How to Fix GIF not Working or Loading on iPhone?

GIF Not Working on iPhone would be an irritating issue if you are used to send such images frequently. Here, you will learn what are the causes that prevent GIFs from loading on your iOS device and how to fix it.

The concept of GIF was well-received upon its introduction. It has only become more popular ever since. Nowadays, people send more GIFs than still images to convey their emotions, messages, or thoughts.

These moving images, called the Graphic Interchange Format (GIF) images can host images that move or change per frame. GIFs offer endless opportunities to internet users to convey their messages more clearly.

That being said, it would be a shame if someone is unable to use or send GIFs because of any bug or glitch. A commonly reported error in recent years is GIF not working or loading on iPhone. If you are facing a similar problem, don’t worry – in this article, we’ll give you a list of solutions that you can use to fix the issue.

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Why is my iPhone not Supporting GIFs?

If you are facing the iPhone GIFs not working issue, then it is better to diagnose the cause first before you try out any solutions.

There are several reasons why your GIFs might not be working on your iPhone. Let’s discuss some of them:

• Your internet connection is poor or unstable.
• Your iOS version is not up to date.
• Your iPhone settings have the #images disabled.
• You do not have sufficient storage space on your iPhone.
• You are a victim of some software bug or glitches.

So without further ado, let’s talk about the solutions that you can use to fix this issue.

GIF not Working on iPhone: 10 Solutions you can Try

Do you find yourself asking – why are my GIFs not working on iPhones? Apple is a prestigious brand so we understand that you might not be used to facing any inconveniences.

To help you, we have compiled a list of effective solutions that you can use to fix the problem.

#Solution 1: Use a Different Browser

Several users have reported that the Chrome browser often fails to save or download GIFs in their correct format. Instead, Chrome will only allow you to download a still image or a particular frame from that GIF.

So try and switch to a different browser like Safari to see if you can use this simple solution to fix your problem.

#Solution 2: Disable Optimize iPhone Storage

If the browser isn’t the problem, your settings might be. If you have turned on the “Optimize iPhone Storage” option, then your GIFs might not be available in the preferred working format.

To fix this, do the following –

1. Go to your iPhone’s settings.
2. Locate and tap on Photos.
3. Scroll and disable the Optimize iPhone Storage feature.

#Solution 3: Toggle Reduce Motion Setting

If your iPhone is using the Reduce Motion function, then some of your images might not have their preferred animations. This feature is mainly there to save some storage and battery life on your iPhone.

Here’s how you can turn off reduce motion setting on iPhone –

1. Go to your iPhone’s settings.
2. Open General settings.
3. Locate and tap on Accessibility.
4. Locate and toggle off the Reduce Motion setting.

#Solution 4: Enable #images

Before anything else, you need to ensure that your iPhone device has its #images turned on.

You can do this by –

1. Go to your iPhone’s settings.
2. Locating and tapping on Cellular.
3. Toggling on the #images setting.

#Solution 5: Change your Phone’s Language & Region Settings

Unfortunately, #images is a location-specific setting. If you do not see that in your iPhone, then you might be living in a region that is not compatible with the feature.

Don’t worry, because you can fix this by simply changing the region and location settings of your device. Here’s how:

1. Open your iPhone’s settings.
2. Open General settings.
3. Select Language & Region.
4. Tinker with the settings until you see the #images feature.

#Solution 6: Re-Launch the Messages App

To do away with any leftover glitches, you can restart the Messages App by following these steps:

1. On your iPhone, tap the Home Button twice to see the recently used applications.
2. Locate Messages on the screen and swipe it upwards.
3. Wait for a while before you open the Messages app again.
4. Check if the GIFs are working fine now.

#Solution 7: Free Up Storage Space

Your GIFs also might not be working on your iPhone if your storage space is sufficiently lesser. You can do the following to free up some space:

1. Open the Settings on your iPhone.
2. Locate and tap on Safari.
3. Tap on Clear History and Website Data.
4. Give your confirmation to clear the cache.

#Solution 8: Check your Internet Connection

If your internet connection is weak, slow, or unstable, then you might not be able to access GIFs properly. Here’s what you can do in such a situation:

• Open your iPhone’s Settings, go to Wi-Fi and turn it off. Wait for a while and then turn the Wi-Fi on again.
• Restart your router by pressing the power button on its back.
• In case you are using cellular data, go to Settings then got to Cellular and Cellular Data and turn it off and then back again.
• Go into Airplane Mode for a few seconds and then turn it off again.

#Solution 9: Update your iOS Version

The issue might also arise as a result of an outdated iOS version. To do away with all the software glitches and bugs that might be interfering with your GIF usage, do the following:

1. Go to your iPhone’s settings.
2. Go to General settings.
3. Locate and tap on Software Update.
4. Tap on Download and Install.

Wait for the update to be completed before you do anything, then check if the error is fixed.

#Solution 10: Factory Reset

If nothing else works, you will need to take drastic measures. Resetting your iPhone to its factory settings can eliminate all kinds of problems. However, it comes with strict data loss.

Warning: Using this method will result in permanent data loss. Before you follow the below-mentioned steps, we recommend that you create a complete backup of your data and information.

1. Go to your iPhone’s Settings.
2. Go to General settings.
3. Locate and tap on Erase All Contents and Settings.
4. Give your confirmation for the backup.
5. Now tap on Erase Now.

This will initiate the resetting process. Wait for the reboot to complete and then check to see if the error is fixed.

Conclusion

Using GIFs is becoming more popular than sending and exchanging still images. For iPhone users, not being able to see or send GIFs is a grave issue. To help them fix that, we have come up with 10 effective solutions that they can use to start using GIFs normally.