How to send a GIF in Slack

We are GIF-obsessed at Zapier, and we use GIPHY to send GIFs in Slack. But if you don’t need all the bells and whistles you get with GIPHY—captions, sound, the works—there’s a built-in way to add a GIF in Slack.

Here’s how to send a GIF in Slack:

1. In any message field, type /gif, followed by a word or phrase you’re searching for. For example, /gif dan levy.

   

2. Hit Enter or return.

3. Choose the GIF you want from the results (or edit the search in the search bar and then choose).

   

4. The GIF will automatically populate in your message field. Add any commentary you want (or just let the GIF speak for itself!), and hit Enter or return.  

The best part about using this method instead of GIPHY is that your awkward search terms won’t show up for everyone to see. 

How to send a GIF in Slack on mobile

This Slack command doesn’t work on the Slack app on my phone, so on mobile, you’ll need to tap instead of type (which is honestly easier anyway). You can also use this method on your computer, if you want.

1. Tap the smiley face icon below the message field.

   

2. Tap the GIFs tab, and type your search term.

   

3. Tap the GIF you want to use, and it’ll automatically be added to your message.

4. Add a message, if you want, and tap the send icon.

Tips for using GIFs in Slack

There’s definitely an art to using GIFs in Slack. Don’t be that person who uses the same GIF for every occasion or who turns a professional conversation into an awkward mess.

• Remember the slash: You need to be sure it’s /gif, not just gif. Otherwise, everyone in the channel will get a message that says “gif dont sass me.” Not ideal.

• Read the room: Don’t use GIFs in every conversation, and be sure the people on the receiving end understand your humor. 

• Get specific with your keywords: Try different keywords or specific modifiers to find the GIF that captures your mood. Dan Levy captures every mood I’ve ever had, so I always add his name to the end of my searches.

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