Where did GIF on text go in iPhone iOS 17?

iMessage apps, including the iMessage app used to send GIFs, are accessed in a different way as of iOS 17.

To send GIFs, open up a conversation in the Messages app. Then, tap the "+" icon to the left of the text box. This will reveal some of your iMessage apps. Tap the #images app if you see it.

If you don't see the #images app, tap "More" at the bottom.

To rearrange the list of iMessage apps however you'd like, check out the following support document: Use iMessage apps in Messages on iPhone - Apple Support

I also no longer had (Tenor) GiF option, only #images. The suggestion above works. Open the Messages app. Tap the + icon beside the iMessage field. Tap Stickers (even though you don’t want a sticker). You’ll see the blue GiF icon in the row at the top. Tap the GiF icon and you’re back in business..

Agree with everyone here. Who makes a UI more difficult to use?!

I figured it out!!! I hope you have figured it out by now because it was so frustrating. But I do want to share for others experiencing the same thing!! I just updated to iOS 17 this weekend and also was less than impressed with the new set up. I did not find #images in my iMessages settings like someone else shared. On a whim, I pressed the plus sign to the left of the chat box, scrolled down pass the initial icons showing, then found the #images icon/name, and pressed on it firmly and held it, then you can drag it to wherever you want it in the list! So now I just press plus sign and it’s right there. Hope this helps someone else out there! I was so excited I made a whole account just to share. Happy texting 😊

So I finally figured out how to get it to work but it was a little weird. I went to Sertings>Messages>iMessage Apps…then I had to turn off almost everything , and then when the went back to look for #images…it finally showed in the bottom of the + options. To be clear, it as well as a few other default ones aren’t even shown in the menu path above. But it’s working for me now. Still an extra click…but it’s there. Hope that helps!

Hello- I found a solution for this problem. in the Messages app after selecting the plus button then selecting more, you will see #Images. From there, you can click, and hold on the images icon to drag it to the main option of selections. This will help to take away that extra set of steps to find it.

makena209 wrote:

Hello- I found a solution for this problem. in the Messages app after selecting the plus button then selecting more, you will see #Images. From there, you can click, and hold on the images icon to drag it to the main option of selections. This will help to take away that extra set of steps to find it.

It may help to read the forum. This suggestion is mentioned several times over the 3 pages.

you need to click the + icon and swipe down. I don't think the software team really studied the user experience. This is the most frustrating and useless update. Previously you could search gifs with one click, now you have to do with three steps.

I didn’t have mine under + or More. There were no #images and no gifs under the stickers.

My Solution- click on +, then on Apple Store, install GIPHY. Drag it to the top of the list once installed. Here I got my own gifs back. Hopefully it’ll help someone who is still searching.

great update Apple ;)

Hit the + on your left next to message and you scroll down the hit more, then gif will be there then move it to top of all the other useless stuff.

I had to click “More” to see #images them clicked that to see the various GIFs.

wish it wouldn’t have changed - quite inconvenient

NinaKatLaPine wrote:

Where is the + icon?

It is next to the text input box in Messages.

See the pictures in this article:

Send stickers in Messages on iPhone - Apple Support

Where they are in the list depends on whether or not you've rearranged the list. As I haven't rearranged my list, I'm assuming I'm looking at the default (though I could be wrong). "#images" is under "More". You need to keep swiping down.

kcchefs2006 wrote:

I don’t have GIF as an option anymore, just #images ☹️

If you had "GIF" as an option before, it was because you added an app for that. #images is what Apple provides for finding GIFs.

Tap + in the screen of a message

MD_Gene wrote:

There are many (I assume) videos out there showing how to use stickers and such. I recommend going to MacMost and search for Stickers. There is a video there for almost any Mac/iOS topic.

Thanks, but I don't need any instructions. And I prefer to get my instructions from more static sources. Videos are too slow.