How to Download a GIF From Twitter

  1. 1

    Copy the post link

    Tap Share under the post and choose Copy link, or copy the address bar on desktop.

  2. 2

    Paste it above

    Press Get GIF.

  3. 3

    Choose the format

    The original MP4 is the smallest and sharpest. Choose Convert to GIF when something needs a real .gif file: a forum, an email, Discord or a design tool.

  4. 4

    Save it

    The file downloads to your device: the Files app on iPhone, Downloads on Android and desktop.

Why Twitter GIFs Download as MP4

X has not stored real GIF files since 2014. When you upload a GIF, X converts it into a short, silent, looping MP4 video, because video compresses far better: the same animation takes a fraction of the data, with smoother motion and millions of colours instead of 256. When you play a “GIF” on X, you are watching that MP4. That is why most downloaders hand you an MP4 file and leave you to find a converter.

ComparisonMP4(how X stores it).gif(classic format)
File sizeSmallUsually 5 to 10 times bigger
ColoursMillions256
MotionSmoothCan look choppy
Works inMessaging apps, social apps, video editors, slidesAnywhere images go: forums, email, design tools, old software

Keep the MP4 unless something specifically needs a .gif. When it does, convert it above.

Convert a Twitter Video or GIF to a Real GIF

The converter runs in your browser, so the GIF you make is never uploaded anywhere. Three settings decide the result:

  • Width: 320 or 480 pixels is plenty for chats and forums. Larger widths make much bigger files.
  • Frame rate: 10 fps keeps files small. 15 fps looks smoother.
  • Length (videos only): up to 15 seconds from the start of the video. GIFs are meant to be short loops, and longer clips balloon in size.

Turning a Twitter video into a GIF works the same way: paste the link, set the length and convert. The sound is dropped, because the GIF format has no audio. To keep a single moment instead, pause the preview and save that frame as a PNG.

Use Twitter GIFs on Discord, WhatsApp, iMessage and Slack

Discord

Send .gif
  • A .gif plays as an animation right in the chat.
  • An MP4 shows as a video you have to press play on.
  • Free accounts have a small upload limit, so keep GIFs short and narrow (320 or 480 pixels, 10 fps).

WhatsApp

Send MP4

Send the MP4. WhatsApp turns animations into short videos anyway, and the MP4 is smaller and sharper.

iMessage

Send .gif

Save the converted .gif to Photos first (see below). It plays as an animation in the chat and in the Photos “Animated” album.

Slack and email

Send .gif

A .gif plays inline almost everywhere. Keep it under a few megabytes so it loads quickly.

Save Twitter GIFs to Your iPhone Camera Roll, Android or PC

iPhone and iPad

  1. Open this page in Safari, paste the link and download.
  2. Files go to the Files app, in Downloads. If a file opens in a new tab instead, press and hold the download button and choose Download Linked File.
  3. To put a converted .gif in your camera roll, open it in Files, tap Share, then Save Image. It lands in the Animated album and keeps moving.
  4. The MP4 saves to Photos with Share, then Save Video.

Tip

  • Add this page to your Home Screen (Share, then Add to Home Screen) to open it in one tap next time.

Android

Open this page in Chrome, paste the link and download. Both MP4 and .gif files go to Downloads and show up in your gallery.

Windows, Mac and Linux

Download, then drag the .gif straight into chats, docs or design tools.

Which GIFs Can’t Be Downloaded

  • GIFs in posts from protected accounts, which only approved followers can see

  • GIFs in deleted posts or on suspended accounts

  • GIFs sent in Direct Messages

  • GIFs picked from X’s built-in GIF search that were only previewed, never posted. Only a posted GIF has a link.

Collect GIFs in Bulk With the API

To collect GIFs from many posts, for a reaction library, a dataset or an archive, the Sorsa API returns direct media links in JSON:

Keep the entries whose media type is a GIF. It runs at 20 requests per second, with 100 free requests to start and no card.

POST /v3/tweet-info-bulkFor developers
import requests

resp = requests.post(
    "https://api.sorsa.io/v3/tweet-info-bulk",
    headers={"ApiKey": "YOUR_API_KEY"},
    json={"tweet_links": [
        "https://x.com/user/status/123",
        "https://x.com/user/status/456",
    ]},
).json()

gifs = [e["link"] for t in resp["tweets"] for e in t.get("entities", [])
        if e.get("type") == "animated_gif"]
print(gifs)
Automate with Sorsa API

Other Twitter Download Tools

X Post Downloader

Every video, photo and GIF from any post on one page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I download a GIF from Twitter?

Copy the post’s link, paste it above and press Get GIF. Save the original MP4, or press Convert to GIF to get a real .gif file. No login is needed.

Why does my Twitter GIF download as an MP4?

Because that is how X stores it. Since 2014, X converts every uploaded GIF into a short looping MP4 video, which is smaller and smoother. Use Convert to GIF when you need a real .gif file.

How do I convert a Twitter GIF to a real GIF?

After pasting the link, choose Convert to GIF, pick a width and a frame rate, and download the .gif. The conversion runs in your browser, so the GIF you make is never uploaded anywhere.

Can I turn a Twitter video into a GIF?

Yes. Paste the link to a post with a video, set a length of up to 15 seconds and convert. The GIF has no sound, because the format doesn’t support audio.

How do I save a Twitter GIF to my iPhone camera roll?

Convert it to a real .gif here, open the file in the Files app, tap Share, then Save Image. It appears in the Animated album and keeps playing.

Can I use a Twitter GIF on Discord?

Yes. Convert it to a real .gif to have it play as an animation in the chat, keeping it short and narrow to stay under Discord’s upload limit. An MP4 also works, but it shows as a video you have to press play on.

Can I save a frame of a Twitter GIF as an image?

Yes. Pause the preview at the moment you want and press Save this frame as PNG.

Why is the GIF so much bigger than the MP4?

The GIF format is far less efficient than video: it stores every frame with up to 256 colours and weak compression. A lower width, a lower frame rate and a shorter clip all shrink the file.

Is this Twitter GIF downloader free?

Yes. You get 5 free downloads a day, reset at 00:00 UTC, and converting or saving frames of a downloaded file doesn’t count again.