How to Edit a GIF on a PC or Smart Phone

Ah, GIFs: the crossover between photos and videos. Whoever predicted that these files would be this popular, they were absolutely right. In fact, the GIF feature has been added to various instant messaging apps, so you do not have to search for the files online. All in all, GIFs are awesome.

But what if you want to step up your GIF game? What if just browsing for and sending reaction-type GIFs does not quite cut it? How can you create or edit a GIF file on your device? Let us find out.

An Important Note

In this guide, we will talk about how to edit GIFs on iOS, Android, Windows 10, macOS, and Chrome OS. We will also touch on Canva, Photoshop, and online editors, but you should know that some of the abovementioned devices feature a built-in app or feature that can help you edit GIFs. If GIF creation/editing is your goal, you will have to use a third-party app for it.

How to Edit a Gif File on an iPhone

Without a dedicated, built-in feature for editing GIF files, you will have to hit the App Store if you want to edit GIFs. GIPHY is one of the most popular GIF creation and editing apps on the market, and its iOS-dedicated version is brilliant.

Although it is all fairly straightforward, once you’ve downloaded GIPHY from the App Store, here is a little guide on how to edit a GIF file on your iOS device.

Open the GIPHY app

Open the GIPHY app by tapping the GIPHY icon on your iOS home screen.

Search for a GIF

Either search for the GIF on your phone that you want to edit or select the plus button at the bottom of the screen.

Select the GIF that you want to edit.

Edit your GIF

The GIF in question will open, and the editor will allow you to add text to it, as well as do a variety of other things.

Save to camera roll

When you are done editing, tap the checkmark at the top-right corner of the screen.

How to Edit a GIF File on an Android Device

Although Google Play offers a wide variety of GIF editors, we recommend that you stick with GIPHY here, as well. This is simply because GIPHY does not have any real competition. It is free, user-friendly, and effective. So, to edit GIF files on your Android tablet or smartphone, open Google Play Store, search for GIPHY, and download it.

Editing files in GIPHY for Android works similarly to what was described above for iOS. However, discrepancies do exist.

Tap the GIPHY icon on your device’s home screen.

Navigate to the bottom-left corner and tap the film roll icon.

Select the GIF file from your Camera Roll.

Tap the arrow pointing to the right.

Select filters, add stickers or text, and use other editing options.

When done, tap SAVE GIF to save the edited GIF to your camera roll.

How to Edit a GIF File on a Windows 10 PC

Sure, Photoshop can edit GIF files. But what if you, like many others, do not have Photoshop? There are alternatives available.

First of all, you can use any number of online GIF editors out there. However, seeing as how the online editors are device-neutral (they work the same for all), we will come back to this later.

If there was a GIPHY iteration for Windows, we would probably tell you to go ahead and download it. Unfortunately, GIPHY does not have a Windows app, which means that you are going to have to go with an alternative if you want to be able to edit GIFs directly in Windows, even without an internet connection.

For that, we introduce the ScreenToGif app. You can download it from their official website – it is no more than a “google” away. Once you’ve downloaded and installed it on your PC, let us see how you can use it to edit those GIFs.

Open the ScreenToGif app.

Go to the upper-left corner of the screen and select File.

Load the GIF you want to edit

Then, click Load and choose the GIF that you want to edit from your PC.

Make your edits

The app will show the GIF in frames. You can select individual frames, multiple frames, or to delete them.

You can also use the Image tab and the Resize function to change the dimensions of the GIF.

In the Image tab, you can also find features that allow you to add watermarks, text, frames, and you can free-hand draw.

How to Edit a GIF File on a Mac

macOS devices are the only device type that allows you to edit GIF files without using any third-party app. However, the offered features are fairly limited. If you need advanced editing options (which is not likely), you are going to have to find an app for macOS that will do the trick.

If all you want to do is crop the GIF, adjust the colors, add text, and do similar basic edits, here’s how you can do it

1. Use Spotlight to find the GIF file on your Mac that you want to edit.
2. Click the file, and it will open in Preview.
3. Toward the top of the Preview screen, you’ll find the Select Click it.
4. Now, click and drag the portion of the GIF image file that you want to work with.
5. Navigate to Tools, and the Tools menu will open.
6. This menu will allow you to crop your file, adjust colors, annotate it, change its shape, add text to it, and use various other features.
7. When you are done, go to File and then click Save.

How to Edit a GIF File on a Chromebook

Chromebooks are laptops primarily made for browsing. Of course, they use Google Chrome for navigating the internet and most other functions. So, you will not be able to find a GIF editing app for the device and install it.

However, there are GIF editing Chrome extensions, such as the Animated GIF Editor and Creator. The app allows the user to import GIFs, edit them, use tools such as the eraser, the brush, and others. It is actually one of the more comprehensive GIF editors available out there.

How to Edit a GIF with an Online Web Editor

You may not be looking for something fancy. Maybe you need a GIF editor for a quick, once-in-a-long-while edit. In this case, you probably do not want to bother downloading an app and installing it. Fortunately, there are countless online GIF editors. Ezgif.com is one of the more popular GIF editors that you can access on any browser.

Often, web apps such as Ezgif.com are a much better alternative than standalone apps. Ezgif.com is particularly easy to use. Go to the site and select what you want to do with your GIF file. Then, upload it and edit it to your preference.

How to Edit a GIF with Canva

Canva is a highly competent and simple photo editing app that does not offer quite as many features as the industry-standard Photoshop, but this is in no way a bad thing. Creating and editing GIFs is a prime example.

Canva actually offers a GIF feature that allows the user to quickly create GIFs. Basically, you create your design, select the Animated GIF option, make your edits, and simply download the GIF file. Canva works on the desktop in a browser and there are the iOS and Android apps.

How to Edit a GIF with Photoshop

Without a doubt, Adobe’s Photoshop remains the king of photo editing. It has been sitting on the throne for years, successfully repelling the competitors trying to disrupt it.

Photoshop can help you create and edit GIF files down to the tiniest detail. It bears mentioning, though, that Photoshop is a complicated tool.

However, if you have experience in using basic photo editing tools and are willing to get a crash course on layers, you’ll be able to create and edit GIFs using Photoshop with relative ease.

A tutorial on how to edit GIFs in Photoshop can easily populate an eBook. But in essence, you import the GIF and you can do anything with it in the application.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are many ways to edit GIF files and on any devices. Whether you are an Apple power user or prefer a PC, Chromebook, or an Android device, there are many ways to edit GIF files. If your needs are momentary and not too extensive, you can pull off everything you need using an online editor. For more complex needs, use a dedicated app.

Which GIF editing method did you go with? Do you know of better alternatives? Feel free to let us know in the comments section below. Oh, and don’t refrain from firing away any questions you may have – our community will be more than happy to help.