> Quick answer: Gboard, Google's keyboard for Android and iOS, has a built-in GIF keyboard that lets you search and send animated GIFs directly in any chat app. To send GIFs via Gboard, tap the emoji icon, select GIF, and search. To convert a custom GIF into a Slack or Discord emoji (128×128px, under 128KB), use AnimGifMoji.
What Is Gboard and Why Do GIFs Matter on Mobile?
Gboard is Google's free keyboard app for Android and iOS. Installed by default on most Android devices, it goes far beyond typing — it includes a built-in emoji picker, a GIF search engine powered by Tenor, sticker support, and even a Google Search bar baked right into the keyboard. With hundreds of millions of installs, Gboard is one of the most popular ways people discover and send animated GIFs on mobile.
GIFs have become the universal language of reaction on mobile. Whether you're celebrating a win in a group chat, responding to a friend's news, or spicing up a boring Slack thread, an animated GIF communicates emotion in a way that static emoji simply can't match. Gboard's GIF keyboard puts the entire Tenor library at your fingertips, so you can find the perfect animated moment in seconds — without leaving your conversation.
Understanding how to fully use Gboard GIFs, and how to level up from browsing Tenor to uploading custom animated emoji into your platforms, is a game-changer for anyone who lives in chat apps.
How to Enable the GIF Keyboard on Gboard
Enabling GIF access in Gboard is straightforward, and the steps are nearly identical on Android and iOS.
On Android
- Open any app that uses the keyboard (Messages, WhatsApp, Slack, Discord — any messaging app works).
- Tap the emoji icon (smiley face) in the bottom-left corner of the Gboard keyboard.
- Look for the GIF tab — it appears alongside the emoji and sticker tabs at the top of the picker. If you don't see it immediately, swipe the tab row to find it.
- Tap GIF to enter the GIF search panel.
- Browse trending GIFs or type a search term like "celebrate," "laugh," or "thumbs up" to find the perfect animated GIF.
- Tap any GIF to send it directly into your conversation.
On iOS (iPhone/iPad)
- Download Gboard from the App Store if you haven't already.
- Go to Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Gboard.
- Enable Full Access when prompted — this allows GIF search to function.
- In any messaging app, switch to Gboard by holding the globe icon on the keyboard.
- Tap the emoji/GIF icon at the bottom-left and select the GIF tab.
> 💡 Tip: If you don't see the GIF tab in Gboard, open the Gboard app directly, go to Preferences, and make sure Show emoji switch key is turned on. Also confirm that Tenor access is enabled in your phone's privacy settings.
How to Search and Send GIF Emoji from Gboard
Gboard's GIF search is powered by Tenor, one of the world's largest animated GIF libraries. Here's how to get the most out of it:
Searching for the Right GIF
- Use descriptive terms: Instead of just typing "happy," try "happy dance," "excited jumping," or "clapping applause" to get more specific results.
- Browse by category: Gboard organizes GIFs into categories like Reactions, Love, Sports, Animals, and more. Tap any category to browse curated collections.
- Trending GIFs: The default view shows trending GIFs — a great place to find culturally relevant reactions that your contacts will recognize.
- Keyboard shortcut: On Android, you can also long-press the Enter key to access the GIF panel directly.
Sending GIFs Across Apps
One of Gboard's biggest advantages is that the GIF keyboard works in virtually every app that accepts text input. This includes:
- SMS/MMS — Standard text messages (carrier-dependent on MMS support)
- WhatsApp — GIFs send as animated messages
- Slack — GIFs appear inline in channels and DMs
- Discord — GIFs render in servers and direct messages
- Instagram DMs, Twitter/X DMs, Telegram — All support Gboard GIFs
Simply find your GIF in Gboard's picker and tap it. The GIF gets inserted directly into the message field. No copy-paste needed.
> ⚠️ Warning: Some apps — particularly enterprise tools with strict content policies — may block external GIF insertion or render the file as a broken link rather than an animated image. If a GIF isn't animating after you send it, check the app's media settings or try sending via the app's built-in GIF picker instead.
Gboard GIF vs. Platform Emoji: What's the Difference?
There's an important distinction between sending a GIF through Gboard and uploading a custom animated emoji to a platform like Slack or Discord:
| Feature | Gboard GIF (via Tenor) | Custom Animated Emoji |
|---|---|---|
| Source | Tenor GIF library | Your own custom GIF |
| Where it appears | Inline as a media file | As an emoji in the keyboard |
| Platform | Any messaging app | Slack, Discord, Teams |
| Size requirement | No limit (Tenor handles it) | 128×128px, file size limits apply |
Reusable as :emoji: | No | Yes — accessible by emoji name |
| Requires upload | No | Yes — admin/moderator access |
When you send a GIF from Gboard, you're sharing a Tenor-hosted media file. It appears as a full-size animated image in the conversation. Custom emoji, on the other hand, are small 128×128px animated icons that live in the platform's emoji picker and can be triggered by typing :emoji-name: anywhere in the app.
Both have their place. Gboard GIFs are great for one-off reactions in casual conversation. Custom animated emoji are better for team culture — recurring reactions your whole Slack workspace or Discord server can use.
How to Convert a Custom GIF into an Emoji for Slack, Discord, or Teams
If you've found a GIF you love — whether on Tenor, Giphy, or your own collection — and you want to turn it into a reusable emoji for your workspace, the process requires resizing and compressing the GIF to meet each platform's strict technical requirements.
This is where AnimGifMoji comes in. AnimGifMoji is a free online tool that converts any animated GIF to the exact specifications required by Slack, Discord, and Microsoft Teams. You don't need to install anything — it runs entirely in your browser.
Step-by-Step: Convert a GIF to a Slack Emoji
- Find your GIF — Use Gboard's GIF search to discover a GIF, then long-press it to copy or save it. Alternatively, use AnimGifMoji's built-in Tenor GIF search to find and convert GIFs directly.
- Open AnimGifMoji at animgifmoji.com.
- Drop your GIF onto the converter or click to upload.
- AnimGifMoji automatically resizes the GIF to 128×128 pixels and compresses it under 128KB.
- Download the converted emoji file.
- In Slack, go to your workspace name → Customize Workspace → Emoji → Add Emoji.
- Upload the file, give it a name (e.g.,
:happy-dance:), and click Save.
Your custom animated emoji is now available to everyone in your Slack workspace.
Platform Emoji Specifications
Before uploading, make sure your GIF meets each platform's requirements:
| Platform | Max Dimensions | Max File Size | Animated? | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slack | 128×128px | 128KB | Yes | Free for all workspaces |
| Discord | 128×128px | 256KB | Yes (server upload) | Nitro required to use animated emoji cross-server |
| Microsoft Teams | 128×128px | 1MB | Yes | Available to all Teams users |
| 512×512px | 500KB (sticker) | Yes | Must be in WebP format |
AnimGifMoji handles Slack, Discord, and Teams automatically. The tool detects the target platform you select and applies the correct resize and compression settings.
> 💡 Tip: If your GIF is very long or has many frames, it may still exceed the file size limit even after resizing. In that case, try trimming the GIF to its most expressive 1-2 seconds before converting. AnimGifMoji's compression is aggressive, but shorter GIFs always produce smaller files.
Gboard vs. Other GIF Keyboards: A Quick Comparison
Gboard isn't the only GIF keyboard on Android. Here's how it stacks up against the alternatives:
| Keyboard App | GIF Source | Platforms | Custom Emoji Upload | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gboard | Tenor | Android, iOS | No | Free |
| Samsung Keyboard | Tenor / Giphy | Android (Samsung) | No | Free |
| SwiftKey | Tenor | Android, iOS | No | Free |
| Fleksy | Giphy | Android, iOS | No | Free |
| Gboard + AnimGifMoji | Tenor + custom | Any platform | Yes (via AnimGifMoji) | Free |
The key insight: no keyboard app lets you upload custom GIFs as platform emoji directly. For that workflow, you need a tool like AnimGifMoji. Gboard is excellent for discovering and sending public GIFs; AnimGifMoji bridges the gap to custom emoji creation.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Gboard GIFs
Keyboard Shortcut for GIF Search
On Android, you can reach the GIF panel faster with this trick: tap and hold the comma key (,) on the Gboard keyboard. On some devices, this opens the emoji/GIF/sticker panel directly, saving you a tap.
Save Favorites
Gboard lets you favorite GIFs and emoji for quick access. When you find a GIF you use repeatedly, tap the bookmark icon (if visible) or long-press to save it. Your favorites appear at the top of the emoji/GIF panel for instant access.
Use Tenor's Category Tags
Tenor, which powers Gboard's GIF search, organizes content by mood and context. Try searching for categories like:
- "reaction" — expressive human reactions
- "celebration" — parties, fireworks, confetti
- "work" — office-appropriate GIFs for Slack
- "gaming" — perfect for Discord servers
These category searches often surface higher-quality, more contextually appropriate GIFs than broad emotion searches.
Combine Gboard Discovery with AnimGifMoji Upload
Here's the power workflow: use Gboard to discover great GIFs via Tenor's search, then use AnimGifMoji to convert those GIFs into custom emoji for your workspace. AnimGifMoji even has its own Tenor search integration — you can search Tenor, preview animated GIFs, and convert them to emoji without ever leaving the tool.
Related Articles
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- Browse GIFs on our Tenor search page — find the perfect animated GIF
- Animated Emoji GIF: Create & Convert for Slack, Discord & Teams
- Best Slack Emoji GIFs: Find, Convert & Use Animated Emojis
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get GIFs on Gboard?
Gboard includes a built-in GIF keyboard powered by Tenor. To access it, tap the emoji icon (smiley face) on the Gboard keyboard, then tap the GIF tab. You can search Tenor's entire library directly from the keyboard and tap any GIF to send it.
Why isn't the GIF tab showing in my Gboard?
If you don't see the GIF tab, try these fixes: (1) Update Gboard to the latest version from the Play Store or App Store. (2) Open the Gboard app → Preferences → ensure emoji and GIF features are enabled. (3) On iOS, make sure Full Access is enabled for Gboard in Settings → General → Keyboard. (4) Check that Tenor is not blocked by any content filtering on your device.
Can I use Gboard GIFs in Slack?
Yes. When you send a GIF from Gboard in Slack, it appears as an animated image in the channel or DM. However, it's not the same as a custom Slack emoji. For a reusable animated emoji that lives in Slack's emoji picker and can be triggered with :emoji-name:, you need to use a tool like AnimGifMoji to convert and upload the GIF as a custom workspace emoji.
What is the best way to convert a Gboard GIF to a custom Slack emoji?
Save or download the GIF from Gboard (long-press the GIF and choose Save or Copy), then go to AnimGifMoji and upload the file. AnimGifMoji automatically resizes to 128×128px and compresses under 128KB — Slack's exact requirements. Download the converted file and upload it to Slack via Customize Workspace → Emoji → Add Emoji.
Does Gboard work on iPhone for GIFs?
Yes. Download Gboard from the App Store, add it as a keyboard in iOS Settings, and enable Full Access. Once set up, you can switch to Gboard in any app and access the GIF tab powered by Tenor, just like on Android.