How To Post a GIF on Instagram: Add Quirky Animations on IG!

Adding fun, animated images to your content is a terrific way to show off your fun, easygoing personality online. What’s awesome is that you can use GIF images to spruce up many content formats, from Instagram Reels to comments. Today, we’re demonstrating how to post a GIF on Instagram to add a touch of lightheartedness to your daily content. Let’s dive in!

Why You Should Add GIFs to Your Social Media Content

GIF images were all the rage on social networks years back, and some internet users today might think they’re so 2013. The Guardian even reports an overall decline in the use of animated GIF images in recent years. But for many loyal GIF lovers, using these playful graphic loops will never go out of style.

GIFs are the perfect thing to add to content on any social media platform to pack some personality into it. It’s perfect for quirky creators who don’t take themselves too seriously and want to express themselves in a lighthearted way.

If you prioritize self-expression and entertaining, relatable content overlooking aesthetically appealing and contrived, GIFs are the way to go. Here are some benefits of uploading GIFs on Instagram (or any other social media application, for that matter!):

• It makes content more relatable and authentic.
• It creates a light, casual, free-spirited feel in your content, kind of like using emojis.
•  It allows you to inject humor into your posts when you use them as memes.

How To Post a GIF on Instagram Story

It’s super easy to add eye-catching GIFs to your Instagram Stories with the help of stickers. Here’s how to post a GIF on Instagram Story content, step by step:

1. Create a new Story post by taking a photo or video or uploading existing media from your camera roll.

2. Tap the sticker icon at the top of the Story Editor screen.

3. Select the GIF sticker option.

4. In the search bar, type a keyword related to the kind of GIFs you want to see.

5. Tap the GIF you want to add to your Story.

6. Pinch and drag the GIF sticker to adjust its size and position on your Story.

7. When you’re happy with your final post, click the share icon to upload it to your Story.

How To Post a GIF on Instagram Comments

You can also use GIFs to quickly express yourself in a creative way in a post’s comments section. Here’s how to post a GIF on Instagram comments:

1. Find the post you want to comment a GIF on and tap the speech bubble icon.

2. Tap the sticker icon beside the Add a comment bar at the bottom.

3. Use the search bar to look for GIF you want to use as a comment.

4. Click the GIF you want to comment. This will instantly send it as a comment on the post.

How To Post a GIF in IG Reels

Recently, Instagram also rolled out a feature called “Clip Hub” to make incorporating GIFs into Reels easier. Here’s how to put GIFs on Instagram Reels, step by step:

1. Create a new Reel and add all the photos, clips, text, and music you want.

2. Position the timeline marker where you want to add a GIF.

3. Click Clip hub at the bottom of the Editor.

4. Use the search bar to find a GIF you want to use.

5. When you find the perfect GIF, tap on it.

6. Trim the GIF video however you want. You can also change its speed and scale.

7. Tap Next to add it to the Reel.

How To Upload GIFs From a Separate Hosting Site

Want to add GIFs from popular hosting sites like GIPHY and Tenor to your Instagram content? The best way to do so is by converting your GIF files into video files for easier upload. You can use Wondershare Filmora—or any other tool for videos—to get the job done. Here’s how:

1. Open your conversion app and upload your GIF.

2. Add text, drawings, and more to edit your GIF however you want.

3. Export the final graphic as a video file and save it to your device.

From there, you can upload that GIF video as a post or sticker in your Instagram content.

GIPHY makes the process even easier. Through the GIPHY website, you can save a GIF as a 15-second MP4 video—the perfect length for Stories. You can add that video directly to your Stories and Reels. Easy-peasy!

Frequently Asked Questions

Use GIFs To Make Your IG Content More Compelling!

Adding animated GIFs to your content lets you express yourself in a fun and humorous way. Sure, adding GIFs to your posts is an extra step in the content creation process. But it’s worth it because you get to engage your audience in a lighthearted, candid manner.

Now that you know how to post a GIF on Instagram, it’s on to the next task. Your job now is to get people to see your GIF-loaded posts. Path Social can help immensely with that.

We use proprietary, AI-driven targeting algorithms to boost your content and make sure your target audience sees it. The more people see your posts, the more followers you’ll see rolling in. We’ve done this for many creators, like Terrell Conyers, who gained 29,000 new followers with our help. You can experience the same boost in fans with our tried-and-tested strategies. 

Get more Instagram followers with Path Social today!