How to Add GIFs to Outlook Email (Without Breaking the Design)

GIFs have become a staple in email marketing and not just for humor but for visual storytelling, creating attention-grabbing CTAs, and dynamic product demos. They help bring emails to life. 

But if you’ve ever tried to use one in Outlook and found it frozen or glitchy, you’re not the only one facing that problem.

Unlike more animation-friendly platforms, Outlook has historically been tricky when it comes to rendering GIFs. Its reliance on Microsoft Word’s rendering engine for certain versions leads to inconsistent results. That said, knowing how to add GIF to Outlook email is absolutely possible if you know how to do it the right way.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through which Outlook versions support GIFs, how to insert a GIF into an Outlook email body and signature without breaking your design, what fallback options to plan for, and how to design GIFs that look sharp and perform well. 

At InboxArmy, we’ve helped countless clients work through these quirks, and now it’s time for you to overcome this hurdle.

Do GIFs Work in Outlook?

The answer isn’t black and white, and it depends on which version of Outlook you’re using. Some support animated GIFs fully. Others, particularly older desktop clients, only display the first frame. This means your beautifully animated email could show up as a static image.

Understanding which version supports what is necessary before you know how to add a GIF to Outlook email. Here’s a quick breakdown:

In other words, if your recipients are using modern versions of Outlook, especially web, mobile, or Office 365, they’re likely to see your animations as intended. 

However, if your audience includes Outlook 2016 desktop users, you’ll want to pay close attention to fallback strategies, which we’ll discuss later in this blog.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to add a GIF to Outlook email

Now that you know whether your GIF will work, the next step is adding it properly. Outlook allows you to insert GIFs in a few different ways depending on how you’re building your email. 

Let’s walk through each method, one step at a time.

Option 1: How to Insert a GIF in Outlook 365

If you’re using Outlook 365, inserting a GIF into Outlook is very similar to inserting a standard image.

But first, let’s talk about the GIF itself.

Before you even open Outlook, you’ll need a suitable GIF ready to go. Now, you’ve got two options here:

1. Create your own custom GIF, especially if you want something branded, campaign-specific, or totally on-message. Tools like Canva, Adobe Express, or Photoshop make this surprisingly easy.
2. Download a ready-made animation from a trusted source. You can use GIPHY, Tenor, or Imgur. However, make sure the GIF is high quality and relevant.

Once you’ve found or made the animation, save it to your computer. That way, it’s ready to upload when you dive into Outlook.

Now for the steps:

Step 1: Start by composing a new email in Outlook.

Step 2: Position your cursor where you’d like the GIF to appear.

Step 3: Navigate to the ribbon and click Insert > Pictures or Insert > Online Pictures. From there, select the animated GIF from your computer.

Step 4: Once inserted, you can click on the corners of the image to resize it. Outlook treats the GIF like a regular image, so you can drag it to fit your layout needs.

[Source]

The animation should play in supported versions like Outlook 365. So, once you insert a gif into outlook email, preview it to make sure everything moves just the way you want before sending it out.

Option 2: How to Embed a GIF in Outlook? – HTML

If you’re using an ESP or HTML editor to build your campaigns, this is the most precise method.

Step 1: Design your email using an HTML editor. You can use any standard tool, but make sure it allows custom HTML input.

Step 2: Host your GIF on a secure server (HTTPS), then embed it using an image tag like this:

<img src=”https://yourdomain.com/image.gif” alt=”Animated Product Demo” width=”600″ />

Step 3: Always include alt text for accessibility and fallback messaging.

Step 4: Before launching your campaign, test it in tools like Litmus or Email on Acid to ensure the animation plays across major platforms and doesn’t break in Outlook clients.

If you’re working with developers or coding your emails, this is the best way to add a GIF to Outlook email. InboxArmy also offers custom coding and testing support if you want to take the heavy lifting off your team’s shoulders.

Option 3: How to insert a GIF in Outlook Email? – Web App (Outlook.com)

For Outlook.com users, the process is intuitive and similar to most web-based email platforms.

Step 1: Log in to your Outlook.com account.

Step 2: Click “New message” to compose a new email.

Step 3: Go to the “Insert > picture” icon at the bottom of the message pane to upload a GIF.

Step 4: Once inserted, check that the animation plays as expected. In most modern browsers, it should preview live.

Outlook’s web version tends to be more animation-friendly than some desktop counterparts, so if you insert a GIF into an Outlook email, this is your safest bet.

Option 4: How to Add GIF to Outlook Email Signature

While you can add GIFs to your signature, proceed with caution. Most Outlook desktop versions won’t animate the GIF in the signature area, and they’ll show only the first frame.

Step 1: Go to File > Options > Mail > Signatures.

Step 2: Choose an existing signature or create a new one.

Step 3: Use the image icon to upload or copy/paste your GIF from your computer.

Step 4: If you want the GIF to be clickable, highlight it and click “Insert Hyperlink” to attach a destination URL.

Step 5: Save and preview in a new message.

[Source]

Even though GIFs in signatures won’t animate on desktop Outlook, using a branded static frame can still look sharp. Just make sure the still image conveys your message clearly.

GIF Fallbacks in Outlook: What Happens When Animation Doesn’t Work?

Not every Outlook user will see the motion. As mentioned earlier, older versions like Outlook 2016 for Windows display only the first frame of a GIF. This makes the first frame critically important as it becomes your backup visual.

This is like designing a poster. If your animated GIF fails to play, the user should still understand what you’re communicating from that one still image. If your GIF is showing a product in motion or counting down to a deadline, the first frame should capture the essence of the message, whether it is an offer, an emotion, or a CTA.

To prepare your fallback:

• Use tools like Photoshop or EZGIF to isolate and optimise the first frame.
• Design it with enough visual weight to stand alone and treat it as your campaign’s “Plan B.”
• Include alt text to describe the action or message for users relying on screen readers or when images are blocked.

This way, even if animation fails, the email still delivers.

What to Watch Out For When Designing GIFs for Outlook

Creating GIFs in Outlook Email that play nicely takes a little more care than it does for web browsers or more modern email clients.

First, keep the file size small, ideally under 1 MB. Larger files are more likely to cause loading delays or be stripped by servers with file-size limits. Tools like EZGIF and TinyGIF can help you compress without too much quality loss.

Stick to a standard width of around 600px. This makes sure that the GIF displays well across desktop and mobile versions of Outlook. If you go wider, you may encounter formatting issues, especially on mobile devices.

Limit the frame rate. Rapid transitions or flashy animations might not render smoothly, or worse, they might trigger spam filters. Outlook isn’t built to handle high-speed animation, so subtlety works best.

Always include alt text. If your image doesn’t load or the client doesn’t support animation, your alt text provides an accessible summary of what’s supposed to appear.

And don’t forget about colour rendering. Some versions of Outlook have a tendency to dull vibrant hues or alter your carefully crafted palette. Always test your emails across multiple clients and devices before sending them to your full list.

Why Add GIFs to Outlook Emails?

While it takes some extra work to ensure GIFs display correctly in Outlook, the payoff is well worth it.

Animated visuals naturally attract the eye. In a sea of static emails, a well-placed GIF can break the monotony and refocus attention. They’re particularly effective in:

• Driving clicks on CTAs through subtle animation.
• Showcasing products in action without embedding video.
• Creating urgency with countdowns or animated sale banners.
• Conveying emotion in welcome messages or thank-you notes.

They’re more lightweight than videos and more dynamic than images, offering a sweet spot for engagement. When you add GIF to Outlook email, you’re drawing attention where it counts.

What Are Some Popular Use Cases for GIFs in Emails?

You don’t need to fill your emails with GIFs to benefit. Used strategically, one good animation can dramatically improve performance.

Some practical examples include:

• Welcome emails with animated confetti or “wave” icons to greet new subscribers.
• Product spotlight sections that show a rotating view, click demo, or transformation.
• Promotional campaigns with blinking tags or countdown clocks.
• Abandoned cart emails featuring a playful animation nudging the user to return.

These are just a few ways to insert GIF in Outlook email without overwhelming the experience.

How Can InboxArmy Help?

Need help adding motion to your email campaigns without breaking Outlook layouts?

At InboxArmy, we specialise in building emails that not only look good but work everywhere. That means HTML coding that renders flawlessly in Outlook, fallback strategies for older versions, and responsive design that feels natural on both desktop and mobile.

Our services include:

• Expert email design tailored for all major inboxes,
• HTML coding and testing with GIF integration,
• ESP setup and cross-platform rendering checks,

So if you’re looking to animate your emails with confidence, InboxArmy has your back.

Final Thoughts

Outlook might be infamous for its formatting challenges, but that doesn’t mean you need to avoid animated GIFs altogether. With a little extra planning, testing, and smart fallback design, you can bring your emails to life without sacrificing functionality or user experience.

So the next time you need to add some spark to your campaign, don’t hold back. Add a GIF to Outlook email and do it knowing you’ve got the tech (and the team) to back it up.