The fastest way to add a GIF keyboard

To add a GIF keyboard to your iPhone, open Settings, tap General, then Keyboard, then Keyboards, then tap Add New Keyboard. Scroll down and select the GIF keyboard app you want — Giphy, Tenor, or another third-party option — then tap it and toggle Allow Full Access on. The keyboard will now appear when you tap the globe icon in your on-screen keyboard while texting or emailing.

The whole process takes about two minutes. You do not need to download anything extra beyond the keyboard app itself, which you get from the App Store. Once it is installed and enabled, the GIF keyboard works inside Messages, Mail, Notes, and any other app that uses the standard iOS keyboard.

Key Takeaways

  • GIF keyboards are third-party apps you download from the App Store, then enable in Settings under Keyboard > Keyboards > Add New Keyboard.
  • You must toggle Allow Full Access on for the keyboard to work, which lets it access your search history and clipboard.
  • Once enabled, you switch to the GIF keyboard by tapping the globe icon on your standard keyboard while typing.
  • Giphy and Tenor are the two most common GIF keyboard options, but others exist — the steps are the same for all of them.

Which GIF keyboard app to choose

Giphy and Tenor are the two largest GIF libraries available as iPhone keyboards. Giphy has a larger total collection and integrates with more apps outside of the keyboard itself. Tenor is faster to search and has a cleaner interface, though the library is smaller.

Both are free and work the same way once installed. The difference comes down to which search results you prefer — try Giphy first, and if the results do not match what you are looking for, switch to Tenor. You can install both keyboards at once and toggle between them using the globe icon.

Step-by-step installation

Start by opening the App Store and searching for the GIF keyboard you want. Tap Get, then authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID, or your Apple ID password. Wait for the app to download and install — this usually takes under a minute.

Once the app is installed, open Settings on your home screen. Tap General, then Keyboard. Tap Keyboards, then tap Add New Keyboard at the bottom of the list. A menu will appear showing all available keyboards on your phone. Find the GIF keyboard app you just installed and tap it.

A new screen will appear asking whether to allow the keyboard full access. Tap Allow Full Access and confirm. This permission lets the keyboard access your search history and clipboard so it can remember what you searched for and let you paste GIFs into your messages. Without it, the keyboard will not work.

How to use the GIF keyboard once it is installed

Open any app where you type — Messages, Mail, Notes, or a social media app. Tap in the text field to bring up the keyboard. Look for a globe icon at the bottom left of the keyboard, next to the space bar. Tap it once to cycle through your installed keyboards. When you reach the GIF keyboard, it will open.

Type what you are looking for in the search box at the top. The app will show matching GIFs below. Tap the one you want, and it will paste into your message as a link or embedded GIF, depending on which app you are using. In Messages, the GIF will appear as a preview you can send. In Mail or Notes, it will paste as a link.

Removing or switching GIF keyboards

If you want to remove a GIF keyboard, go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Find the keyboard you want to remove, swipe left on it, and tap Delete. The keyboard will no longer appear when you tap the globe icon.

To switch which keyboard is your default, tap Edit in the top left of the Keyboards list, then drag the keyboard you want to the top. The keyboard at the top of the list will be the first one you see when you tap the globe icon.

Why the Allow Full Access permission is necessary

When you enable a third-party keyboard, iOS asks whether to allow it full access. This sounds more invasive than it is. Full access lets the keyboard see what you type so it can learn your search patterns and remember recent searches. Without it, the keyboard cannot function at all — it will not be able to send your search query to the GIF service.

Apple does not monitor what third-party keyboards see, but you are trusting the keyboard maker with that data. Giphy and Tenor are both large, established companies that do not sell keyboard data to advertisers. If you are uncomfortable with this, you can use the built-in emoji keyboard instead, which does not require full access.

Troubleshooting if the GIF keyboard does not appear

If you installed the app but the keyboard does not show up in Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, close the Settings app completely and reopen it. Sometimes the list does not refresh immediately after installation.

If the keyboard appears in the list but does not work when you tap it, check that Allow Full Access is toggled on. Go back to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, tap the GIF keyboard name, and make sure the toggle next to Allow Full Access is green. If it is off, tap it to turn it on.

If the keyboard opens but searches do not return results, check that your phone has an internet connection. GIF keyboards need to connect to the internet to search the GIF library. Try switching between Wi-Fi and cellular data, or restart the app by closing it completely and reopening it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a GIF keyboard in all apps?

The GIF keyboard works in any app that uses the standard iOS keyboard — Messages, Mail, Notes, most social media apps, and most messaging apps. Some apps like WhatsApp or Telegram have their own custom keyboards that may not support third-party options. Try opening the app and tapping the text field to see if the globe icon appears.

Do GIF keyboards cost money?

Giphy and Tenor keyboards are both free. Some third-party GIF keyboards charge a one-time fee or subscription, but the two largest options do not. Check the App Store listing before downloading to see if there is a price listed next to the app name.

Will the GIF keyboard slow down my phone?

No. Third-party keyboards run only when you open them, and they do not stay active in the background. Once you switch back to the standard keyboard, the GIF keyboard stops using resources. The only ongoing cost is the storage space the app takes up on your phone, which is usually under 50 MB.

Can I search for specific types of GIFs?

Yes. Type any word or phrase into the search box — "cat", "reaction", "celebration", or anything else — and the keyboard will return matching GIFs. Both Giphy and Tenor also let you browse trending GIFs without searching, which is useful if you want to see what is popular right now.

What happens if I delete the GIF keyboard app?

If you delete the app from your phone, the keyboard will no longer work, but it will still appear in your Settings keyboard list. You can remove it from the list by going to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards, swiping left on it, and tapping Delete. If you reinstall the app later, you can re-enable it using the same steps.