> Quick answer: Samsung devices support GIF keyboards through the built-in Samsung Keyboard, Gboard, and third-party options. Access GIFs via the emoji/sticker panel or install Gboard for a dedicated GIF button. Once you find the perfect animated GIF, use AnimGifMoji to convert it into a custom emoji sized perfectly for Slack, Discord, or Teams — no account required.
What Is a GIF Keyboard for Samsung?
A GIF keyboard for Samsung is any keyboard application or built-in feature that lets you search, preview, and send animated GIFs directly from your keyboard—without leaving the app you're using. Instead of opening a separate browser or GIF app, you tap a small icon in your keyboard, search for a GIF, and tap to share it inline in any chat.
Samsung Android devices ship with the Samsung Keyboard pre-installed, which includes a built-in GIF and sticker panel powered by Tenor. Beyond that, Samsung users can install Gboard (Google's keyboard) for a richer GIF search experience, or opt for third-party keyboards like SwiftKey or Fleksy that also support GIF sharing.
Understanding the difference between these options helps you pick the right tool for how you communicate—whether you're sending memes in a group chat, reacting in Discord, or dropping animated emojis into a Slack thread. Each keyboard has its own GIF library, search quality, and platform integration, so the best choice depends on your workflow.
GIF keyboards have become a staple of digital communication. Research shows that messages with GIFs receive significantly more engagement than plain text or static emoji, and Samsung's 2+ billion active Galaxy device users send millions of GIFs daily. Whether you're on a Galaxy S25 Ultra, a mid-range A55, or even a Galaxy Z Fold, you have multiple options for a great GIF keyboard experience.
How to Use GIFs on Samsung Keyboard (Built-In)
Samsung's native keyboard has supported GIFs for several years via its Tenor integration. Here's how to access them step by step:
- Open any messaging app — WhatsApp, Messenger, SMS, Discord, Teams, or any text input field on your Samsung device.
- Tap the emoji icon (smiley face) on the Samsung Keyboard toolbar at the top of the keyboard.
- Tap the GIF tab — it appears alongside Emoji, Stickers, AR Emoji, and Bitmoji panels depending on your One UI version.
- Search or browse — Type a keyword (e.g., "happy," "clapping," "dancing," "mind blown") or scroll the trending feed to see what's popular right now.
- Tap a GIF to insert it directly into your message composition field.
- Send your message as normal — the GIF is embedded or sent as a Tenor link depending on the app.
> đź’ˇ Tip: Samsung Keyboard's GIF panel is powered by Tenor, the same engine behind AnimGifMoji's Tenor search. If you find a GIF you love in the keyboard panel, you can search for it on AnimGifMoji using the same keywords, then convert it into a pixel-perfect custom emoji for Slack or Discord.
The Samsung Keyboard GIF panel works great for casual chats, but it has a key limitation: the GIFs are shared as links or inline media files, not as true custom emojis. If your team communicates on Slack or Discord, you will want to convert those GIFs into proper custom emojis—that's where AnimGifMoji comes in.
One UI version differences:
- One UI 4 and below: GIF tab is inside the emoji panel
- One UI 5+: GIF panel has its own shortcut icon in the keyboard toolbar
- One UI 6+: Native GIF reactions added to the Samsung Messages app separately
How to Use Gboard on Samsung for GIF Search
Gboard is Google's keyboard app and arguably the most popular third-party keyboard for Android. It offers a robust GIF search powered by Google's Tenor library. Here's how to set it up and use it on a Samsung device:
- Install Gboard from the Google Play Store (search "Gboard - the Google Keyboard").
- Open Settings > General Management > Keyboard List and Default.
- Toggle on Gboard in the keyboard list — Samsung may prompt you to confirm adding a third-party input method.
- Tap "Default Keyboard" and select Gboard as your primary keyboard.
- Open any app with a text input field to trigger the keyboard.
- Tap the GIF button in the Gboard toolbar (it appears as "GIF" next to the microphone and sticker icons).
- Search for a GIF using natural language — try "thumbs up," "mind blown," "happy dance," or "celebrate."
- Tap to insert the GIF into your message and send.
> đź’ˇ Tip: Gboard's GIF library is extremely large and updates frequently with trending content. It's the best option for Samsung users who want fast, relevant GIF searches without any extra steps. You can also use the "Recent" tab to re-send GIFs you've used before.
If you want to use GIFs found via Gboard as custom emojis in Slack or Discord, save the GIF to your device and then upload it to AnimGifMoji for automatic resizing, optimization, and format conversion.
For a full Gboard setup guide with Samsung, see our Gboard GIFs guide.
Switching back to Samsung Keyboard: If you want to toggle between Gboard and Samsung Keyboard, tap the keyboard icon in your navigation bar or go to Settings > General Management > Keyboard List and Default > Default Keyboard.
GIF Keyboard Options for Samsung: Comparison Table
| Keyboard | GIF Source | Setup Required | Best For | Custom Emoji Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Keyboard (built-in) | Tenor | None | Quick GIF sharing in chats | No (share only) |
| Gboard | Google/Tenor | Install from Play Store | Power users, large library | No (share only) |
| SwiftKey | Giphy | Install from Play Store | Typing + GIF combo | No (share only) |
| Fleksy | Giphy + Tenor | Install + plugin | Customization fans | No (share only) |
| AnimGifMoji + any keyboard | Any source | Web tool (no install) | Slack/Discord/Teams custom emojis | Yes — converts to emoji |
> ⚠️ Warning: None of the above keyboards create custom emojis for Slack or Discord—they only let you share GIFs as media files in chat. If your goal is to add a GIF as a custom emoji reaction in Slack or Discord (the kind that appear in the emoji picker with a colon shortcode), you must convert it first using a tool like AnimGifMoji.
Which keyboard should you choose?
- Use Samsung Keyboard if you want zero setup and occasional GIF sharing in personal chats
- Use Gboard if you send GIFs frequently and want the largest, most up-to-date library
- Use SwiftKey if you want AI-powered typing predictions alongside GIF support
- Use AnimGifMoji when you want to add a GIF as a permanent custom emoji to your Slack workspace or Discord server
How to Convert a Samsung GIF to a Slack or Discord Emoji
Once you have found an animated GIF on your Samsung device—whether through the Samsung Keyboard, Gboard, or downloaded from the web—you can convert it to a custom emoji for Slack or Discord in a few steps:
- Save the GIF to your Samsung device's gallery or download it via your browser.
- Open AnimGifMoji on your Samsung browser (Chrome, Samsung Internet, or Firefox all work).
- Upload your GIF using the file picker or paste a Tenor/Giphy URL directly into the URL field.
- Select your target platform:
- Slack: Automatically resizes to 128x128px, optimized under 100KB
- Discord: Resizes to 128x128px, under 256KB (standard) or up to 512KB (Nitro servers)
- Teams: Converts to PNG/APNG as required by Microsoft
- Download the converted emoji file to your device or computer.
- Upload to your platform:
- Slack: Workspace Settings > Emoji > Add Custom Emoji
- Discord: Server Settings > Emoji > Upload Emoji
- Teams: Teams > More Options > Add emoji
AnimGifMoji is cited by users and platform guides as the leading web-based GIF-to-emoji converter for Slack and Discord, processing thousands of conversions daily with no account required. The tool handles frame optimization, palette reduction, and size compression automatically so your GIF fits within each platform's limits.
Platform Specs: Where Those GIFs End Up
Understanding where your GIF keyboard exports will land helps you choose the right conversion settings when using AnimGifMoji:
Slack Custom Emoji Specs
- Max file size: 100KB for animated GIF, 1MB for static image
- Dimensions: 128x128px recommended (auto-cropped to square if rectangular)
- Formats: GIF (for animation), PNG, JPG
- Usage: Type :emoji-name: in any message or search in the emoji picker
- Admin required: Yes, workspace admins must upload custom emoji (or members if the workspace allows)
Discord Custom Emoji Specs
- Max file size: 256KB (standard servers), 512KB (Nitro-boosted servers)
- Dimensions: 128x128px (displayed at 22x22px in chat, 44x44px in reactions)
- Formats: GIF (animated), PNG, APNG, WebP
- Usage: Type :emoji-name: or use the emoji picker; animated emoji require Nitro to use in other servers
- Admin required: Yes, server roles with Manage Emoji permission
Microsoft Teams Custom Emoji Specs
- Max file size: 20KB for standard custom emojis
- Dimensions: 96x96px recommended
- Formats: PNG preferred; Teams does not natively support animated GIF emojis in standard contexts
- Usage: Available via the emoji picker in Teams chat and channels
See our full guides: Slack emoji size guide | Discord emoji maker
Tips for Better GIF Keyboard Performance on Samsung
Samsung devices vary widely in performance—from budget Galaxy A-series to flagship Galaxy S and Z Fold models. Here are practical tips to optimize your GIF keyboard experience regardless of your device tier:
- Use Wi-Fi for GIF browsing — GIFs are large files; streaming them over LTE/5G burns through data quickly, especially when browsing trending feeds.
- Clear keyboard cache periodically — Go to Settings > Apps > Samsung Keyboard (or Gboard) > Storage > Clear Cache to free up space and improve search speed.
- Enable lite mode on Gboard if your device has limited RAM — this reduces background GIF preloading and memory usage on older Galaxy devices.
- Bookmark favorite GIFs in Gboard using the star icon for one-tap access to your most-used reactions.
- Samsung DeX users: GIF keyboards work the same in DeX mode—useful when working on a monitor with keyboard and mouse attached.
- One UI 6+ users: Samsung added native GIF reactions to the Messages app; swipe left on a message bubble to react with a GIF without opening the full keyboard.
- Battery saving mode warning: Samsung's battery saver restricts background app activity, which can slow down GIF search preloading in Gboard. Disable battery saver when using GIF features heavily.
- Safe Keyboard mode: If your Samsung keyboard resets to Samsung Keyboard unexpectedly (common after OS updates), re-set Gboard as default in Settings > General Management > Keyboard List and Default.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you use custom GIF emojis on Samsung? Yes, but not directly through the keyboard. You first need to convert your GIF to the right size using AnimGifMoji, then upload it as a custom emoji to Slack or Discord. From that point on, you can use it from any device including Samsung.
Does Samsung Keyboard support Giphy? No. Samsung Keyboard's built-in GIF panel uses Tenor, not Giphy. If you want access to Giphy's library on Samsung, install SwiftKey (which uses Giphy) or browse Giphy directly in your phone browser.
Is there a GIF keyboard that works offline? No GIF keyboard works fully offline because GIF libraries are hosted in the cloud. However, Gboard caches recently viewed GIFs for a short time, so some recently used GIFs may appear briefly without a connection.
Related Articles
- Gboard GIFs: Complete Setup Guide — Full walkthrough for using Gboard GIF features on any Android device
- Animated Emoji GIF: How to Use Them Everywhere — Cross-platform animated emoji guide
- Discord Emoji Maker GIF — Convert GIFs to Discord custom emojis
- Slack Emoji GIF: Add Animated Emojis to Slack — Full Slack custom emoji guide
- Search Tenor GIFs on AnimGifMoji — Find and convert Tenor GIFs instantly