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How to Save a GIF from X (Twitter), as MP4 or Real GIF

Updated · 4 min read

Quick answer

Copy the post's link (Share › Copy link), paste it on savelark.com/twitter-gif-downloader and tap Download. You get the GIF as a silent MP4, which is the original file X stores. If you need a real .gif, run that MP4 through any video-to-GIF converter.

Open the X (Twitter) GIF Downloader →

Why X GIFs download as MP4

When someone posts a GIF, X converts it to a short, looping MP4 video without sound. The GIF badge you see in the timeline is just a label: the file behind it is a video.

That MP4 is the best copy that exists. It's usually several times smaller than the same animation as a .gif, with smoother colors, and it plays in every chat app, on every phone and in every browser.

Step by step

Works in any browser on iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows.

  1. 1Open the post with the GIF and tap or click the Share icon.
  2. 2Choose Copy link.
  3. 3Go to savelark.com/twitter-gif-downloader and paste the link into the box.
  4. 4Tap Download. The result shows the GIF with a GIF button.
  5. 5Tap the button to save the MP4. On iPhone it lands in Files › Downloads (Share › Save Video adds it to Photos); on Android and computers it's in your Downloads folder.

Turning the MP4 back into a .gif

Some places still want a real .gif file: older forums, email signatures, a few design tools. Any video-to-GIF converter handles this. Keep the width at 480 px or less and the frame rate around 15 fps, and the file stays a reasonable size.

On iPhone, the Shortcuts app has a Make GIF action that turns a saved video into a GIF without another app. On a computer, free tools like ffmpeg or GIMP can do it offline.

Expect the .gif to be bigger and a little grainier than the MP4. GIF only supports 256 colors per frame, which is exactly why X stopped using it.

Sharing it as a GIF

Most messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord, iMessage) play a short silent MP4 as a looping animation, so you often don't need to convert at all.

To post it back on X, upload the MP4 as a video. X only labels an upload as a GIF when the file you upload is a real .gif.

When it doesn't work

"This post has no video, GIF or photo": the GIF is in a different post, often the one being replied to or quoted. Open the exact post that shows the GIF and copy its link.

"This post is private, protected or age-restricted": only public posts can be saved.

FAQ

Why is there no sound in my downloaded GIF?

GIFs never have sound. X stores them as silent MP4 videos, so the file you get is silent too.

Can I download a GIF from X as a .gif file directly?

X doesn't keep a .gif version, only the MP4. Download the MP4 and convert it if you really need a .gif.

Is the X GIF downloader free?

Yes. It's free, needs no account and works in the browser.

Does it work for videos too?

Yes. Paste any post with a video and you get the MP4 in every quality X offers.