The fastest way to add a GIF in Slack

To add a GIF in Slack, click the paperclip icon in the message box, select Browse Slack GIFs, search for what you want, and click the GIF to insert it. The GIF appears in your message box ready to send. On mobile, tap the plus icon, choose GIF, search, and tap to add.

Slack's built-in GIF search pulls from Giphy, a large GIF library. You can search by word or phrase — "celebration," "confused," "coffee" — and Slack shows you matching results. The whole process takes about five seconds once you know where the button is.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the paperclip icon in the message box, then select Browse Slack GIFs to open the search window on desktop.
  • Type any word or phrase to find GIFs — Slack searches Giphy's library automatically and shows results when ready.
  • Click the GIF you want and it loads into your message box; you can add text before or after it, then send normally.
  • On mobile, tap the plus icon next to the message box, choose GIF, search, and tap the result to add it.
  • GIFs you send are visible to everyone in the channel or conversation, just like images or text.

Where the GIF button is on desktop

On a computer, open any Slack conversation or channel. Look at the bottom of the screen where you type messages. On the left side of the message box, you'll see a paperclip icon — that's the attachment button. Click it and a menu appears with several options, including Browse Slack GIFs. Click that option.

A search window opens showing a grid of trending GIFs. You can scroll through these trending results, or type in the search box at the top to find something specific. The search works when ready as you type — you don't need to press Enter.

Searching for the right GIF

Type any word that describes what you want. Search for emotions ("happy," "sad," "angry"), actions ("dancing," "running," "falling"), objects ("cat," "pizza," "coffee"), or phrases ("good morning," "well done," "oh no"). Slack shows results as you type, usually within a second or two.

Click any GIF in the results to add it to your message. The GIF appears in your message box, and you can type text before or after it if you want. For example, you could type "Great work! " and then add a celebration GIF, or add a confused GIF and type " what is this?" after it.

How to add a GIF on mobile

On iPhone or Android, open the conversation where you want to send a GIF. Tap the plus icon (or the attachment icon, depending on your phone) next to the message box. A menu appears with options including GIF. Tap GIF.

The GIF search window opens. Type what you're looking for in the search box, and results appear as you type. Tap the GIF you want, and it loads into your message. You can add text around it just like on desktop, then send the message normally by tapping the send button.

What happens after you send a GIF

Once you send a message with a GIF, everyone in that channel or conversation can see it. The GIF plays automatically in most cases — you don't need to click it to start the animation. If someone wants to save the GIF or use it elsewhere, they can right-click it (on desktop) or long-press it (on mobile) to see options like Copy Link or Save Image.

GIFs count toward your message history in Slack, so they're searchable later if you need to find a conversation. If you delete the message, the GIF disappears with it.

Troubleshooting when GIFs won't load

If the GIF search window doesn't open, make sure you're connected to the internet — Slack needs a connection to reach Giphy's library. If the search returns no results, try a simpler word or phrase. Very specific searches sometimes return nothing, but broad words like "happy" or "cat" almost always work.

If a GIF appears broken or won't play after you send it, it's usually a temporary connection issue. Refresh the conversation or close and reopen Slack. If the problem persists, the GIF file itself may be corrupted on Giphy's end, which is rare but happens occasionally.

Using GIFs in threads and direct messages

The process is identical whether you're sending a GIF in a channel, a thread, or a direct message to one person. Click or tap the attachment button, search for your GIF, and send it. GIFs work the same way everywhere in Slack — they play automatically and everyone in that conversation can see them.

If you're replying to a specific message in a thread, you can add a GIF to your reply just like you would add text. The GIF appears in the thread, not in the main channel, so only people reading that thread will see it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upload my own GIF instead of using Giphy?

Yes. Click the paperclip icon and select Upload a file instead of Browse Slack GIFs. Find the GIF file on your computer and select it. Slack uploads and plays it just like a GIF from Giphy. This works if you have a custom GIF you created or downloaded from elsewhere.

Do GIFs use up my Slack storage?

GIFs from Giphy don't count against your workspace's storage because they're hosted on Giphy's servers. If you upload your own GIF file, it does use your Slack storage. Most workspaces have enough storage that a few GIFs won't matter, but very large files or thousands of GIFs could add up.

Can I set a default GIF or create a shortcut?

Slack doesn't have a built-in way to create GIF shortcuts or favorites. However, if you use the same GIF often, you can copy the link to it and paste it directly into messages, which is slightly faster than searching each time.

What if my workplace has blocked Giphy?

Some organizations disable the Giphy integration for security or policy reasons. If the Browse Slack GIFs option doesn't appear, your workspace administrator has turned it off. You can still upload your own GIF files using the Upload a file option, but you won't be able to search Giphy's library.

Do GIFs work the same way on Slack's web version and desktop app?

Yes. The process is identical whether you're using Slack in a web browser or the desktop process. The paperclip icon and GIF search work the same way on both.