Have you ever come across a hilarious or brilliant GIF reaction to a tweet and wanted to save it to share with friends? I‘ve certainly been there many times! But trying to download a GIF from Twitter can be surprisingly tricky.
In this epic guide, you‘ll get a peek behind the curtain at why saving GIFs is so difficult on the platform. I‘ll also provide foolproof step-by-step instructions to grab any GIF you want – whether on desktop or mobile.
So bookmark this page and let‘s get saving my friend!
Why Are Twitter GIFs So Hard to Download? A Brief History
First, let‘s quickly demystify what exactly GIFs are:
- GIF stands for Graphics Interchange Format
- Developed in 1987 to display short, looping image animations
- No sound, but small file size made them perfect for early web
- Range from a few frames to short video clips
GIFs became hugely popular in the early 2010s thanks to sites like Reddit, Tumblr, and Messenger supporting the nostalgic format.
But Twitter held out…
The Long Road to GIF Adoption on Twitter
When Twitter launched in 2006, image support was limited to JPEGs and PNGs. For years they resisted the rising GIF tide.
In late 2012 though, realizing how vital GIF reactions were becoming to online conversation, Twitter began experimenting with GIF integration.
Early GIF access was granted only to select brand accounts and advertisers. It wasn‘t until March 2013 that normal users gained posting privileges.
And GIFs quickly became a Twitter staple:
| Year | Daily GIF Tweets |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 2 million |
| 2017 | 200 million |
| 2022 | 500 million |
But Twitter never built native GIF uploading into their app and website. Instead they converted uploads to short MP4 video files.
This workaround displays the animation, but makes downloading a headache…which brings us to saving challenges.
Why Twitter GIFs Are Tough to Save
Because Twitter GIFs are hosted as videos, obtaining the actual GIF file requires a few extra steps:
- Download the video from Twitter
- Convert back into GIF format
- Customize as needed
It‘s certainly more complicated compared to natively supported hosts like Giphy and Tenor!
Luckily this guide has you covered end-to-end…
Saving Twitter GIFs on Desktop (5 Steps)
Let‘s get into the step-by-step process for grabbing those brilliant GIF reactions from desktop web browsers:
Step 1: Copy the Tweet Link
Finding the specific GIF-containing tweet is priority one.
- On Twitter web, right click the timestamp of post
- Select Copy link to Tweet from the menu
- This copies URL of that post to your clipboard
For example, we‘ll save this PG-13 GIF zinger about the economy:
Step 2: Paste Link Into a Twitter Downloader Site
Now with link in hand, it‘s time to extract the MP4 video file hidden behind the GIF curtain.
We‘ll demonstrate using the site Twitter Video Downloader, but other options like TwDown work as well.
- Paste your copied Twitter link into input bar
- Click the Download button
- Site fetches GIF‘s video version from Twitter
Step 3: Select the Video Quality
On the next screen you can pick download resolution ranging 144p to 1080p HD.
Bigger file sizes have better quality, but will be slower when converted back to GIF format.
I recommend 720p or SD quality as a balanced option.
Once picked, click the download button to save video file to computer.
Step 4: Convert Downloaded MP4 to GIF
We‘re on the home stretch! With video file in hand, time to transform back into animated GIF glory.
I use the site EzGif for seamless video-to-GIF conversion:
- Click Upload and select your downloaded MP4
- Customize options if desired
- Hit Convert to render the GIF
- Voila! Preview displays your glorious animated reaction
Other top-notch converters include Zamzar, CloudConvert, and Convertio.
Step 5: Save That GIF!
We did it! Last step is downloading your newly minted GIF.
- On EzGif, right click the preview image
- Choose Save Image As
- Boom! GIF saved and ready to upload anywhere
Some converters also allow edits before downloading:
- Trim length
- Crop dimensions
- Adjust frame speed
- Add text captions
So feel free to customize to your heart‘s content!
And that‘s it my friend! Wasn‘t so hard right? Now let‘s tackle…
Saving Twitter GIFs on Mobile
What about grabbing those tweet GIFs on iPhone or Android? The process is similar with a few extra app downloads.
I‘ll compare top options for iOS and Android to help pick your favorite.
iOS: Best Apps to Save Twitter GIFs
Apple fans need to download a specialized GIF saving app from the App Store. Let‘s contrast two excellent choices:
| App | GIFwrapped | GIF Maker |
|---|---|---|
| Download from | App Store | App Store |
| Twitter Support | Direct URL import | URL or Screen Recording |
| Edit Features | Stickers, Effects, Crop | Trim, Crop, Draw, Text |
| File Types | GIF, Video | GIF, MP4, Images |
| Price | $3.99 | Free + $7.99 Pro |
As you can see both enable saving Twitter GIFs in a few easy taps:
GIFwrapped
- In Twitter, tap Share below GIF and Copy Link
- Open GIFwrapped and paste URL in search bar
- Tap downloaded GIF to save to camera roll
GIF Maker
- Import GIF tweet URL
- Tap download icon to convert and save
GIFwrapped has richer editing tools, while GIF Maker provides more output formats. Choose the best app for your preferences!
Android: Best Apps to Save Twitter GIFs
On the Android side I recommend checking out GIF Maker and TDownloader.
| App | GIF Maker | TDownloader |
|---|---|---|
| Download from | Google Play | Google Play |
| Twitter Support | URL or Screen Recording | Direct URL Import |
| Edit Tools | Trim, Crop, Draw, Text | Basic Trimming |
| Output Formats | GIF, MP4, Images | GIF, MP4 |
| Price | Free + $7.99 Pro | $2.99 |
The general Twitter GIF saving process maps across both:
GIF Maker
- Import tweet URL containing desired GIF
- Tap download icon to render GIF or video
- Access downloads from device gallery
TDownloader
- Copy GIF tweet URL in Twitter
- Paste URL in TDownloader
- Choose download format and save location
As with iOS options, pick based on your specific functionality needs!
Pro Twitter GIF Saving Tips
Now that you have the fundamentals, here are some advanced tactics to step up your GIF game:
Seek Out Original Sources
Rather than the lower quality Twitter copies, find the original high resolution GIF sources for the crispest results:
- Perform reverse image search on the GIF preview
- This often leads back to host sites like Giphy or Tenor
- Download the full version direct from the source!
Clip Longer Videos
Twitter‘s 15-second time limit forces severe trimming. Revert back to the full original video for more context:
- Expand search to uncover uncut versions
- Use editing tools to isolate the critical moments
- Reduce file size by cutting excess footage
Enhance & Customize
The real fun comes in transforming downloaded GIFs into your own unique creations:
- Mash up with other reaction GIFs for comedic combos
- Add captions, stickers, filters for memes
- Change speed, crop dimensions, tweak colors
Leverage those mobile editing apps for custom reactions that perfectly encapsulate your group chats!
The only limit is your imagination…well and perhaps your friends‘ patience. 😆
Let the Twitter GIF Collecting Commence!
Phew, we covered A LOT of ground here!
You now have expert-level knowledge for easily saving any GIF from Twitter – whether on desktop browser or mobile app.
No more FOMO when brilliant GIF reactions slide through your feed. With the skills from this guide, building up your all-star reaction collection is a breeze.
So get scrolling, find those side-splitting tweet responses, and download away my friend! Just promise to think of me when deploying your newfound GIF ammunition. 😉
