Make a GIF loop forever

The original GIF format had no idea of looping. Repeat playback was added later through an extra block of data, known as the NETSCAPE2.0 application extension after the browser that introduced it. That block holds a loop count:

• No block at all: browsers play the animation once and stop on the last frame.
• A count of 0: loop forever. This is what nearly every “infinite” GIF uses.
• Any other count: repeat that many extra times after the first play, then stop.

Tools that export GIFs often decide this for you. A GIF saved with looping off, or with a count of one, behaves exactly as told. Plays in loop.video writes the block for you: Forever writes a count of 0, Once leaves the block out, and ×2, ×3 and ×5 write the matching count.

A GIF that loops forever also shows its weakest moment forever: the jump from the last frame back to the first. Many GIFs were cut from a video at an arbitrary point, so that jump is obvious.

• Find the best loop searches the GIF for a start and end that match, and moves the handles there. The score (Excellent match to Poor match) tells you how invisible the join will be.
• Crossfade under Join dissolves the end into the start. It works on any GIF, including ones that never return to where they began.
• Blend softens a small jump by mixing a few frames either side, without shortening the loop.

A perfect loop is one where the frame after the last would be the first: a rotating object completes its turn, a wave returns to the same shape. The seamless loop guide explains how to shoot and cut for that.

Forever is right for reactions, stickers, website decorations and anything meant to sit on screen. A set count suits other jobs:

• Once for a GIF that should play through and rest on a final frame, such as an animated logo or a chart that builds.
• ×2 or ×3 for a short demonstration in documentation or an email, so it doesn’t distract readers forever.
• ×5 for something that benefits from a few repeats, like a quick how-to motion.

Respecting the count is up to the app showing the GIF. Several chat and social apps loop every GIF regardless of what the file says, and a few email clients show only the first frame. Browsers follow the file.

Re-saving a GIF means choosing its colours again. To stay close to the original:

• Pick a Width at or just below the GIF’s own width; larger sizes aren’t offered, because stretching a GIF only blurs it.
• Choose a Frame rate near the original’s. Most GIFs run at 10 to 15 fps; going higher only repeats frames and adds size.
• Set Quality to High and leave Dither colours on, which keeps gradients from banding.

Making it longer instead

If what you need is a longer piece of animation rather than an endless one, for a platform that wants a video, convert it with GIF to MP4 and repeat it to any length. Starting from a video? The MP4 to GIF converter makes the looping GIF in one go.