

  3. PresCEO says:

    How do you add you own to their database?

    • aro says:

      The gif search feature uses Giphy I believe, so if you want to add a gif to iMessage to be included it must be added to the “Giphy” service. Apple then appears to filter out certain subjects and topics to keep it G rated (though some odd ones still slip through).

  4. Smailpouri says:

    Try Gboard
    Search. GIFs. Emojis & more.
    Right from your keyboard.
    https://goo.gl/gboard

    It’s been out for some time now. Works on IOS9 as well.

  5. bil says:

    or in France…!
    :-(

  6. Yaron Schwartz says:

    You didn’t mention that it is not working in all countries, like in Israel for example. Anyone knows why?

  7. Carbung Dundee says:

    This gifs search send ability is the kind of innovation we expect to see from apple. I can’t wait to do it.

  8. Jar Jar Ray says:

    GIF’s are the best feature in Messages for iOS by far. I love the gif feature, it’s better than anything I have seen in the new versions, instant GIF search and instant GIF transmission.

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