How to add a GIF to a PowerPoint presentation

If you feel like jazzing up an otherwise staid PowerPoint presentation, there are plenty of options to choose from. You can add things like footers, watermarks, music, YouTube videos, slide numbers, and speaker notes, to name just a few. But how about GIF images? Everybody loves a good GIF when being told about the latest quarterly earnings report. Here’s how to add a GIF to PowerPoint so you can impress the boss and clinch that big promotion.

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How to add a GIF to a PowerPoint presentation

First, you obviously need to get a copy of the GIF that you want to use in your PowerPoint presentation. There are many websites that offer a wide variety of GIFs, the two big ones being Giphy and Tenor.

Once you have found the GIF, right-click on the image and select Save Image As to save it to your computer.

Open the PowerPoint slide presentation where you want to insert the GIF. Click the Insert tab at the top of the screen and select Pictures > This Device from the options.

Navigate to the location of the GIF image on your computer, and select it. It will now be inserted onto the slide.

You can resize the image by clicking and dragging the corners, and you can also move the image to a different location on the slide by clicking and dragging the image.

To ensure that the GIF plays automatically during your presentation, go to Transitions > Advance Slide, and select On Mouse Click. Or, if you would prefer instead that it starts after a slight delay, click After and add how long the slide should wait.

Finally, test the PowerPoint presentation by clicking through the slides to make sure that the GIF is working as you want it to.

Some things to bear in mind

• Not all versions of PowerPoint support GIFs; some versions only support video format.
• GIFs can be a great way to enhance a presentation, but they should be used sparingly. If you go crazy and overuse GIFs in your presentations, it can be distracting, annoying, and slightly unprofessional. It can also negatively impact the overall message of the presentation.
• Be aware of any copyright issues, especially if you’re using the GIFs for professional purposes and are using the presentations in a large group setting. Most GIFs should be safe to use, but still, be cautious.

Read more: How to add, change, and manage fonts in PowerPoint