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In addition to texting friends and family, you can use GIFs to better represent your reaction or add a bit of humor. Signal is one of many apps that support GIFs. If you’re new to the app and wondering how to use them, look no further.
This article will discuss the use of GIFs in Signal. We’ll dive into the available methods and how to use them across platforms.
How to Use GIFs in Signal on an iPhone
To use GIFs in Signal on your iPhone, follow the steps below:
- Open Signal.
- Select the contact you want to chat with.
- Tap the plus icon.
- Tap “GIF.”
- Choose one or search by category.
- When you’ve selected a GIF, press the arrow at the bottom-right corner.
You can also download one and share it with your Signal contacts:
- Open your browser.
- In the search bar, type the GIF name and add “gif” at the end.
- Save the GIF to your iPhone.
- Open Signal and select a contact.
- Tap the plus icon and the recently saved files should appear below.
- Tap the GIF and it will be automatically sent to your contact.
If you’ve created a GIF and want to show it to someone on Signal, follow these steps:
- Open Signal.
- Find someone.
- Press the plus sign at the bottom-left corner.
- Tap the gallery icon.
- Select the GIF you want to send.
- Press the send button twice.
How to Use GIFs in Signal on an Android Device
Signal is also available as an Android app with a few differences. You can browse GIFs within the app, download them from any website and share them with your contact, or send the ones you’ve created.
Here’s how to browse and send GIFs within the app:
- Open Signal.
- Select the person to whom you want to send a GIF.
- Tap the smiley icon at the bottom-left corner.
- Tap “GIF.”
- Browse the available GIFS or use the search bar to find a category.
- Select one and press the arrow to send it.
If you want to download a GIF online and send it through Signal, follow the steps below:
- Open your browser and search for a GIF. Type “gif” at the end to get the most relevant results.
- Find one that you like and save it to your Android device.
- Open Signal and select a recipient.
- Tap the plus sign at the bottom-right corner.
- Recently saved files will appear below. Select the downloaded GIF and tap the arrow to send it.
Sharing GIFs is possible if you follow these steps:
- Open Signal and select somebody.
- Tap the plus sign and press “Gallery.”
- Browse through the folders and find the relevant GIF.
- Press the send button twice.
How to Use GIFs in Signal on a PC
You can also use Signal on your PC. Although similar to the mobile app, the GIFs functions are different in that there isn’t an option to browse GIPHY within the app. When you press the smiley icon, you’ll only see the available emojis. The plus sign access files on your computer. There’s an option to send stickers but none for GIFs.
However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t share GIFs on the desktop app. In fact, there are several methods.
The first is to copy the link of the GIF and share it:
- Open your browser.
- Search for a GIF that you want to share or visit GIPHY.
- Copy the GIF’s link.
- Open Signal and select a contact.
- Paste the link into the message bar and press “Enter.”
There’s also the “drag and drop” method:
- Open your browser and find a GIF.
- Drag the GIF to your desktop.
- Open the Signal app and go to any chat.
- Drag the GIF from the desktop and press “Enter” to send it.
If the GIF is already on your computer, follow these steps:
- Open Signal and select a chat.
- Tap the plus sign at the bottom-right corner.
- Find the GIF and press “Open.”
- Press “Enter” to send it.
Many users don’t use Signal on their computers because there isn’t an option to send GIFs, unlike similar apps such as WhatsApp and Telegram.
Have Fun With GIFs in Signal
GIFs are a fun way to explain a process, display your reaction, or catch someone’s attention. While the Signal app allows you to browse GIPHY within, this isn’t possible with the desktop client. Still, there are multiple ways to share GIFs, even for the desktop version.
Do you often send GIFs in Signal? Do you prefer the mobile or desktop version? Tell us in the comments section below.