Animated GIFs Not Playing in Outlook

Animated GIFs are a popular way to add visual interest and convey information in emails. However, some users may encounter issues with animated GIFs not working properly in Microsoft Outlook.

Please follow the steps below to troubleshoot and resolve the issue:

1. Enable animations in Outlook. If animated graphics are not enabled, then the first frame of the GIF will be displayed. Instructions on checking this setting can be found on Microsoft's support page:

   The animated graphic in my e-mail message doesn't work

2. Ensure GIFs are supported in your Outlook version. The following versions are known to support animated GIFs:

   • Outlook for Microsoft 365

   • Outlook 2021

   • Outlook 2019

   • Outlook 2016

   • Outlook 2013

3. Reduce GIF Size and Complexity. Animated GIFs with large file sizes or complex animations may not display correctly in Outlook.

   • Optimize the GIF by reducing its file size using image editing tools or online GIF compressors.

   • Consider simplifying the animation to improve compatibility.

4. Try Another Email Client. If the issue persists, test the same email with animated GIFs in a different email client or webmail service to determine if the problem is specific to Outlook.

   If the GIFs work fine in other email clients, you may need to contact Microsoft support for further assistance.

If you have followed the troubleshooting steps above and the issue still persists, we recommend reaching out to Microsoft Support for further assistance. For other Outlook rendering issues, please refer to Outlook Rendering Issues.