In this guide, we tell you about four ways to save GIFs from the X app (formerly Twitter) to the iOS Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
X lets all users save still images from the platform to the Photos app with little fuss.
You can also save videos from X to your iPhone photo library in just a couple of taps, provided you have subscribed to X Premium, and the poster has allowed downloads.
However, when it comes to GIFs, you can’t save them like photos, nor will you see the download button that appears on a video post. This leaves you with using workarounds, and none of them are straightforward. Still, all things considered, if you must save GIFs from X to your iPhone Photos app, here are four ways to do that.
Use the Twitter Video and GIF Downloads
After trying countless Siri shortcuts, I found this one that works and saves the X GIF to the iOS Photos app. But it doesn’t capture the X post link directly from the Share Sheet; it only reads the post URL from your clipboard. So, you must follow the exact steps I show you below.
1) Add the shortcut to your iPhone or iPad by scanning the QR code on routinehub.co/shortcut/16877/.
2) Open the X app on your iPhone and go to a post with a GIF. You can just search for “GIF” to find something.
3) Tap the share button under the X post and select Copy Link.
4) Tap the same share button again, and this time select Share via to open the iOS Share Sheet. Next, tap Twitter Video & Gif Downloads from there.
5) You’ll now have to allow a bunch of permissions that this shortcut presents you with. After that, when you get to the ‘Select Server’ prompt, select the first one that says ‘x2twitter.’ Then, after allowing some more permissions, when you see the ‘What’s the next?’ option, tap ‘Make the gif.’ Allow notifications from this shortcut if you want.
6) Finally, open the Photos app, and you’ll find the GIF saved there.
When you have to save a second GIF, you must not start from step 4 above; instead, start from step 3 (i.e., copying the post link to the clipboard), and follow the rest of the process.
Use the TVDL shortcut
Just like the above iOS shortcuts, this one also requires you to copy the GIF post link on X and then select TVDL 4.1.0 from the iOS Share Sheet. We have explained how to use this shortcut in our guide on downloading videos from X to the iPhone Photos app.
Use native screen recording
If you don’t save a lot of GIFs from X, this method is one to know about.
Simply use the screen recording option in iOS Control Center to record your iPhone screen showing the GIF. Then, crop the screen recording to show just the GIF portion and strip away the rest.
Finally, share this screen recording video via Messages, WhatsApp, email, etc. If the video is very short, WhatsApp may even offer you the option to send it as a GIF instead of a video.
Related: How to turn a video or screen recording into a GIF on iPhone and Mac
Use a Twitter video downloader website
Websites that let you download videos from Twitter are very popular, and most also support saving GIFs (though as small video files). The entire process is the same as saving a video. Here’s a recap:
1) Copy the X post link with GIF, visit ssstwitter.com in Safari on your iPhone, paste the link there, and tap Download > Download original video. After closing the ads, tap Download (not View) on the Safari pop-up asking for your permission on what to do with the GIF.
2) Next, go to Safari Downloads, as shown in the screenshots below.
3) Tap the GIF to open it. Then, tap the share icon and select Save Video to have this GIF as a video in your iPhone Photos app.
Finally, if none of the above steps seem viable or easy, simply share the actual X post link instead of downloading and sharing the GIF.
Most GIFs on X are also available on Google, GIPHY, and other GIF-focused platforms. Simply search for the GIF by description and save it from elsewhere.
More on GIFs: