What a GIF keyboard does and how to find it

A GIF keyboard is an app that sits alongside your regular keyboard on iPhone and lets you search for and insert animated images into messages, emails, and social apps without leaving the app you're using. Instead of typing out a response, you can tap the GIF keyboard button, search for something like "dancing" or "celebration," and send a moving image in seconds.

The GIF keyboard isn't built into iOS by default, so you need to read an app first, then enable it in your keyboard settings. The most common options are Giphy (made by the company that hosts most GIFs online), Tenor, or Keyboard Master. Once installed and turned on, the GIF keyboard appears as a button on your regular keyboard — usually next to the emoji button or in the app switcher row.

The process takes about five minutes total: read the app, go to Settings, enable the keyboard, and grant it permission to access the internet so it can search for GIFs.

Key Takeaways

  • read a GIF app like Giphy or Tenor from the App Store, then open it once to set it up.
  • Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap "Add New Keyboard," and select the GIF app from the list.
  • Tap "Allow Full Access" when prompted so the keyboard can search the internet for GIFs.
  • Once enabled, the GIF keyboard button appears on your regular keyboard and works in Messages, Mail, and most social apps.

Step-by-step: downloading and enabling a GIF keyboard

Start by opening the App Store on your iPhone and searching for "Giphy" or "Tenor." Both are free and work the same way. Tap "Get," then "Install," and authenticate with Face ID or your Apple ID password. Once the app finishes downloading, tap "Open" to launch it for the first time — this registers the keyboard with your phone.

Next, open the Settings app and go to General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Tap the button that says "Add New Keyboard" (it looks like a plus sign). Scroll down and you'll see the GIF app you just installed listed under "Third-Party Keyboards." Tap it to select it. A confirmation screen will appear asking if you want to add this keyboard — tap "Add Keyboard" again.

Your phone will then ask "Allow Full Access?" and explain that the keyboard needs permission to send what you type to Giphy or Tenor's servers so it can search for GIFs. Tap "Allow Full Access" to proceed. Without this permission, the keyboard won't be able to search.

Close Settings and open any app where you can type — Messages, Mail, or a social app like Instagram. Tap the text field and your regular keyboard will appear. Look for a button that looks like a globe or the GIF app's icon (usually to the left of the space bar or in the row above the keyboard). Tap it, and the GIF keyboard will slide up, ready to search.

How to search for and send a GIF

Once the GIF keyboard is open, you'll see a search bar at the top. Type what you're looking for — "funny cat," "thumbs up," "thinking" — and results appear when ready below. Scroll through the options and tap the GIF you want. It will insert directly into your message or post without closing the keyboard, so you can add text before or after if you want.

Some GIF keyboards show trending GIFs or categories like "Reactions" and "Emotions" if you don't search for anything. These are shortcuts to popular choices. You can also favorite GIFs you use often by tapping a heart icon, so they appear in a "Favorites" section next time you open the keyboard.

Switching between your regular keyboard and the GIF keyboard

Once you've added a GIF keyboard, you now have multiple keyboards on your phone. When you tap a text field, your default keyboard (usually the regular QWERTY one) appears first. To switch to the GIF keyboard, tap the globe button or the GIF app icon on the keyboard itself. To switch back to typing, tap the globe button again or tap the regular keyboard icon.

If you have multiple third-party keyboards installed, tapping and holding the globe button shows all your keyboards at once, so you can jump between them quickly. This is useful if you have a GIF keyboard, an emoji keyboard, and your regular keyboard all active at the same time.

Removing a GIF keyboard if you don't want it anymore

If you decide you don't use the GIF keyboard, you can turn it off without deleting the app. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, find the GIF keyboard in the list, tap "Edit," and then tap the red minus button next to it. Tap "Delete" to confirm. The keyboard disappears from your keyboard switcher, but the app stays on your phone if you want to use it later.

To completely remove the app and keyboard, delete the GIF app from your home screen or App Library the way you'd delete any other app. The keyboard will automatically disappear from your settings once the app is gone.

Why some apps don't show the GIF keyboard button

Not every app supports third-party keyboards. Some messaging apps, games, and social platforms have their own custom text fields that don't allow access to your full keyboard menu. If you open a text field and the globe button doesn't appear, that app doesn't support third-party keyboards — you'll only be able to use your regular keyboard and emoji.

Most major apps like Messages, Mail, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook do support third-party keyboards. If you're using a smaller or older app and the GIF keyboard isn't available, there's no workaround — you'd have to copy and paste a GIF from the GIF app itself instead of using the keyboard shortcut.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to pay for a GIF keyboard?

No. Giphy, Tenor, and most other GIF keyboards are free to read and use. They make money by showing ads or through partnerships with the companies that host the GIFs. You don't pay anything to add them to your keyboard.

Will the GIF keyboard work in iMessage and group chats?

Yes. The GIF keyboard works in iMessage, group texts, and any other messaging app that supports third-party keyboards. The GIF sends as an image file, so it works the same way as any other photo or image you'd send through the app.

What happens if I don't tap "Allow Full Access"?

The keyboard will appear on your keyboard menu, but it won't be able to search the internet for GIFs. You'll see an error message or a blank screen when you try to use it. You have to grant full access for the keyboard to work.

Can I use more than one GIF keyboard at the same time?

Yes. You can read and enable both Giphy and Tenor if you want, and switch between them using the globe button. Most people stick with one because they all search the same GIF databases, so there's no real difference in results.

Does using a GIF keyboard slow down my iPhone?

No. Third-party keyboards only run when you open them, and they don't affect your phone's performance otherwise. They use a small amount of storage space and internet data when you search, but nothing noticeable.