Is GIF image checker
Find out whether a file is truly a GIF, whatever its extension claims. Everything is checked on your device.
- Your files are never uploaded
- Processed on your device
- Works offline
- Free, no sign-up
Drop your images here
Images · up to 10 files, 100 MB each
or paste with Ctrl+VLive preview
Settings
No settings needed. Add your files and convert.
Nothing is uploadedHow it works
Add your images
Choose one or more image files to check for the GIF format.
Read the verdict
See the detected format and a clear Yes or No answer for each file.
Act on the result
Convert or rename with confidence, knowing the true format of every file.
Animated or still: know your GIF
GIF is the classic format for short animations, stickers and simple graphics, but many so-called GIFs online are actually MP4 videos or WebP animations wearing a .gif name. Renaming never changes the contents, so players and editors can still reject the file.
This tool reads the GIF87a or GIF89a signature at the start of each file, giving a trustworthy Yes or No. That tells you instantly whether you hold a genuine GIF or an impostor that needs proper conversion.
Checked locally, kept confidential
The whole inspection runs on your own device, inside your browser, using just the first bytes of each file. Because nothing travels across the internet, your memes, reaction clips and work graphics remain entirely yours from start to finish.
No account, no uploads and no history are kept: add your images, read the table of verdicts, and close the page when done. Only the tool itself may be cached for offline use, never the files you checked.
When to check for GIF and what to do next
Check before uploading to platforms with strict GIF rules, before embedding animations in presentations, or when a downloaded animation refuses to loop. Knowing the real format tells you whether to convert, re-export, or simply fix a wrong extension.
Genuine GIFs can be optimised or converted with our image tools, while fake ones should be converted from their true format first. For a deeper look at colours and transparency, try Analyze image.
Questions
Are my files uploaded?
No. The signature check runs inside your browser on your own device. Your files are never sent to us or to anyone else.
Is it free?
Yes. Free to use, with no sign-up, no watermark and no daily limits.
Can it tell animated GIFs from still ones?
This check confirms the file is genuinely a GIF. Most GIFs with animation play automatically in your browser when you open them; a still GIF simply shows one frame.
What if the format shows as unknown?
The file is probably damaged, incomplete, or a video renamed to .gif. Check the source, download it again, or convert from the original format.
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