4 Fixes for Cannot Send GIFs in WhatsApp Web

Basic Fixes

• Check your internet connection: Sometimes GIFs take longer than usual to send due to poor internet speeds.
• Login again to WhatsApp Web: Login again to your account. This will reload all your data. Then, try resending your GIF.
• Update web browser: An updated web browser is key to using WhatsApp Web smoothly.

Fix 1: Check GIF File Format

You must check if WhatsApp supports your GIF file format. If you are not using the default GIF library in WhatsApp Web and uploading one from your computer, your GIF file will be converted to a static JPG file and sent to your contact. As of writing this guide, WhatsApp Web doesn’t support uploading GIF files from your computer.

Fix 2: Check Metered Connection Settings (Windows)

If you have a Windows PC, check your Metered Connection settings. A Metered Network Connection helps reduce data usage on Wi-Fi and Ethernet.

Step 1: Open Settings and click on Network and internet from the left sidebar.

Step 2: From the right pane, click on Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or Mobile Hotspot, depending on your current network preference.

In our case, we are selecting Wi-Fi.

Step 3: Click on your Wi-Fi network name.

Step 4: Turn off the toggle for Metered Connections to disable the feature.

Step 5: Close the Settings window and open WhatsApp Web in your browser to check if the problem is solved.

Fix 2: Clear Browser Cache for WhatsApp Web

Depending on your browser, follow the steps mentioned below. You can also check our post on clearing cache in Chrome.

On Safari

Open Safari > click Safari at the top-left corner > select Settings > Privacy > Manage website data > Remove All > Done.

On Firefox

Step 1: Open Firefox on your Mac or Windows PC and go to Settings.

Step 2: Select Privacy and Security from the left menu. Then, scroll down and click on the Clear Data button under the Cookies and Site Data section.

Step 3: Click on the Clear button at the bottom to confirm.

Step 4: After that, open WhatsApp Web in a new tab and check if a problem is solved.

Fix 4: Alternative – Convert GIF to MP4

You can visit websites like Cloudconvert to change the format of your GIF file to MP4. Use this as the last resort if none of the solutions help.