Sending GIFs is one of the simplest things you can do on an iPhone — but what should you do if iPhone 13 GIFs stop working? In this article, I’ll explain why iPhone 13 GIFs are not working and show you how to fix the issue.
When you stop and think about it, it’s remarkable how advanced smartphones have become in just a few short years. They’re now our go-to cameras, internet devices, portable movie screens, gaming consoles, and so much more.
However, that’s not to say phones are perfect. In fact, it’s pretty common for them to have a wide variety of issues. Apps get glitched, software bugs pop up, and hardware can malfunction. Considering how many complex tasks we demand of our phones every single day, it’s amazing they work as well and consistently as they do.
For iPhone 13 users, one issue they might encounter is that GIFs stop working on their phones. Apple makes it extremely easy to share GIFs on iMessage. When composing a message, simply tap the red Images icon, tap one of the recommended GIFs, or search for a specific one. Tapping a GIF instantly adds it to your message, making it as easy as possible to send funny GIFs in the blink of an eye. Sometimes, though, these GIFs stop working.
Fix GIFs not working on iPhone 13
Note: information in this article applied to iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Pro, and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
1. remove and re-add the Images app in iMessage
If you notice that GIFs aren’t working on your iPhone 13, one of the easiest ways to fix this is by removing and re-adding the Images app in iMessage. Open the Messages app on your iPhone and swipe left on the apps list at the bottom of the screen until you see a button with three dots. Tap that button, tap ‘Edit’ in the top left corner, tap the ‘-‘ icon next to ‘#images,’ and tap ‘Remove from Favorites.’ Now tap the green toggle next to ‘#images,’ to fully disable the app, tap the toggle again to re-enable it, and it should be back to normal.
If iPhone 13 GIFs still aren’t working after trying the above step, there are a few other troubleshooting tips you can try.
2. Ensure your iPhone language support the ‘#images’ feature
Another possibility is that the iPhone’s Language & Region is set to one that doesn’t support the ‘#images’ feature in iMessage. If this is the case, open the Settings app, tap ‘General,’ tap ‘Language & Region,’ and switch it to ones that do support the feature (such as English for the iPhone Language and United States for the Region).
3. Disable Reduced Motion
Another possibility is that an accessibility feature is preventing images from loading. Once again from the Settings app, scroll down the page and tap ‘Accessibility.’ Tap ‘Motion’ at the top of the screen and make sure ‘Reduce Motion’ isn’t selected. If it is, try disabling this and see if GIFs start working again.
4. Restart the messages app
If GIFs continue to be broken on your iPhone 13, it may just be that the Messages app needs to be restarted. Swipe up and hold from the bottom of your iPhone’s home screen to open the app switcher. Find the Messages app, swipe up to close it, and then open it again.
5. Update third party keyboard
If you’re using a third-party keyboard and having GIF issues with it, it could be that it’s running outdated software. Open the App Store, tap the profile icon in the top right corner, swipe down on the page to check for new app updates, and see if there’s an update available for your keyboard.
6. Update iOS
if all of the above steps fail to fix your GIFs, your iPhone 13 could be running outdated software. Open the Settings app, tap ‘General,’ tap ‘Software Update,’ and download an update if it’s available.
7. Make sure your iPhone is connected to internet
Last but not least, GIFs not working on your iPhone 13 could be related to a more general issue. Double-check that your iPhone is connected to a mobile data or Wi-Fi network and getting a proper internet connection. If other apps and websites aren’t working, you may need to switch to a different network.
Fixed Broken GIFs On iPhone 13
Follow the steps above, and one of them should fix GIFs on your iPhone 13 and make them work again.
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