Discord provides various features, including animated GIFs and stickers. However, the continuous influx of moving images may not be appealing to everyone. If you find them distracting or simply want to reduce the visual clutter, worry not! In this article, we will explore various methods to disable GIFs on Discord servers and channels. Let’s dive in!
How to Disable GIFs on Discord
GIFs bring a hub of endless excitement into lively conversations on the platform. However, in case you do not want them, Discord does not provide a built-in option to disable GIFs. Fortunately, there are settings you can adjust to minimize or prevent GIFs from automatically playing.
How to Disable GIFs on Discord Server and Channel on Mobile
There are two methods through which you can restrict GIFs on Discord. Let’s go through them:
Note: This setting only affects your personal account and does not apply to other users or servers.
Method 1: Restrict GIFs from Auto-Playing
Follow the steps mentioned below to disable GIFs and Emojis from auto-playing in Discord:
1. Open the Discord app and tap on your Avatar at the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on the Accessibility option.
3. Toggle off Automatically play GIFs when possible and Play animated emoji.
4. Toggle on Animate on interaction.
Now that Auto-play for GIFs and emojis is disabled, they will only display as static images and require manual interaction to animate. So, to view them in motion, tap and hold onto them.
Also Read: 16 Best Discord Animated Emoji Maker in 2023
Method 2: Embed as Links
You can also have the GIFs exchanged in a server appear as links to you. Follow the steps mentioned below:
1. Launch the Discord app and tap on your Avatar located in the bottom right corner of the screen.
2. Scroll down and tap on Text & Media.
4. In the DISPLAY IMAGES, VIDEOS, AND LOLCATS section, toggle on the When posted as links to chat.
Once disabled, GIFs and animated stickers will no longer display on your Discord mobile app. However, if you want to access them, you can use Discord on your PC and click on the link to view them.
Also Read: How to Add Your Own GIF to Instagram Story on Android
How to Disable GIFs on Discord Server and Channel on PC
If you primarily use Discord on your PC and wish to disable GIFs, you can do so by the following methods.
Method 1: Turn Off Auto-Playing For GIFs
Follow the steps mentioned below to stop GIFs and Stickers from playing automatically on Discord:
1. Open Discord and click on the Gear icon located at the bottom left corner of the screen.
2. In the USER SETTINGS menu, scroll down to APP SETTINGS and click on Accessibility.
3. Toggle off the options for:
- Automatically play GIFs when Discord is focused.
- Play animated emojis.
4. Now scroll down to STICKERS and choose either Animate on interaction or Never animate.
That is it! Post the settings are saved, all the emojis, GIFs, or stickers will be in static mode. None of it will be automatically played until you hover the cursor over it.
Method 2: Post as Links
If you want the GIFs not even to be visible on the chat window of the server, follow the steps mentioned below:
1. Open Discord and click on the Gear icon located at the bottom left corner of the screen.
2. In the USER SETTINGS menu, navigate to the Text & Images on the left sidebar.
3. Toggle off the When posted as links to chat option.
Now all the GIFs and animated stickers will appear in the format of links as you send or receive them in a Discord chat. To view them, you would have to click on the link.
Also Read: 12 Ways to Fix Discord GIFs Not Working
How to Disable Users from Using GIFs on Discord Server
If you are a server administrator or have the appropriate permissions, you can disable your members from sending external GIFs from other servers to yours. Here’s how you can do it:
1. Open Discord and navigate to the Server on which you want to disable GIFs.
2. Click on the downward pointing arrow next to the server name and select Server Settings.
3. Select Server Settings or Channel Settings depending on your preference.
4. Click on the Roles tab and click on the pencil icon (Edit) to choose the role for which you want to disable GIFs.
5. Click on the Permission tab and find the TEXT CHANNEL PERMISSIONS section.
6. Scroll down and toggle off the Use External Emojis and Use External Stickers permission.
By removing this permission, users in the server or channel will not be able to post GIFs or animated emojis.
Recommended: Express in Animation: How to Make Twitter Profile Picture a GIF
We hope this guide helped you disable GIFs on Discord. If you have any queries or suggestions, do leave a comment for us in the box below. For more tech-related information, stay connected to TechCult.
