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Turn Off Animated Emojis & GIFs in Slack

Updated · Standard formula, shown below

If you find Slack’s animated emojis and GIFs distracting, overwhelming, or a drain on your device’s battery, you can turn them off. This guide walks you through the settings to disable animations, so you can use Slack with static images instead. You’ll need access to your Slack workspace settings—either through the desktop app or your web browser.

What You’ll Need

  • A Slack account with permission to change your own preferences (all users have this).
  • Access to Slack via the desktop app (Windows, Mac, or Linux) or a web browser.
  • No admin privileges are required; this is a personal setting.

Step-by-Step

  1. Open Slack – Launch the Slack desktop app or go to app.slack.com in your browser and sign in to your workspace.
  2. Access Preferences – Click on your workspace name or profile picture in the top-left corner (desktop) or bottom-left corner (web). From the dropdown menu, select Preferences.
  3. Navigate to Accessibility – In the Preferences window, look for the Accessibility tab in the left sidebar. Click on it.
  4. Find the Animation Setting – Scroll down to the section labeled Animation. You’ll see a checkbox or toggle that says “Allow animated emojis and GIFs” or similar.
  5. Disable Animations – Uncheck the box or toggle the switch to the off position. This will stop all animated emojis and GIFs from playing automatically.
  6. Save and Close – The change is saved automatically in most cases. Close the Preferences window and return to your Slack workspace. You should now see static images instead of animations.

Common Mistakes

  • Looking in the wrong settings – Some users look under “Notifications” or “Messages” first. The setting is specifically under Accessibility.
  • Expecting it to affect all workspaces – This setting applies only to the workspace you’re currently in. If you use multiple workspaces, you’ll need to repeat the steps for each one.
  • Thinking it removes GIFs entirely – Disabling animations only stops them from playing; the GIFs and emojis will still be visible as static images. To completely hide them, you’d need a different approach (like a third-party extension, which is not recommended).
  • Not checking the web version – If you use both the desktop app and the web version, you’ll need to change the setting in both, as they are separate clients.

Tips

  • Reduce motion for all of Slack – In the same Accessibility section, you can also enable “Reduce motion” which minimizes other animations like message transitions and hover effects, not just emojis and GIFs.
  • Keyboard shortcut – On desktop, you can press Ctrl + , (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + , (Mac) to open Preferences directly.
  • Battery and bandwidth – Disabling animations can help reduce CPU usage and data consumption, especially in large, active channels with many GIFs.
  • Check for updates – Slack occasionally changes the location of settings. If you can’t find it, make sure your app is up to date.

Troubleshooting

If you’ve followed the steps but animations still play, try these fixes:

  • Restart Slack – Close Slack completely and reopen it. The setting may not take effect until a restart.
  • Check if you’re in the right workspace – Verify that you’re in the workspace where you changed the setting. If you’re in a different one, repeat the steps there.
  • Clear cache – Go to Preferences > Advanced > Clear Cache and restart Slack. This can help if the old settings are stuck.
  • Re-check the checkbox – Sometimes the setting reverts due to a syncing issue. Uncheck it again and ensure it stays unchecked.
  • Try the web version – If the desktop app isn’t cooperating, log in via the browser and change the setting there. Then go back to the app.
  • Contact workspace admin – In rare cases, an admin may have enforced a policy that overrides personal settings. If so, reach out to your IT team.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this stop GIFs from loading entirely?

No, it stops them from animating. You’ll see a static preview image instead. The GIF file itself is still loaded, but it won’t play.

Will this affect how others see my messages?

No, this is a personal preference. Other users will still see animated emojis and GIFs as they always have.

Can I turn off animations on the mobile app?

Yes, on iOS and Android, go to You (or your profile) > Preferences > Accessibility and toggle off “Allow animated emojis and GIFs.”

Why is the setting under Accessibility?

Slack groups it there because animations can cause issues for people with vestibular disorders or visual sensitivities. It’s a common place for such settings in many apps.

Will disabling animations reduce my data usage?

Yes, it can reduce data usage because animated GIFs are typically larger than static images. However, Slack may still download the full file, so the savings might be modest.

Can I re-enable animations later?

Absolutely. Just go back to the same setting and check the box again. The change is reversible at any time.

Related

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