07:18
Faizan
Whether you like them or loathe them, animated GIFs are a mainstay for marketers looking to up the ante and grab your attention while browsing your email. If you've gotten an email that contains an animated GIF, but it doesn't open for you when you open the email, you're running in to a common problem that could have a number of possible causes.
Allow Images
The first troubleshooting step to take when you're not able to see animated GIFs in your email is to check your email settings. If you've set your email to not automatically open images, then GIFs are not going to work when you open a new message. To change this, look for the setting in your email that says "Allow Images." This is often displayed above your message queue.
Mobile Devices
You may also be running in to trouble because you're trying to open the animated GIF on a mobile phone. Animated GIFs are merely a series of images that play one after the other, and they're often high-kilobyte items; if you're opening them with your mobile device, they may be simply taking a long time to load. Another thing to keep in mind -- if you're opening them in an email, they're hogging data that you pay for with your mobile phone plan, which may not be worth the few seconds of entertainment.
Windows Workaround
In some tests, Microsoft Outlook has had trouble opening animated GIFs. If you're working with a Windows-based email system, Windows recommends a certain protocol to ensure you can see those animated GIFs. To open the file, click on the animated GIF file. Then click "Preview/Properties" from the View menu.
Mac Workaround
You may also have trouble opening your animated GIFs in a Mac Mail program, though the solution here is to open the animated GIF in your browser. To do this, place your cursor on the animated GIF, and then press "Ctrl" while pressing the mouse button. This will open the GIF in a new window or tab.
Allow Images
The first troubleshooting step to take when you're not able to see animated GIFs in your email is to check your email settings. If you've set your email to not automatically open images, then GIFs are not going to work when you open a new message. To change this, look for the setting in your email that says "Allow Images." This is often displayed above your message queue.
Mobile Devices
You may also be running in to trouble because you're trying to open the animated GIF on a mobile phone. Animated GIFs are merely a series of images that play one after the other, and they're often high-kilobyte items; if you're opening them with your mobile device, they may be simply taking a long time to load. Another thing to keep in mind -- if you're opening them in an email, they're hogging data that you pay for with your mobile phone plan, which may not be worth the few seconds of entertainment.
Windows Workaround
In some tests, Microsoft Outlook has had trouble opening animated GIFs. If you're working with a Windows-based email system, Windows recommends a certain protocol to ensure you can see those animated GIFs. To open the file, click on the animated GIF file. Then click "Preview/Properties" from the View menu.
Mac Workaround
You may also have trouble opening your animated GIFs in a Mac Mail program, though the solution here is to open the animated GIF in your browser. To do this, place your cursor on the animated GIF, and then press "Ctrl" while pressing the mouse button. This will open the GIF in a new window or tab.
