Stop GIFs and animated images from playing on their own

Why it happens

Your Mac plays animated images, like GIFs and some stickers, the moment they appear. For some people that movement is distracting, and for others it can bring on dizziness or nausea. One switch in Accessibility stops it in apps that follow it.

How to fix it

1. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, and click Accessibility in the sidebar.

2. Click Motion, then turn off Auto-play animated images.

   Accessibility›Motion›Auto-play animated images

3. Open a conversation or web page that had a moving GIF. If the app was already open, quit it with Command-Q and open it again to make sure it picks up the change.

Still not fixed?

1. If big screen animations bother you too, such as windows zooming or the screen sliding between desktops, turn on Reduce motion in the same place.

   Accessibility›Motion›Reduce motion

2. Full-screen effects in Messages, like balloons or confetti, have their own switch. In Messages, choose Messages > Settings…, click General and turn off Auto-play message effects.

   Messages›Settings…›General›Auto-play message effects

3. Many moving pictures on websites are really short silent videos, so this switch can't pause them. In Safari, choose Safari > Settings…, click Websites, then Auto-Play, and set sites to Never Auto-Play.

4. If animations still play in one app, it may draw them its own way, so look in that app's settings or ask its developer. If moving content on your Mac is making you unwell and nothing here helps, contact Apple Support, which has a team for accessibility questions.