YouTube GIF Comments Rollout Tracker (Latest Updates)
We track every change to YouTube's GIF comments feature here and update this page as news comes in. The date at the top shows the latest update.
Current status
| Question | Status (October 18, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Is it live? | Rolling out gradually in the YouTube mobile app, account by account |
| iPhone, iPad and Android app | Yes, for accounts that have been enabled |
| youtube.com on a computer | No GIF button |
| Mobile website (m.youtube.com) | No GIF button |
| Where do the GIFs come from? | Tenor only, rated for all audiences |
| Upload your own GIF file? | No, but you can publish it on Tenor first |
| Shorts comments and replies | Yes |
| Editing a comment / community posts | Not supported |
| Creator setting to turn off GIFs | None yet (see hiding GIF comments) |
| Available to everyone | Expected November 2026, according to YouTube's API changelog |
Timeline
October 14, 2026: desktop extensions stop working
Developers of an open-source browser extension that added a GIF button to youtube.com reported that, from October 14, YouTube started rejecting GIF comments sent from the desktop site with an "invalid argument" error. Text-only comments still post. (GitHub issue)
Mid-October 2026: rollout in the mobile app begins
GIF comments began appearing in the YouTube app for some accounts. Coverage at the time noted the rollout is gradual, isn't limited to YouTube Premium, and that many users don't have the option yet. (TechRepublic)
Reactions are mixed. Some viewers welcome GIFs; others, and some creators, have asked for a way to turn them off. YouTube hasn't announced one. (Dexerto)
September 30, 2026: API changelog sets a November date
YouTube's Data API revision history added a snippet.imageUrl property to comments, "which provides the URL for an image or animated GIF attached to a comment," and said "this feature will be available to all users in November 2026." (YouTube Data API revision history)
September 23, 2026: announced at Made on YouTube
YouTube announced GIF comments, letting viewers reply with GIFs on videos and Shorts, as part of a set of comment and fandom features at its Made on YouTube event. (TechCrunch)
June 30, 2026: Tenor's public API shuts down
Google shut down the Tenor API that other apps used for GIF search. Tenor itself stayed online and remains part of Google's own products, which is how YouTube's GIF comments can use it. (Our explainer)
What we're watching
- The November rollout. Will every account get GIF comments, and will they reach youtube.com on desktop?
- Image comments. The API change mentions images as well as GIFs. That could mean uploading your own image or GIF, which would change how custom GIFs work. More in can you add a picture to a YouTube comment?
- Creator controls. A setting to disable GIF comments per channel or per video.
- Our Tenor test. We're testing how quickly a newly uploaded Tenor GIF shows up in YouTube's GIF picker, and will post the result here.
Related guides
- How to post a GIF in YouTube comments
- Why you don't have the GIF button yet
- GIF comments on PC
- Make a GIF from a video or compress a GIF
Know about a change we've missed? Email support@youtubegifcomments.com. YouTube GIF Comments is not affiliated with YouTube, Google or Tenor.