How to Post a GIF on LinkedIn

Adding a GIF to your LinkedIn post is one of the fastest ways to grab attention in a static, professional feed. This guide will walk you through exactly how to post a GIF on both desktop and mobile. We’ll also cover best practices for using them to enhance your professional brand, not detract from it, and even provide a quick look at creating your own custom GIFs.

Why Use GIFs on a Professional Network Like LinkedIn?

It’s a fair question. LinkedIn isn’t Instagram or TikTok, so why bring in animated memes? The truth is, used correctly, a GIF can be a powerful communication tool that sets your content apart. It's about moving beyond the meme and thinking about GIFs as short, silent, looping videos that convey emotion, information, or personality in seconds.

• They Stop the Scroll: People are conditioned to scroll past blocks of text and static images. A moving element, even a simple one, naturally catches the eye and forces a brief pause. That pause is your opportunity to hook them with your message.
• They Infuse Personality and Relatability: In a sea of corporate bios and formal headshots, a well-placed GIF can make you or your brand more human. It shows a lighter side, a shared sense of humor, or an authentic reaction that builds rapport with your audience. A simple "Happy Friday!" GIF on a team post feels much more genuine than just text.
• They Simplify Complex Ideas: A GIF can function as a mini-tutorial. Do you want to show off a new software feature? A screen-recorded GIF can demonstrate the click-path in a few seconds. Announcing a new product? A quick animation can be more compelling than a product shot.
• They Boost Engagement: Posts with visual content consistently get higher engagement, and GIFs are no exception. They are expressive and often prompt reactions, likes, and comments, which signals to the LinkedIn algorithm that your content is valuable, boosting its reach.

Think of it this way: sharing a surprising statistic accompanied by a "mind blown" GIF can add emotional weight and make the data point more memorable. Announcing a huge company milestone with a celebrating, confetti-throwing GIF shares the excitement in a way words alone cannot.

How to Post a GIF on LinkedIn (Desktop & Mobile)

Posting a GIF on LinkedIn is straightforward, but the steps vary slightly between the desktop site and the mobile app. Here’s a breakdown of all the ways you can do it.

Posting a GIF from Your Desktop

You have two main options on desktop: using LinkedIn's built-in library or uploading your own file.

Method 1: Using LinkedIn's Built-in GIF Library

This is the quickest and easiest way to add a popular, searchable GIF to your post.

1. Navigate to the LinkedIn homepage and click “Start a post.”
2. In the post creation window, look at the bottom left and click the smiley face icon labeled “Add 'Emotion.'”
3. A small window will pop up with emojis. Click the “GIFs” tab at the top.
4. You can now browse trending GIFs or use the search bar to find something specific. Type in a keyword like “celebration,” “work from home,” or “teamwork.”
5. Click on the GIF you want to use. It will automatically attach to your post.
6. Write your accompanying text, add any relevant hashtags, and hit “Post.”

Method 2: Uploading a Custom GIF File

If you have a specific GIF saved on your computer - like a custom-branded animation or a screen recording - you can upload it directly.

1. Click “Start a post” at the top of your feed.
2. In the pop-up window, click the “Add media” icon (it looks like a small picture of mountains).
3. Your computer's file explorer will open. Navigate to where your .gif file is saved and select it.
4. LinkedIn will load a preview of the GIF. It will appear as a static image in the composer, but don't worry - it will animate once posted.
5. Add your caption, mentions, and hashtags, then click “Post.”

Desktop Pro Tip: While desktop is a bit more forgiving, try to keep your GIF file size small for faster loading times. Large, high-resolution GIFs might take a moment to load on slower connections, potentially losing the attention you were trying to grab.

Posting a GIF on the LinkedIn Mobile App

The mobile experience is similar and gives you access to a rich library through your phone’s built-in features.

Method 1: Using Your Phone’s GIF Keyboard

Most modern smartphone keyboards (like Gboard on Android or the default iOS keyboard) have a built-in GIF search function powered by GIPHY or Tenor.

1. Open the LinkedIn app and tap the “Post” button (the plus sign in the bottom navigation bar).
2. When the keyboard appears, tap the emoji icon or the sticker icon.
3. You should see an option for “GIF.” Tap it.
4. Use the search bar to find the perfect GIF for your message.
5. Tapping the GIF will either copy it to your clipboard or attach it directly to your post, depending on your device.
6. Finish writing your post and tap “Post.”

Method 2: Uploading a GIF from Your Phone’s Gallery

If you’ve saved a GIF to your phone, you can upload it just like any other photo.

1. Tap the “Post” button.
2. In the post creation screen, tap the “Add a photo” icon in the bottom left.
3. Your phone's gallery will open. Navigate to the GIF file and select it.
4. The GIF will appear attached to your post draft.
5. Write your content, add hashtags, and publish.

Mobile Pro Tip: LinkedIn’s official documentation often states a 5MB limit for GIFs uploaded via mobile. If you encounter errors, the file size is the most likely culprit. Use an online GIF compressor if needed.

Best Practices: How to Use GIFs Without Looking Unprofessional

Knowing how to post a GIF is easy. Knowing when and why is what separates a professional, engaging post from a cringeworthy one. Follow these guidelines to maintain your credibility.

1. Know Your Audience and Industry

This is the most important rule. A witty, pop-culture GIF that works wonders for a digital marketing agency might feel out of place for a corporate law firm. Before you post, ask yourself: "Will my target connections find this funny/relatable, or distracting/unprofessional?" If in doubt, opt for more universally understood reaction GIFs over niche memes.

2. Make Sure the GIF Adds Value

Don't just add a GIF for the sake of it. It should support or enhance your message. A great GIF clarifies emotion (celebration, frustration, excitement), illustrates a point, or adds a punchline. If it's just a random, unrelated animation, it becomes noise that detracts from your core message.

3. Use On-Brand GIFs

If your personal brand is professional, encouraging, and tech-focused, use GIFs that reflect that. A GIF from a show known for its cynical humor might create a dissonant message. If you create your own GIFs, make sure they align with your company's visual identity - using brand fonts and colors is a great touch.

4. Avoid Overdoing It

Think of GIFs as punctuation. An exclamation point adds excitement, but a paragraph filled with them is hard to read. Use GIFs sparingly for maximum impact. One great GIF in a thoughtful post is far better than cluttering your feed with animations every day.

5. Prioritize Quality and Relevance

A blurry, pixelated GIF looks careless. Choose high-quality, clear GIFs. Also, ensure the GIF's meaning is clear and directly relevant to your text. A subtle, ambiguous reaction can be misinterpreted. You want your message to be instantly understood, not leave people wondering what you meant.

Level Up: How to Create Your Own Branded GIFs

Ready to go beyond the search bar? Creating your own GIFs is a fantastic way to showcase your brand, products, or personality.

Easy Method: GIPHY's GIF Maker

GIPHY isn’t just a library, it’s a creation tool. You can upload a short video clip (like a bite-sized product demo) or a series of photos directly to the GIPHY website. Their editor allows you to easily trim the clip, add text overlays, and apply simple filters before exporting it as a downloadable .gif file.

Pro Method: Screen-to-GIF Tools

For creating tutorials or showing software in action, dedicated screen recording tools are fantastic. Apps like GIPHY Capture (macOS), ScreenToGif (Windows), or the web-based tool Kapwing allow you to record a specific part of your screen and instantly export it as a lightweight GIF. This is perfect for "here's how you do it" posts that provide immediate value to your followers.

For an even bigger brand win, apply for a branded GIPHY channel. Once approved, your custom GIFs become searchable across all platforms that use the GIPHY library - including LinkedIn!

Final Thoughts

Using GIFs on LinkedIn is a simple yet effective way to inject personality into your professional presence, boost engagement, and make your content more memorable. Whether you're pulling from the built-in library, uploading a file, or creating your own, the secret is balancing creativity with professionalism and an understanding of what resonates with your audience.

Staying on top of your content plan - from witty GIFs and engaging video to thoughtful articles - takes coordination. When we're juggling our post schedule across multiple platforms, we rely on a clear, visual calendar inside Postbase to see everything at a glance. It helps us plan our visual content, make sure posts are spaced correctly, and ensure we're delivering a consistent message without getting stuck in messy spreadsheets.