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GIFs in emails???

I can search for and add Gifs to messages I send in the iMessage app... but I do not see any way I can search for and send Gifs in the Apple Mail app on my iPad using iOS 13.4.1. Why not?

I considered installing a couple of the third party GIF apps but they both require full access to my keyboard and to virtually all of my private information inc. credit card numbers and social security number!?! Forget that!! I have tried googling for a way to add this feature safely to my existing keyboard, but found none.

I just don’t get it.....why can’t the Mail app have features like an expanded email page when in reading mode and a pause before delete feature like Edison Mail?? If I remember correctly Edison also allowed for Gifs to be searched and added to emails. Maybe I will try that app again. MAIL just seems waaay to basic.

iPad Pro 9.7-inch WiFi

Posted on May 25, 2020 10:35 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on May 27, 2020 3:10 AM

As you correctly observe, there are significant functional limitations to the native Mail App. Each major update brings new functionality, but the native App still falls somewhat short of its “desktop” equivalents. Roote thoughtfully provided comprehensive workflow description of a workaround solution - that uses native functionality of iOS/iPadOS.


Speaking of workflows, you might explore the Apple Shortcuts App - and either locate an existing workflow, or write one of your own; a lot can be achieved with a little effort. You’ll also find a number of extension-Apps for Shortcuts, in the App Store, that add additional capabilities to the Shortcuts App.


An alternative strategy in finding the functionality that you crave, is to explore alternative third-party Mail Apps. There are many to choose from, such as Microsoft Outlook, but I can’t provide immediate guidance as to any of their capabilities in context of incorporating GIF images.


You might also like to make a feature request to Apple. Apple do invite constructive product feedback via their feedback pages. Here are the links to both the full list - and explicitly for iPad:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

https://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html


I hope this information and insight proves to be helpful to you.


4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 27, 2020 3:10 AM in response to spinnikin

As you correctly observe, there are significant functional limitations to the native Mail App. Each major update brings new functionality, but the native App still falls somewhat short of its “desktop” equivalents. Roote thoughtfully provided comprehensive workflow description of a workaround solution - that uses native functionality of iOS/iPadOS.


Speaking of workflows, you might explore the Apple Shortcuts App - and either locate an existing workflow, or write one of your own; a lot can be achieved with a little effort. You’ll also find a number of extension-Apps for Shortcuts, in the App Store, that add additional capabilities to the Shortcuts App.


An alternative strategy in finding the functionality that you crave, is to explore alternative third-party Mail Apps. There are many to choose from, such as Microsoft Outlook, but I can’t provide immediate guidance as to any of their capabilities in context of incorporating GIF images.


You might also like to make a feature request to Apple. Apple do invite constructive product feedback via their feedback pages. Here are the links to both the full list - and explicitly for iPad:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/

https://www.apple.com/feedback/ipad.html


I hope this information and insight proves to be helpful to you.


May 26, 2020 3:56 AM in response to spinnikin

To send an email now from Messages:


In Messages, select and send a GIF to yourself. Tap the received GIF to expand. You can also tap a GIF you received from someone else. Tap the Share button. Tap the Mail button to open a compose email window with the selected GIF.



To send an email later from Mail:


In Messages, send a GIF to yourself. Tap and hold the received GIF. Tap Save to save the GIF to Photos. You can also save a GIF you received from someone else. Later in Mail, open a compose email window. Tap in the body of the email to bring up additional buttons in the keyboard's toolbar. Tap the Photos button. In the thumbnail image viewer tap the GIF you want to send to open it in the body of the email.




iPad Pro (12.9-inch) (3rd generation), iPadOS 13.5.

May 31, 2020 2:29 PM in response to spinnikin

Thank you. I mentioned a third party app in my comment...it is called Edison Mail. It is free and has great features that Apple has never thought of. It is not the most stable but they constantly update it and have great customer service.

You can add GIFS using the keyboard’s gif icon which takes you to GIPHY where you can the search for whatever you are looking for. It just doesn’t make sense that you can do it in iMessage but not in Mail. I give up...am getting really tired of Apple. I will send them feedback...thank you for the link. But nobody ever listens to me.....hahaha!

FYI...here is a screenshot of EMail (Edison) regarding adding a GIF to emails....

May 26, 2020 7:07 PM in response to Roote

Thank you Roote for your suggestion however that is a VERY convoluted way for me to do it. I generally don’t use the iMessage app. at all. I use the Mail app to check emails and that is when I would want to simply reply to someone and find a cute, appropriate for the situation, GIF to quickly attach to the email. So you are suggesting that I leave the mail app...open the message app...search for a gif, share it to myself in Mail, go back to the Mail app, open the gif and add it to my PHOTOS....I could have done that from Messages, right? And then go back to the person’s email I wanted to reply to and attach the gif from PHOTOS!?!?

Certainly Apple could add #images to the Mail’s keyboard toolbar. Seriously......it is lacking! I went back to using Edison Email last night....where you can search for and add gifs right from the app using the keyboard. I hope somebody who works at Apple would actually try using the Mail app for about a week and see how pathetic it is. The only reason I will use it is because it is very stable and reliable but the features are, like, nil. I can add GIFs, in any category I want, automatically, using iMessage, Edison Mail, Facebook’s Messenger, Viber....

Why not in MAIL???


GIFs in emails???

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