Have you ever wondered if you can use more than one image type for your Twitter, now X, profile pictures? If so, you’re not alone. Many users have asked if a Twitter profile picture GIF is possible.
A moving display photo is possible on X, but an account must meet certain criteria to use it. If you want to know how GIF profile pictures work on Twitter, be sure to read this blog post.
Can I upload a moving Twitter profile picture?
Yes, you can upload a moving Twitter profile picture. However, your account must be from 2013 or earlier.
Twitter has always been a very popular social media platform. For many years, users have watched it evolve and change to continue to meet the standard for positive user experiences. One of the features that used to be very popular on Twitter was the use of GIFs as a profile picture.
A GIF is a short, looping video clip that can be used to express emotions online. Some might even argue that GIFs and emojis share a common purpose in terms of their meaning on the internet.
As the app has evolved over time, many things are different today than they used to be. For example, it’s currently not possible to use a GIF as your Twitter profile picture if you have a new account. However, if you opened your account before 2013, you may still be able to use your display photo as a GIF.
How to use a GIF as your X profile picture
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably interested in replacing your profile photo with GIFs.
However, you must first consider the following four criteria:
- The GIF image file size must not exceed 700 KB.
- The image must not be larger than 80×80 pixels. This ensures that the animation is not lost after the GIF is published.
- It must be a short looping clip or a static image.
- It must not contain any graphic or offensive material. X has a strict policy against graphic and offensive material, so don’t risk having your account banned.
If your GIF meets all the above requirements, it’s time to move on to the next step.
To insert a GIF into a Twitter profile picture, you need to follow these five steps:
- Sign in to the X app on your phone or computer.
- Click on your profile icon in the top right corner of the screen.
- Choose Edit profile.
- Click on your profile picture and select from the menu Upload photo.
- Select the desired GIF and tap Open.
At the end of step five, you have successfully changed your X profile picture to a GIF. You can change and remove a Twitter profile picture at any time as you wish, as there is no regulation about the duration of a profile picture on X.
Here are some tips to help you choose and upload the right GIF:
- Always make sure to resize your GIF to fit the allowed dimensions of X. The possible range is 48px, 96px, 384px, and 192px.
- If your GIF doesn’t fit the allowed dimensions, it won’t work, so you can resize it using an online editor.
- Always save your GIF where you can easily access it.
Reasons for uploading a GIF to your Twitter profile
There are many reasons why you should upload a GIF to your Twitter profile. Some of them are the following:
- Visuals are a great way to stimulate the audience and grab their attention, increasing engagement.
- This can help reduce the tension with which the audience views your account.
- It reduces cognitive load, which is good if you want your followers to find your account likeable.
- It’s a fun way to show interests and personality.
- It gives your X account a special flair.
- It makes it easier to place your brand on your Twitter profile.
Even if you don’t want to turn your profile picture into a GIF, you can still use it in your posts. Using images goes a long way in grabbing your audience’s attention and putting your account in the spotlight. And not only that, they’re a great way to mark your social media presence.
Associating your posts with a specific type of media can help your account stick in the minds of your followers.
How to Customize a Twitter Profile Picture GIF: Using Third-Party Tools
The type of GIF you want to use as your profile picture may not be available, in which case it’s best to create your own GIF.
To create timeless GIFs, you need to use third-party applications. X provides GIFs in the app but doesn’t offer any customization.
Below are some third-party tools that are great for customizing GIFs.
1. Giphy
GIFs add fun, excitement, and personality to your profile. However, not everyone knows how to make a GIF.
Giphy is one of the best tools to customize GIFs for your cover photo.
Here’s how to create new GIFs using this tool:
- Visit the Giphy website and create an account. You will need to log in to save your GIF to your channel page.
- Click on the + top left of the screen.
- A menu bar will appear to help you customize it to your needs. This menu bar provides options to take photos, upload photos from your camera roll, or insert a media link.
- You need to adjust the image size when you select an image from your camera roll.
- Sliders will appear that allow you to set the duration and start time of the GIF you will create.
- The final step is to save the edited version to your camera roll. Better yet, upload it to Giphy, either publicly or privately.
And now you have created a custom GIF that you can post on your Twitter account.
2. Tenor
The process to customize a Twitter profile picture GIF on Tenor is very similar to Giphy. Just follow the steps below:
- On the Tenor homepage, there is a prompt to create GIFs at the bottom right.
- Click the prompt and you will be asked to open your gallery.
- You can then select the image or video clip you want to convert to a GIF.
Tenor also offers other features like the ability to create a collection of your GIFs and stickers to share with your family, and you can also tag your GIFs so others can discover them.
3. Your mobile phone
Apart from the tools mentioned above, some mobile phones offer the ability to create GIFs in your camera roll.
Here’s how to quickly and easily create a beautiful GIF with your iPhone:
- Open the Camera app on your iPhone.
- Click the circle in the top right corner to turn on Live Photos.
- Find the object, scene, or person you want to create a GIF of and take a photo.
- Open the Photos app on your phone.
- Scroll down until you Live Photos see .
- Select the media you want to convert to a GIF.
- Under iOS15, click on “Live” to bring up a drop-down menu (on iOS14 or below, you’ll need to swipe up to see the menu options).
- Click on Bounce or Loop to successfully convert your photo into a GIF.
If you are using an Android phone, it is uncertain whether all phones can do this task. However, you can still try to see if your phone can also create a GIF.
All you have to do is follow these simple steps:
- Enter your camera app.
- Find and tap the Settings button; it’s usually located in the top left corner of the screen.
- Choose Swipe Shutter; This should be used to take a series of shots.
- Choose Create GIF and exit the menu settings.
- When you need the GIF, press the shutter button, swipe down, and release. The GIF should now be ready and ready to use.
The X-App gives users a lot of space to explore its features, but there are rules that must be followed. Since Elon Musk took over, a lot has changed in the X-App, or Twitter as you knew it. Some say the app has improved and offers a faster service, but others point out some drawbacks.
According to a recently published update of the X-Guidelines The team will allow certain file formats for updating profile pictures. These include PNG, JPG, or GIF. They also explained that the app does not support animated GIFs for a header or banner image.
FAQs
How do I turn a Twitter profile picture into a GIF?
Go to your profile and click Edit profile. Then tap the field for your display photo. Select the option to update your photo from the camera roll and choose the GIF you want.
Does Twitter allow animated GIFs?
Twitter doesn’t allow animated GIFs as banners or header images, but you can post them as regular tweets.
Are GIFs better on Twitter?
GIFs on Twitter drive more views, likes, and comments and can lead to 55% more engagement on the platform.
Use a GIF for your profile picture and organize your feed for more engagement
If you decide to revamp your account, you can start by decluttering your tweets after you’ve made your Twitter profile picture a GIF. Removing old tweets that don’t fit your new niche is a great way to revamp your X account.
Luckily, TweetEraser offers the perfect tool for bulk deleting tweets from your Twitter account. The free plan allows you to delete up to 3200 tweets at a time. You can also upgrade to a paid plan to get more experience. Get TweetEraser now and organize your X-Feed!
