Can I add an animated GIF to my Gmail signature, and will it work across all email clients?

Yes, you can add an animated GIF to your Gmail signature, but whether it works across all email clients depends on the client and its support for animated content. Here's a breakdown:

Can I add an animated GIF to my Gmail signature, and will it work across all email clients?

How to Add an Animated GIF to Your Gmail Signature

  1. Prepare the GIF:
    • Optimize the GIF for email use by keeping its file size small (under 200 KB, if possible).
    • Ensure the dimensions are appropriate (e.g., 100-300 px wide) to avoid overwhelming the signature.
  2. Host the GIF Online:
    • Upload the GIF to a reliable image hosting platform (e.g., Imgur, your website, or Google Drive with public sharing enabled).
  3. Insert the GIF into Gmail:
    • Open Gmail, go to Settings > See all settings > Signature.
    • Click the image icon in the signature editor and use the Web Address (URL) option to insert the hosted GIF link.
    • Alternatively, drag and drop the GIF directly into the signature editor.
  4. Save Changes:
    • Scroll to the bottom of the settings page and click Save Changes.
Animated Gif Email Signature made with Email Signature Rescue

Will the GIF Work Across All Email Clients?

Email Clients That Support Animated GIFs

  • Gmail: Fully supports animated GIFs.
  • Apple Mail: Supports GIF animations.
  • Outlook for Mac and Outlook Web: Support GIFs.
  • Yahoo Mail: Supports GIFs.
  • Most Mobile Email Clients: Modern mobile clients (iOS and Android) typically display GIFs correctly.
No items found.
Email Signature Template 1
Email Signature Template 2
100+ Professional Templates

Stand Out with Beautiful Email Signatures

Create professional email signatures that make a lasting impression. Easy to customize, easy to install in Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail + 60 more email clients, apps and CRM.

Find Your Email Signature

Email Clients With Limited or No Support

  • Older Versions of Outlook (e.g., 2007, 2010, 2013):
    • GIFs may display as static images, only showing the first frame.
  • Plain-Text or Secure Environments:
    • Some email clients or companies enforce plain-text email policies, stripping out all formatting, including GIFs.

Best Practices for Using GIFs in Gmail Signatures

  1. Optimize File Size:
    • Large GIFs can slow email loading times and may get flagged as spam.
  2. Design for Compatibility:
    • Ensure that the first frame of your GIF conveys your message, as this will be the fallback image for email clients that don’t support animation.
  3. Avoid Excessive Animation:
    • Subtle, professional animations are best for maintaining a polished look.
  4. Test Across Email Clients:
    • Send test emails to check how the GIF appears in various email clients and devices.
  5. Keep Accessibility in Mind:
    • Avoid rapidly flashing GIFs to ensure accessibility for users with visual or neurological sensitivities.

By following these steps and considerations, you can use animated GIFs effectively in your Gmail signature while maximizing compatibility across email clients.

No items found.
Email signature example design

100's professionally designed and tested templates

See All Templates

Ready to transform your email signatures?

FLYBY Signature
AUTHOR Signature
RAISE Signature
See Templates
OUR AWESOME CLIENTS

We work with
the best clients

Join our community of satisfied clients who trust us to create, host, manage and deploy their HTML email signatures.

4.8
Trustpilot Rating
200k+
Users Rescued
30M+
Hours Saved
10+
Years in the Business
1.1M+
Images Hosted