How to Fix Microsoft Teams GIFs or Images not working

Microsoft Teams is a powerhouse for collaboration, but when GIFs or images stop working, it kills the vibe—and productivity. Whether you’re trying to react with a meme or share a screenshot, broken visuals can throw off communication. Here’s how to fix it fast.

1. Check Your Internet Connection

Obvious, but crucial. A weak or unstable internet connection can prevent Teams from loading media properly.

• Try switching networks (Wi-Fi to mobile, for example).
• Restart your router.
• Run a speed test—Teams needs at least 1 Mbps up/down for basic functionality.

2. Restart Teams the Right Way

Simply closing the window might not fully shut down Teams.

On Windows:

• Right-click the Teams icon in the system tray.
• Click Quit.
• Relaunch Teams from the Start Menu.

On Mac:

• Press Cmd + Q to quit completely.
• Reopen from the Applications folder or Dock.

3. Clear the Teams Cache

A corrupted cache is a common cause of image issues.

On Windows:

1. Close Teams completely.
2. Press Win + R, type %appdata%\Microsoft\Teams, and press Enter.
3. Delete the contents of the following folders (don’t delete the folders themselves):
   • Application Cache\Cache
   • Blob_storage
   • Cache
   • databases
   • GPUCache
   • IndexedDB
   • Local Storage
   • tmp

On Mac:

1. Quit Teams.
2. Go to ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Teams/.
3. Delete the same types of folders as above.

Reopen Teams and test the images or GIFs again.

4. Check Teams Settings

Teams has a setting that can restrict media.

• Click your profile picture > Settings.
• Go to the Messaging tab.
• Make sure Turn on Giphy and Memes are enabled (if you have those options).

5. Check Admin Restrictions (IT Policies)

If you’re using a work or school account, your IT admin might have disabled GIFs or image previews.

• You’ll need to contact your admin to confirm.
• Ask if policies like Giphy, Media content, or External content previews are restricted in Microsoft Teams Admin Center.

6. Try the Web Version

If you’re using the desktop app, test Teams in your browser:

• Go to https://teams.microsoft.com
• Log in and check if GIFs or images work there.

If they work in the browser, your desktop app might be the issue. Consider reinstalling it.

7. Update Teams

An outdated version of Teams might break certain features.

• Click your profile picture > Check for updates.
• Restart Teams after the update completes.

8. Disable Third-Party Software

Sometimes, security software or browser extensions interfere with Teams.

• Try temporarily disabling antivirus/firewall software and see if GIFs or images start working.
• For browser-based Teams, disable ad blockers or content blockers one by one to test.

Final Thoughts

Microsoft Teams relies on a chain of permissions, cache, and network health to deliver media content. If GIFs or images stop working, it’s almost always fixable. Start simple—restart and clear your cache. If that doesn’t work, dig into settings or ask your admin.

If this guide helped, share it with your team—because nobody should have to communicate without GIFs.

Mark Vincent

Tech enthusiast and content creator passionate about making technology simple for everyone. I share practical tips, guides, and reviews on the latest in computers, software, and gadgets. Let’s explore the digital world together!