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GIF File Extension

The GIF file extension was created by CompuServe and is also known as the Graphical Interchange Format File. GIF is classified as a Common File Types and This File type categories under Zip, Text, Binary and XML, however, the format of this file format has not been determined yet. You can open GIF files in Microsoft Windows Photos program.

Graphical Interchange Format File Type

.GIF file extension.
Graphical Interchange Format File Type
Extension .gif
Developer CompuServe
Popularity 5.0 (872 Votes)
Mime Type image/gif
Default Program Microsoft Windows Photos
Category Common File Types
Format Binary
Updated 7/1/2025

What is a GIF File Type?

GIFs are a common format for web graphics, especially small images and images containing text such as buttons. JPEG (.JPG) images, however, are better for displaying photos because they are not limited in the number of colors that' they can display.

GIF images can be animated and saved as double quotes; animated GIF images, which are often used to display basic animations on websites. It can also include transparent pixels, allowing them to blend into different colors. However, a GIF image must be either totally transparent or completely opaque, so that transparency cannot be erased as a .PNG image.

See more information on the GIF format.

Free Online GIF Tools & Apps

Access powerful and secure free online GIF tools to convert, view, edit, merge, split, and compare GIF files — all without installing any software. Our tools support the .GIF (Graphical Interchange Format File) file extension and run smoothly in any modern browser.

Select a tool below to explore features and manage your GIF files directly from your device with ease.

GIF Files Common Issues

There are few common issues with the Graphical Interchange Format File .GIF File Extensions while opening the .GIF files on Windows and MacOs, we have solution to those issues such as:

Can't Open GIF Files?

  1. You must have supported software programs installed for Graphical Interchange Format File on your system such as Microsoft Windows Photos.
  2. Associate default Microsoft Microsoft Windows Photos program for *.gif (Graphical Interchange Format File) files.

    Associate GIF Default Program on Windows
    1. Right-click a *.GIF (e.g example.gif) file and click Open With.
    2. In the Open with dialog box, click Microsoft Microsoft Windows Photos program Or click Browse to locate the program (*.exe) that you want.
    3. Select check box for Always use this app to open .gif files.

    Associate GIF Default Program on MacOs
    1. Click *.GIF (e.g example.gif) file and click information -> Open With.
    2. In the programs list, click Microsoft Microsoft Windows Photos program Or other appropriate program that you want.
    3. Confirm Change for all... and Contine.
    4. A message will appear "This change will be applied to all files with .Microsoft Windows Photos extension. By clicking Continue you confirm your selection", click Contine to apply changes.

Related GIF File Extensions

GIF default file extension is .GIF and other similer related extensions are:

All Platform Software Programs for GIF File Extension

List of all softwares that can open the GIF files on each platforms such as Windows, Mac, iOS, Linux, Web and Android, you may click the each software link for more details for other supported formats for each software and the verified direct download links for each software with complete lisensing details.

Microsoft Windows logo image Open GIF File on Windows

Software License Developer
CADSoftTools ABViewer image. CADSoftTools ABViewer 10 for Windows Commercial CADSoftTools
ACD Systems ACDSee image. ACD Systems ACDSee 2019 for Windows Commercial ACD Systems
Adobe Acrobat image. Adobe Acrobat DC 2019 for Windows Commercial Adobe
Adobe After Effects image. Adobe After Effects 2020 for Windows Commercial Adobe
ACD Systems Canvas image. ACD Systems Canvas X 2019 for Windows Commercial ACD Systems
Corel CorelDRAW Graphics Suite image. Corel CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2020 for Windows Commercial Corel
Roxio Creator image. Roxio Creator NXT PRO 5 for Windows Commercial Roxio
IMSI DesignCAD image. IMSI DesignCAD 2019 for Windows Commercial IMSI
Adobe Dreamweaver image. Adobe Dreamweaver 2020 for Windows Commercial Adobe
Microsoft Excel image. Microsoft Excel 365 for Windows Commercial Microsoft
Wondershare Filmora image. Wondershare Filmora 9 for Windows Commercial Wondershare
Adobe Fireworks image. Adobe Fireworks CS6 for Windows Commercial Adobe
Adobe Flash image. Adobe Flash CC for Windows Commercial Adobe
Adobe FreeHand image. Adobe FreeHand 11 for Windows Commercial Adobe
Florian Rival GDevelop image. Florian Rival GDevelop 3 for Windows Open Source Florian Rival
GIMP image. GIMP 2.10 for Windows Freeware GIMP
Newera Graphics Converter Pro image. Newera Graphics Converter Pro 3 for Windows Commercial Newera
Adobe Illustrator image. Adobe Illustrator 2020 for Windows Commercial Adobe
ImageMagick image. ImageMagick 7 for Windows Open Source ImageMagick
Adobe InDesign image. Adobe InDesign 2020 for Windows Commercial Adobe
Samsung Kies image. Samsung Kies 3 for Windows Freeware Samsung
JRiver Media Center image. JRiver Media Center 19 for Windows Freeware JRiver
MAGIX Movie Edit Pro image. MAGIX Movie Edit Pro 2020 for Windows Commercial MAGIX
Nero image. Nero 2019 for Windows Commercial Nero
Kofax OmniPage image. Kofax OmniPage ULTIMATE 19 for Windows Commercial Kofax
Opera image. Opera 20 for Windows Freeware Opera
Corel Painter image. Corel Painter 2021 for Windows Commercial Corel
Corel PaintShop Pro image. Corel PaintShop Pro 2021 for Windows Commercial Corel
Nuance PaperPort image. Nuance PaperPort 14 for Windows Commercial Nuance
Apowersoft Phone Manager image. Apowersoft Phone Manager 2 for Windows Freeware Apowersoft
CyberLink PhotoDirector image. CyberLink PhotoDirector 365 for Windows Commercial CyberLink
Adobe Photoshop image. Adobe Photoshop 2020 for Windows Commercial Adobe
Adobe Photoshop Elements image. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020 for Windows Commercial Adobe
Corel Pinnacle Studio image. Corel Pinnacle Studio 24 for Windows Commercial Corel
CyberLink PowerDirector image. CyberLink PowerDirector 365 for Windows Commercial CyberLink
Microsoft PowerPoint image. Microsoft PowerPoint 365 for Windows Commercial Microsoft
CyberLink PowerProducer image. CyberLink PowerProducer 6 for Windows Commercial CyberLink
Quark QuarkXPress image. Quark QuarkXPress 2020 for Windows Commercial Quark
Smith Micro StuffIt Deluxe image. Smith Micro StuffIt Deluxe 2010 for Windows Commercial Smith Micro
IMSI TurboCAD image. IMSI TurboCAD PRO PLATINUM 2018 for Windows Commercial IMSI
IMSI TurboPDF image. IMSI TurboPDF 7 for Windows Commercial IMSI
Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate image. Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate 7 for Windows Commercial Xilisoft
Corel VideoStudio image. Corel VideoStudio 2020 for Windows Commercial Corel
Microsoft Visual Studio image. Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 for Windows Commercial Microsoft
Golden Software Voxler image. Golden Software Voxler 3 for Windows Commercial Golden Software
Microsoft Windows Photo Viewer image. Microsoft Windows Photo Viewer WINDOWS 7 for Windows Bundled Microsoft
Microsoft Windows Photos image. Microsoft Windows Photos 2020 for Windows Bundled Microsoft
Microsoft Word image. Microsoft Word 365 for Windows Commercial Microsoft

MacOs logo image - FileProInfo.comOpen GIF File on Mac OS

Software License Developer
Adobe Acrobat image. Adobe Acrobat DC 2019 for MacOs Commercial Adobe
Adobe After Effects image. Adobe After Effects 2020 for MacOs Commercial Adobe
vhf interservice Cenon image. vhf interservice Cenon 4 for MacOs Freeware vhf interservice
Corel CorelDRAW Graphics Suite image. Corel CorelDRAW Graphics Suite 2020 for MacOs Commercial Corel
Adobe Dreamweaver image. Adobe Dreamweaver 2020 for MacOs Commercial Adobe
Microsoft Excel image. Microsoft Excel 365 for MacOs Commercial Microsoft
Wondershare Filmora image. Wondershare Filmora 9 for MacOs Commercial Wondershare
Apple Final Cut Pro image. Apple Final Cut Pro X for MacOs Commercial Apple
Adobe Fireworks image. Adobe Fireworks CS6 for MacOs Commercial Adobe
Adobe Flash image. Adobe Flash CC for MacOs Commercial Adobe
Adobe FreeHand image. Adobe FreeHand 11 for MacOs Commercial Adobe
Softpress Freeway Pro image. Softpress Freeway Pro 7 for MacOs Commercial Softpress
Florian Rival GDevelop image. Florian Rival GDevelop 3 for MacOs Open Source Florian Rival
GIMP image. GIMP 2.10 for MacOs Freeware GIMP
Newera Graphics Converter Pro image. Newera Graphics Converter Pro 3 for MacOs Commercial Newera
Adobe Illustrator image. Adobe Illustrator 2020 for MacOs Commercial Adobe
ImageMagick image. ImageMagick 7 for MacOs Open Source ImageMagick
Adobe InDesign image. Adobe InDesign 2020 for MacOs Commercial Adobe
Samsung Kies image. Samsung Kies 3 for MacOs Freeware Samsung
JRiver Media Center image. JRiver Media Center 19 for MacOs Freeware JRiver
Nuance OmniPage Pro X image. Nuance OmniPage Pro X 1 for MacOs Commercial Nuance
Opera image. Opera 20 for MacOs Freeware Opera
Corel Painter image. Corel Painter 2021 for MacOs Commercial Corel
Corel PaintShop Pro image. Corel PaintShop Pro 2021 for MacOs Commercial Corel
CyberLink PhotoDirector image. CyberLink PhotoDirector 365 for MacOs Commercial CyberLink
Adobe Photoshop image. Adobe Photoshop 2020 for MacOs Commercial Adobe
Adobe Photoshop Elements image. Adobe Photoshop Elements 2020 for MacOs Commercial Adobe
CyberLink PowerDirector image. CyberLink PowerDirector 365 for MacOs Commercial CyberLink
Microsoft PowerPoint image. Microsoft PowerPoint 365 for MacOs Commercial Microsoft
Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac image. Microsoft PowerPoint for Mac 2019 for MacOs Commercial Microsoft
Apple Preview image. Apple Preview 10 for MacOs Bundled Apple
Quark QuarkXPress image. Quark QuarkXPress 2020 for MacOs Commercial Quark
Apple Safari image. Apple Safari 12 for MacOs Bundled Apple
Smith Micro Stuffit Deluxe Mac image. Smith Micro Stuffit Deluxe Mac 16 for MacOs Commercial Smith Micro
Roxio Toast image. Roxio Toast 18 for MacOs Commercial Roxio
IMSI TurboCAD for Mac image. IMSI TurboCAD for Mac DELUXE V10 for MacOs Commercial IMSI
Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate image. Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate 7 for MacOs Commercial Xilisoft
Microsoft Word image. Microsoft Word 365 for MacOs Commercial Microsoft
Microsoft Word for Mac image. Microsoft Word for Mac 2019 for MacOs Commercial Microsoft

Linux logo image - FileProInfo.comOpen GIF file on Linux

Software License Developer
Adobe Acrobat image. Adobe Acrobat DC 2019 for Linux Commercial Adobe
vhf interservice Cenon image. vhf interservice Cenon 4 for Linux Freeware vhf interservice
Florian Rival GDevelop image. Florian Rival GDevelop 3 for Linux Open Source Florian Rival
GIMP image. GIMP 2.10 for Linux Freeware GIMP
ImageMagick image. ImageMagick 7 for Linux Open Source ImageMagick
Opera image. Opera 20 for Linux Freeware Opera
Adobe Photoshop image. Adobe Photoshop 2020 for Linux Commercial Adobe

Website logo image - FileProInfo.comOpen GIF file on Web

Software License Developer
Imgur image. Imgur 000 for Web Free Imgur

iOS logo image - FileProInfo.comOpen GIF file on iOS

Software License Developer
Google Drive for iOS image. Google Drive for iOS 4 for iOS Freeware Google
Imgur image. Imgur 000 for iOS Free Imgur
CyberLink PhotoDirector image. CyberLink PhotoDirector 365 for iOS Commercial CyberLink
Apple Safari image. Apple Safari 12 for iOS Bundled Apple

Android logo image - FileProInfo.comOpen GIF file on Android

Software License Developer
Google Drive for Android image. Google Drive for Android 4 for Android Freeware Google
Imgur image. Imgur 000 for Android Free Imgur
Apowersoft Phone Manager image. Apowersoft Phone Manager 2 for Android Freeware Apowersoft
CyberLink PhotoDirector image. CyberLink PhotoDirector 365 for Android Commercial CyberLink
CyberLink PowerDirector image. CyberLink PowerDirector 365 for Android Commercial CyberLink

About Licensing

  1. Free Trial This software are often used for an attempt period, like 14 days, before requiring payment. Some trial versions have a reduced feature set.
  2. Free This software is liberal to use. Examples include open-source , freeware software, like free programs supported by advertising.
  3. Free+ This software is liberal to download and use, but contains in-app purchases (IAP) to unlock additional content or functionality.
  4. Paid This software must be purchased so as to use it. it's going to be offered as a perpetual license or ongoing subscription.
  5. Included with OS This software is bundled with an OS , like Windows, macOS, or Android.

GIF file extension icon image.About GIF - Graphical Interchange Format File

FileProInfo is to help you understand about the Graphical Interchange Format File with *.GIF suffix, and provide the complete detail as how to open, edit, convert, merge, split and compare it with other related software programs, software download links and free online apps and tools.

Our professional team members at FileProInfo have been individually researched and verified the details for GIF. We want to be 100% accurate and publish the information about file formats, tools, apps and software programs that we have tested and validated.

If you would like to suggest any additions or updates to this page for GIF, please let us know.

Updated 7/1/2025
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