Animated GIFs in Outlook: Adding Visual Interest to Your Emails

Inserting GIFs in Outlook 2016 and Later

Tired of sending plain and static emails? With Microsoft Outlook 2016 and later, you can now add animated GIFs to your emails, breathing life and personality into your electronic communication.

To insert a GIF in Outlook 2016 and later, simply follow these steps:

1. Click on the "Insert" tab.
2. Select "Pictures" and browse to the GIF you want to insert.
3. Click "Insert" to add the GIF to your email.

Limitations of Gif Support in Earlier Outlook Versions

Outlook 2007-2013

Note that Outlook 2007, 2010, and 2013 do not support full GIF animation. Instead, they will only display the first frame of the GIF as a static image.

Outlook 2016 and Later

In Outlook 2016 and later, animated GIFs will play automatically when the email is opened. However, some email clients may not support GIF animation, so it's important to keep that in mind when sending.

Adding GIFs to Office 365 Business Emails

If you're using an Office 365 Business account, you have the additional option of inserting GIFs via the GIPHY tab in Outlook.

To insert a GIF from GIPHY:

1. Click on the "Insert" tab.
2. Select "GIPHY." A search bar will appear.
3. Search for the GIF you want to insert.
4. Click on the GIF to insert it into your email.

Utilizing GIFs Effectively in Emails

When using GIFs in emails, it's essential to consider their purpose and ensure they align with your message. GIFs can add humor, convey emotions, or illustrate complex ideas effectively. However, it's important to avoid overuse or distracting GIFs that may detract from your message.