How to save GIFs from X to iPhone Photos (valid in 2026)
In this guide, we tell you about four ways to save GIFs from the X app (which was Twitter) to the iOS Photos app on your iPhone or iPad.
IX allows all users to save still images from the platform to the photo application with little fuss.
You can also save videos from X to your iPhone’s photo library with just a few taps, as long as you’re subscribed to X Premium, and the poster allows downloads.
However, when it comes to GIFs, you can’t save them as images, and you won’t see a download button from the video post. This leaves you with workarounds, and none of them are straightforward. Anyway, all things considered, if you have to save GIFs from X to your iPhone Photos app, here are four ways to do it.
Use Twitter Video and GIF Download
After trying countless Siri shortcuts, I found this one that works and saves the X GIF in the iOS Photos app. But it doesn’t take the X post link directly to the Share Sheet; it only reads the URL of the post on the clipboard. Therefore, you must follow the exact steps that I show you below.
1) Add the shortcut to your iPhone or iPad by scanning the QR code at routinehub.co/shortcut/16877/.
2) Open the X app on your iPhone and go to the GIF post. You can just search for “GIF” to find something.
3) Tap that share button under the X post and select Copy Link.
4) Tap the same share button again, and this time choose Share with to open the iOS Share Sheet. Next, press Twitter Video & Gif Download since then.
5) Now you have to allow a bunch of permissions that this shortcut presents to you. After that, when you get to the ‘Select a server’ prompt, select the first ‘x2twitter.’ Then, after allowing other permissions, when you see the ‘What’s next?’ option, press ‘Make a gif.’ Allow notifications from this shortcut if you want.
6) Finally, open the file A photo appand you will find the GIF saved there.
If you have to save a second GIF, you don’t have to start at step 4 above; instead, start at step 3 (ie, copying the post link to the clipboard), and follow the rest of the process.
Use the TVDL shortcut
Like the above iOS shortcuts, this one also requires you to copy the GIF post link to X and select TVDL 4.1.0 on the iOS Share Sheet. We explained how to use this shortcut in our guide to download 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 you should know about.
Just use the screen recording option in iOS Control Center to record your iPhone screen showing GIF. Then, crop the screen recording to show part of the GIF and strip the rest.
Finally, share this screen recording video via messages, WhatsApp, email, etc. If the video is too short, WhatsApp may also give you the option to send it as a GIF instead of a video.
Related: How to convert video or screen recording to GIF on iPhone and Mac
Use the Twitter website to download videos
Websites that allow you to download videos from Twitter are very popular, and many also support saving GIFs (albeit as small video files). The whole process is the same as saving a video. Here is a summary:
1) Copy link of X post with GIF, visit ssstwitter.com in Safari on your iPhone, paste the link there, and press Download > Download the original video. After closing the ads, press Download (not View) in a Safari pop-up asking for your permission for 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, press the button share icon and choose Save the Video to have this GIF as a video in your iPhone Photos app.
Finally, if none of the above steps seem to be working or easy, just share the original link of the X post instead of downloading and sharing the GIF.
Many GIFs on X are available on Google, GIPHY, and other GIF-oriented platforms. Just search for the GIF by description and save it somewhere.
More on GIFs:
