With the latest Windows update ".gif" files are no longer animated

Silvera · 17 Apr 2018

With the latest Windows update ".gif" files are no longer animated. That is the issue has anyone else experienced this or is my machine really messed up?

Bree · 17 Apr 2018

What are you using to see animated gifs? Do you mean in a browser? If so, is it all browsers or just one?

Which version of Windows does Winver say you have? The latest is version 1709, os build 16299.371.

Does this look animated?

With the latest Windows update ".gif" files are no longer animated-loading.gif

Berton · 17 Apr 2018

It is working for me in the latest Firefox and Internet Explorer 11. It also loaded in Edge but slower than in the others.

Masterchiefxx17 · 17 Apr 2018

Same here, everything works for me.

Did your Default App Settings get changed for opening .GIF files? You can check this by clicking Start and typing Default App Settings. Then select the blue link for adjusting file type settings.

Silvera · 17 Apr 2018

Bree – your circle is animated. But it is on the website. None work as they used to on my machine.
Berton - I am just using Windows 10 on an a Dell computer.
Masterchiefxx17 – I have not changed anything. I believe a few days ago there was no issue with gif’s.
These gfis are older but would that be the issue?

Bree · 17 Apr 2018

@Silvera, you still haven't told us what you are using to view the animated gif files on your machine. Not all viewers are capable of showing the animation. The Photos app can, the older Windows Photo Viewer can't.

What do you open the animated gifs with? The default may have been changed, perhaps by an update, perhaps inadvertently by yourself.

Silvera · 17 Apr 2018

Opps, sorry about that. I have been using Windows Photo Viewer for years.,

Bree · 17 Apr 2018

You're right. In 1709 build 16299.371 the Windows Photo Viewer doesn't show the animation. The only other machine I have to hand at the moment is Windows 7 ~~and that Windows Photo Viewer does show animations.~~

I tested that with the 'loading' gif I posted earlier. You can right-click on it and save it to your PC if you'd like to use it for your own tests.

You said in post #1 "With the latest Windows update...". What update was that? Was it the Features Update that would have upgraded you to the Fall Creators Update, version 1709? Or did you already have 1709 and it was just a cumulative update?

Look in Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and see what 'View installed update history' says, post a screenshot if you can.

Edit: and on further investigation I'm even more puzzled - apparently I shouldn't be able to play animated gifs in Windows 7 Photo Viewer....
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/...c-68b599b31bf5

Edit (again): My mistake - in Windows 7 my default for .gif was set to IE. Actually opening with Photo Viewer shows no animation.

Set your default to open .gif with Internet Explorer and you'll be able to view animated gifs with a double-click. Perhaps you had been using IE before without noticing (as I did in 7) and an update has change the default?

Silvera · 17 Apr 2018

Thanks Bree, I copied it to my machine and it does not spin. I do not recall when the up date occurred. I have not opened a gif in a while. It real ticks me off that Microsoft did that. I have saved a lot of gif files over the years and now they only just a picture or if you use their "open any file" option you get a supper enlarged fuzzy image. It was up dated yesterday evening at 10:45 pacific standard time. I clicked on "Get help" it opened then immediately closed. Interestingly the last updates were 4/12/18 and all were only 32-Bit Edition. I believe my machine is 64-Bit but my memory has been failing me. (It is no fun getting old) my first machine was a '85 Compact lug-able with a tiny green screen.

Berton · 17 Apr 2018

Check your System Info, hold down the Windows key + the Pause key. Or right-click the Start button then choose System. The information will give whether you have the 32-bit or 64-bit version. Windows system files won't interchange, have to be for the version actually installed. The 64-bit hardware can run the 32-bit version of the OS but not the other way around.