How to Send Animated Text Messages on Any Device

Sending animated text messages is a great way to add some personality to your conversations. You can use apps like Giphy to find and send animated GIFs.

To send animated text messages on any device, you'll need to use a messaging app that supports GIFs. The most popular messaging apps, such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and iMessage, all have built-in GIF features.

Using a GIF keyboard can make it easy to find and send animated GIFs. For example, the Gboard keyboard on Android devices has a dedicated GIF button that lets you search for and send GIFs right from the keyboard.

You can also use third-party apps, like Giphy, to find and send GIFs. These apps often have large libraries of GIFs that you can browse through and send to your friends.

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You can animate your message bubble by using effects, such as Slam or Loud, to make it appear to pop out, or use Gentle to make it arrive softly.

To access bubble effects, go to the Messages app on your iPhone, enter a message or insert an image or link, touch and hold , and tap a gray dot to preview a bubble effect.

For Android phones, the GIF function is integrated into the default messaging app. You can find the GIF tab by tapping on the emoji icon or smiley face in the text input field.

You can also add a GIF to a text message by clicking the Select file button and choosing a GIF from your computer or uploading it from a URL.

To add special effects to iMessages, tap and hold the Send button next to the text field, and select an option to see a preview of the effect.

The Invisible Ink effect makes the text blurry until the recipient taps on it, while Slam makes the text "slam" down onto the screen.

Here are the bubble special effects you can choose to use:

To access screen effects, which occupy the whole display, tap the Screen tap at the top and swipe left to access different options.

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Adding GIFs to Messages is a breeze on most smartphones. You can access GIFs directly within the default messaging app on Android devices.

To add a GIF to a text message on an Android device, open your default messaging app, tap on an existing conversation or start a new one, and look for the emoji icon or smiley face. Tap on it to open the emoji panel and select the GIF tab.

You can also use a dedicated GIF app like GIPHY, which has a vast collection of GIFs, stickers, and other visual content. To use GIPHY, download and install the app, search for the GIF you want, tap on it, and then share it with the messaging app you're using.

Here are some popular ways to add GIFs to messages:

You can add some personality to your messages by formatting the text or applying fun effects. You can format text with bold, italics, and underlining, or add animated effects like explode or shake to any letter, word, or sentence, even emojis.

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To do this, go to the Messages app on your iPhone, select the text you want to format, and tap above the keyboard to access the formatting options. You can also use the Effects menu by tapping on the text and selecting the effects icon.

You can apply multiple animations to one phrase, and even add effects to emojis or stickers. If you've already sent a message and want to add animations later, you can long press on the message and select Edit in the drop-down menu.

Some specific words will trigger reactions in the Messages app, such as "Happy Birthday", which fills the screen with balloons. Other phrases that trigger reactions include "Congratulations", "Pew pew", and "Happy New Year."

Here are some simple text effects you can apply to your messages:

You can access these effects by tapping on the text and selecting the Effects menu, or by double tapping on a word to select it and find the Text Effects option.

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An animate full screen effect can be a fun way to make your messages stand out. To access these effects, go to the Messages app and touch and hold the effects icon, then tap Screen.

Swipe left to preview different screen effects, which can include lively lasers, a moving spotlight, or echoing bubbles. These effects play when your recipient gets your message.

Some screen effects play automatically if you send certain messages. Here are some of the trigger phrases that will create an automatic effect:

You can also add full-screen effects manually by following these steps:

Adding a GIF to your iPhone is a breeze, and you don't need to download any third-party keyboards to do it. Apple has made sending GIFs relatively easy through iMessage.

To add a GIF to text on an iPhone, you can follow these steps:

You can also use a dedicated GIF app like GIPHY for a more extensive collection of GIFs.

You can find GIFs to add to your messages in various places. GIPHY is one of the best platforms for sending GIFs in a text message, with a large database of more than one million GIFs.

If you're an Android user, you can also access GIFs through the Gboard keyboard. Below is an image showing how GIFs will appear on your Gboard. However, if you love using GIFs regularly or want a more extensive collection, downloading a dedicated GIF app like GIPHY is ideal.

You can find GIFs on other platforms as well, including the Google Play Store and the Omnisend image and GIF library. To add a GIF from Omnisend, click the Select file button and choose a GIF for your text message.

Here are some popular places to find GIFs:

Note: Ensure that your GIF files meet the maximum size requirements before adding them to your message. Ideally, your GIF files shouldn’t be larger than 500KB.

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Using third-party tools can be a game-changer for sending animated text messages.

You can install a third-party GIF app like GIPHY to access a wider selection of GIFs and a more comprehensive search function. This is especially useful if the default messaging app on your device doesn't have a built-in GIF option.

To use GIPHY, you'll need to download and install it from the App Store on your iPhone or the Google Play Store on your Android device. Once installed, navigate to Settings and provide full access to the GIPHY keyboard.

On Android, you can also use a third-party keyboard like Gboard, which offers a more customizable experience. To access Gboard's GIF feature, tap the emoji icon on the keyboard to open the emoji and GIF menu.

Here are some popular third-party GIF tools you can consider:

Each of these tools has its own unique features and interface, so you can choose the one that best fits your needs. By using a third-party GIF app or keyboard, you can add a more personal touch to your text messages and make them more engaging for your friends and family.

To add a GIF to your text message, click the Select file button and choose a GIF from your computer or upload it from a URL. Omnisend also provides an image and GIF library for your convenience.

GIF files should be optimized for size, ideally not larger than 500KB. If you need to reduce the size of your GIF, you can use a tool like FreeConvert.

You can see the selected GIF along with the text in the preview, making it easy to ensure everything looks just right before sending.

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To send animated text messages, you need to make sure your iOS settings are configured correctly. This includes turning on the Reduce Motion setting to ensure full-screen effects work properly.

The Reduce Motion setting is located in the Settings app under the Accessibility heading. You can also turn on the Auto-Play Message Effects setting to play effects as soon as you open a message containing one.

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To access message effects, open the Messages app and tap an existing conversation or the New Message button. Then, type the message you want to add an effect to and tap and hold the Send button next to the text field.

The Send with effect window will open, showing you the Bubble options, which apply different animations to the message itself. You can select an option to see a preview of the effect, such as the Invisible Ink effect.

To access screen effects, which occupy the whole display, tap the Screen tab at the top. Swipe left to access different options, including the Spotlight effect, which shines a light on the message.

Here are the steps to send an iMessage with effects:

Adding special effects to iMessages is actually a simple process, but it's not immediately obvious.

You can manually add special effects to iMessages by using the special effect options, which are divided into two categories: bubble and screen effects.

Bubble effects only affect the blue text bubble, while screen effects take up the whole screen.

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Sending messages manually can be a bit more involved than automatic messaging. You have the option to add special effects to iMessages, which can make your messages stand out.

Adding special effects is a simple process, but it's not immediately obvious. These effects are divided into two categories: bubble and screen effects. Bubble effects only affect the blue text bubble, while screen effects take up the whole screen.

To manually send a message, you can select the recipient and type your message as you normally would.

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Automatic Screen Effects in Messages can be a fun way to add some personality to your conversations.

Some screen effects play automatically if you send certain messages, so you don't have to take extra steps to activate them.

You can use specific keywords to trigger these effects, and they work in other languages too.

Experiment with different phrases to see what kinds of results you get.

As of iOS 13.4, only the Pew pew effect is still active, and it creates a Lasers effect.

You can use the following trigger phrases to get these effects:

If you want a wider selection of GIFs or a different interface, you can install a third-party GIF app like GIPHY or Gboard. These apps offer more comprehensive search functions and customization options than the default messaging apps.

GIPHY, for example, offers a more comprehensive search function than the default iMessage app. You can install GIPHY from the App Store and navigate to Settings to provide full access to the GIPHY keyboard.

To add GIF to text using GIPHY, follow these steps:

Alternatively, you can use Gboard on Android, which offers a built-in GIF option and more customization. To add GIF to a text on Android using Gboard, follow these steps: