Tip
How to post a GIF on X: size limits and what X does to it
X accepts GIFs up to 15 MB on the web and 5 MB in its apps, then turns them into video. Here's how to make yours fit and look good.
· 1 min read
Posting a GIF on X is simple until the upload fails or the result looks worse than your file. Both come down to two facts.
The size limits
At the time of writing, X's help pages give these limits for animated GIFs:
- 15 MB when you post from the website
- 5 MB when you post from the mobile apps
A GIF made from a few seconds of video easily passes 15 MB. If X rejects yours, it's almost always the file size.
X turns your GIF into a video
X doesn't keep the .gif file. It converts it to a small looping MP4 video and shows that with a GIF badge. This is why saving a GIF from X gives you a video, and why a GIF can look slightly different after posting.
It also means extra detail in your file is wasted. A 1080px-wide, 256-color GIF is converted anyway, so a smaller upload usually looks the same once posted.
Getting yours to fit
- Trim it to the part that matters. Length is the biggest factor in size.
- Resize it to about 480px wide. Feeds rarely show it larger.
- Compress it to the limit for where you're posting from.
Compress & resize has presets for both limits. Choose X for the website or 5 MB for the apps, and it shrinks the GIF until it fits.
Reposting a GIF that's already on X
If the GIF you want is in someone else's post, you don't need to download and re-upload it. Grab it with GifSuite and use Post on X: your post plays the original GIF and credits the person who posted it.
Compress & resize
Shrink a GIF to fit X, Discord or any size limit.