Twitter Experimenting With Dedicated GIF Button for Mobile Apps [Updated] - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Twitter Experimenting With Dedicated GIF Button for Mobile Apps [Updated]

by

A few Twitter users on the social network's Android app have begun to notice a dedicated GIF button within the Tweet composition box of the mobile client. Speaking with TechCrunch, Twitter user Phil Pearlman said that the new button lets users browse through current popular GIFs in a trending tab, or select a mood they're feeling to see resulting GIFs based on that emotion. So far the GIF button appears to only be showing up on Android, but if Twitter is planning a wide rollout, it should presumably come to iOS as well.

gif button twitter 1

Pearlman wasn't the only Twitter user to see the GIF button appear within the Android app, with quite a few people mentioning it over the past day. It's also been disappearing for just as many who got to briefly test the feature out, with a couple users -- including Pearlman -- noticing the button suddenly disappearing from the app.

Besides a playful GIF of its own, Twitter didn't respond to comment on the possible large-scale rollout of a GIF button feature for the service's mobile app. Given that many users already go through the laborious process of searching for GIFs online and inserting them into tweets through the Media option, it makes sense for the company to begin streamlining that process.

Update 2/17: Twitter has confirmed that "GIF Search" is officially coming to iOS, Android, and Twitter.com users "over the coming weeks."

Tag: Twitter

Top Rated Comments

centauratlas Avatar
134 months ago
Is this real?
Check the date. ;-)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jmh600cbr Avatar
134 months ago
That's another new feature ;) https://blog.twitter.com/2013/annncng-twttr
Is this real?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
arn Avatar
134 months ago
I understand the character limitation of Twitter, but of all the ways to save letters why would he choose to drop those two specific vowels? He could have dropped "way" from "way cool" and gotten his point across while still doing a better job of spelling.
I think the original name of the service was twttr

http://techcrunch.com/2006/07/15/is-twttr-interesting/
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yashar07 Avatar
134 months ago
I wish Twitter would add an edit option.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Keane16 Avatar
134 months ago
I like GIFs. But I wish a modern equivalent would emerge (APNG or anything else that can get wide adoption quickly). With better support for colours and smaller file sizes.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
innominato5090 Avatar
134 months ago
I understand the character limitation of Twitter, but of all the ways to save letters why would he choose to drop those two specific vowels? He could have dropped "way" from "way cool" and gotten his point across while still doing a better job of spelling.
That's another new feature ;) https://blog.twitter.com/2013/annncng-twttr
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

X twitter logo

XChat App Now Available

Friday April 24, 2026 1:46 pm PDT by
X today launched XChat, a standalone messaging app for the iPhone and iPad, available now on the App Store. XChat allows users to chat with anyone on X in a private, focused space separate from the main X app. At launch, the app supports direct messaging and group chats, audio and video calls, and file sharing. X claims all messages are end-to-end encrypted and PIN protected, with no ads or...
iOS 27 on iPhone 17 1

iOS 27 Will Add These New Features to Your iPhone

Saturday May 2, 2026 8:43 am PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil iOS 27 during its WWDC 2026 keynote on June 8, and there are already many rumored features and changes for iPhones. The first developer beta of iOS 27 will likely be available immediately following the keynote, and a public beta typically follows in July. Following beta testing, the software update should be released to all users with a compatible iPhone in...
Apple MacBook Pro M4 hero

Why You Might Want to Wait to Buy a MacBook Pro

Friday May 1, 2026 3:43 pm PDT by
Apple refreshed the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max models in March 2026, but depending on your needs and interests, you might want to skip this generation because there's something better in the works. The M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models have faster chips, but the same design that Apple has used since 2021. An updated design with new display technology and faster ...