Updated on August 2, 2026easy, ~1 min

How to Add a GIF to Notion (GIPHY and Uploads)

Notion has a GIPHY picker built into the image block, which is the fastest route: type /image, choose the GIPHY tab, and search. You can also paste a GIPHY link into an /embed block, or upload a .gif file from your computer with /image. All three work, and they behave differently in ways that matter if the GIF is going on a page other people will read.

Why embed GIPHY in Notion?

  • Show a short interaction or bug in motion without recording a full video.
  • Add tone to an internal wiki page that would otherwise be a wall of text.
  • Illustrate a UI step where a still screenshot loses the movement.

Three ways to put a GIF in Notion

The right one depends on where the GIF comes from and how long it needs to last. The built-in GIPHY search is quickest for a reaction GIF. A pasted GIPHY link behaves the same but lets you pick something you already found. Uploading your own file is the only option that does not depend on a third party keeping the GIF online, which matters for documentation.

  • Reaction GIF, want it now: type /image and use the GIPHY tab.
  • Specific GIPHY GIF you already have a link to: paste it into an /embed block.
  • Screen recording or anything that must not disappear: upload the file with /image.

How to embed GIPHY in Notion

  1. Use the built-in GIPHY picker

    Type /image on a Notion page and press Enter, then switch to the GIPHY tab and search. Pick a result and it drops straight into the page as an image block.

  2. Or paste a GIPHY link

    Copy a GIF's link from giphy.com, type /embed on your Notion page, paste it, and click "Embed link". This is the route to use when you already know which GIF you want.

  3. Or upload your own GIF

    Type /image, choose Upload, and select a .gif file. Notion hosts the file itself, so it stays available regardless of what happens to the original source.

  4. Resize it

    Drag the edges to size the GIF. Uploaded GIFs behave like any other image block, so they can be aligned and captioned normally.

Good to know

  • A linked GIPHY GIF disappears from your page if it is ever removed at the source. Upload the file if the page needs to keep working.
  • Large GIFs are heavy. A long screen recording is usually better as a video than as a multi-megabyte GIF.
  • GIFs have no playback controls, so they loop continuously and cannot be paused by the reader.
  • Uploaded files count toward your workspace's file size limit on Notion's free plan.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add a GIF to a Notion page?

Type /image, press Enter, and use the GIPHY tab to search, or choose Upload to add your own .gif file. You can also paste a GIPHY link into an /embed block.

Should I link a GIF or upload it?

Upload it if the page matters. A linked GIF depends on the source keeping it online, while an uploaded file is hosted by Notion and will not vanish.

Can I use a GIF as a Notion page cover?

Yes. Add a cover and choose Upload or Link, then point it at the GIF. Animated covers work, though a still image is usually easier to read a title against.

Why is my GIF not animating?

Check that the file really is a .gif rather than a still exported from one. Some tools export a first frame as a .png while keeping the original name.

Need a widget that doesn’t exist yet?

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