How to Make a GIF for Discord in 4 Steps
- Trim your video to the moment you want, ideally under 8 seconds.
- Convert it to GIF in the converter above. It makes a 480 px, 10 fps GIF that loops forever, which suits Discord chat.
- Upload it to Discord: drag the file into a channel on desktop, or tap + next to the message box on mobile and pick the GIF.
- Save it for later: hover over the GIF in chat and click the star to add it to your GIF favorites.
Emoji, server icons and profile pictures need smaller or square files; see the sections below.
Discord GIF Types and Their Limits
| GIF Type | Max Size | Dimensions | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chat (free) | 10 MB | Any | 2025 limit; check Discord’s help |
| Chat (Nitro Basic) | 50 MB | Any | Nitro Basic |
| Chat (Nitro) | 500 MB | Any | Nitro |
| Custom emoji | 256 KB | 128×128px | Animated emoji must be GIF |
| Server icon | File limit applies | 512×512px | Boost Level 1+ |
| Profile picture | File limit applies | Any square | Animated avatar needs Nitro |
Making GIFs for Discord Chat (10 MB Free Limit)
Most short clips fit under 10 MB with these settings (the converter on this page already uses 480px and 10 FPS):
- Width: 480px (displays well on desktop and mobile)
- FPS: 10 (good balance of smoothness and size)
- Duration: 5–8 seconds maximum
- Colors: 128–256
- Dithering: Sierra2 for quality, Bayer for smaller size
If your GIF exceeds 10 MB, reduce resolution to 320px or lower FPS to 8 first. These two changes alone typically reduce file size by 50%+.
Making Animated Discord Emoji (The Hardest Challenge)
The 256 KB limit at 128×128 pixels is extremely tight. Success requires aggressive optimization:
- Resolution: exactly 128×128 pixels (square)
- FPS: 8 fps or lower
- Colors: 32–64 maximum
- Dithering: Bayer with scale 5 (most compressible)
- Duration: under 2 seconds (keep to 6–15 frames)
- Content: simple, high-contrast designs with minimal detail
Emoji tip: Remember that Discord displays emoji at just 22×22 pixels in chat. Complex details are invisible at that size. Design for impact at tiny display size — bold shapes, high contrast, simple animations.
Making Animated Server Icons
Animated server icons require Server Boost Level 1 (2 boosts). The icon should be 512×512 pixels and loop smoothly. Tips:
- Keep the animation simple — a subtle pulse, rotation, or color shift works best
- Use 10 fps with 256 colors for quality at this size
- Design the loop to be seamless (first and last frames should match)
- Target 3–5 seconds for a natural loop
Animated Profile Picture (Nitro Only)
Discord Nitro subscribers can upload animated GIF profile pictures. The GIF appears animated in your profile and in the member list. Keep it square, under Discord’s current file limit, and ensure it loops smoothly since it plays continuously when viewed.
Troubleshooting Common Discord GIF Issues
- "File too large": reduce resolution or FPS first. See our GIF size reduction guide.
- "GIF not animating": check that the file is actually a GIF (not a renamed video), the file size is within limits, and the loop count is set to 0 (infinite).
- "Emoji looks blurry": ensure the source is exactly 128×128 pixels. Avoid complex detail — it gets lost at the 22×22 display size.
- "GIF plays too fast/slow": adjust FPS. Discord respects the frame delay values in the GIF.
How to Make a Discord GIF on iPhone or Android
Open this page in Safari or Chrome on your phone, upload a video from Photos or your gallery, and download the GIF. Then open Discord, tap + in the chat bar and select the GIF.
To add text, put it on the video first in a video editor with captions, such as CapCut or iMovie, then convert. The converter here does not add text.