If you’ve been sending GIFs through Google Messages lately and noticed they’re suddenly just sitting there like still images, you’re not alone. Many users are reporting that a recent beta update has broken GIF animations in the messaging app, turning what should be lively reactions into lifeless screenshots.
The issue appears to have started following a recent update for Google Messages beta. Users across multiple devices, including Pixel phones, Samsung Galaxy devices, and OnePlus handsets, have reported that GIFs they send no longer animate in the chat thread. The animations still play if you tap to open them in full screen, but they’re frozen in the conversation view itself. Oddly enough, GIFs sent via MMS still animate properly, suggesting this is specifically an RCS issue.
After seeing the reports pile up on Reddit, I ran a test myself and could reproduce the issue on a Pixel 8 running Google Messages beta version 20251212_00_RC01. However, it works perfectly fine on the stable version 20251121_00_RC02 on a Pixel 8 Pro. That pretty clearly points to something going wrong in the latest beta build.
The good news? There’s a straightforward workaround. Multiple users have confirmed that leaving the beta program and uninstalling updates fixes the problem immediately. You can do this by heading to the Play Store, searching for Google Messages, and opting out of the beta. Then uninstall updates, and your GIFs should spring back to life.
Some users have also found success by toggling RCS off and back on, though this appears less reliable. One Samsung user noted that disabling “Reduce animations” in their accessibility settings helped, but that seems device-specific and doesn’t address the root cause.
Google’s Help Community account has acknowledged the reports and is asking users to submit feedback through the app’s built-in reporting tool. With enough logs, the engineering team should be able to identify what’s causing the animation freeze and push a fix in the next update.
For now, if you’re on the beta and want your GIFs back, rolling back to the stable build is your best bet. It’s a minor inconvenience, but it beats sending what looks like boring screenshots when you’re trying to express yourself with a perfectly looped reaction GIF.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1392 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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