---
id: 239
revision: '0'
language: en
title: Send GIFs and stickers
---

Animated GIFs and stickers are a popular way of expressing emotions, reactions and humour in messaging apps. GIFs are short, looping animated videos of a few seconds in length, while stickers are static or animated images.

The Status app uses the [Tenor GIF :octicons-tab-external-16:](https://tenor.com/) search engine and database for GIFs. You can also share GIFs from other sources by sending a message with the GIF URL.

You can add more stickers to default sticker sets in Status, or share a sticker set with someone. See [Add, remove or share sticker sets](./add-remove-or-share-sticker-sets.md).

:::info
To show the GIF preview and not its URL, [enable rich link previews](../your-profile-and-preferences/enable-rich-link-previews-in-messages.md) in messages.
:::

## Send GIFs

=== "Mobile"

    1. Open the channel or chat where you want to share the GIF.
    1. In the message area, tap :mobile-placeholder: **React**.
    1. Tap :mobile-GIFs: **GIF**. The first time you send a GIF, you need to **Enable** the service.
    1. Search or choose the GIF you want to share. The GIF is sent immediately.

=== "Desktop"

    1. Open the channel or chat where you want to share the GIF.
    1. In the message area, click :desktop-GIFs: **GIF**. The first time you send a GIF, you need to **Enable** the service.
    1. Search or choose the GIF you want to share. The GIF is sent immediately.
    1. Optionally, hover over the GIF in the preview window and click the :desktop-favourite: **Star** icon to save it as a favourite.

:::tip
If you want to add a message to your GIF, write the text before selecting the GIF.
:::

## Send stickers

=== "Mobile"

    1. Open the channel or chat where you want to share the sticker.
    1. In the message area, tap :mobile-placeholder: **React**.
    1. Tap :mobile-sticker: **Sticker**.
    1. From your list of stickers, tap the sticker you want to send. The sticker is sent immediately.

=== "Desktop"

    1. Open the channel or chat where you want to share the sticker.
    1. Click :desktop-sticker: **Sticker**. If you don't have stickers, you need to **Get stickers**.
    1. Choose the sticker you want to share. The sticker is sent immediately.