If you are part of the Windows Insider Program, you are in for a treat, as the humble Snipping Tool has just gotten a major upgrade!
Starting with version 11.2505.21.0, Microsoft is officially rolling out GIF export support in the Snipping Tool to Windows Insiders in the Canary and Dev Channels of Windows 11, which allows users to save screen recordings as animated GIFs with just a few clicks.
The Redmond giant says the GIF export feature is “designed to boost your productivity and turn quick captures into shareable moments.” This new versatile feature in Snipping Tool now allows users to create GIFs natively on Windows, without the need to depend on third-party apps or online converters.
How To Turn Recordings Into Shareable GIFs
With this update, you can now record your screen using the Snipping Tool and export your clip directly as a GIF, perfect for quick tutorials, bug reports, or even just a funny moment you want to share via a chat, email, or document — no third-party tools needed.
You can follow the steps below to get started:
- Open the Snipping Tool’s screen recorder using Win + Shift + R, or launch the app and toggle to screen recording mode.
- Record a screen recording video as usual.
- When the preview appears in the Snipping Tool app, click on the “Export GIF” button in the top toolbar.
You will then be able to select the GIF quality (low or high) and either save it to your files or copy it directly to your clipboard for easy pasting into chats or emails.
However, there is one limitation: GIF export is only available for videos 30 seconds or shorter. If your recording is longer than 30 seconds, Snipping Tool will automatically give you the option to export just the first 30 seconds of your video instead.
How To Get It
If you haven’t received the update yet, don’t worry — it’s gradually rolling out more broadly. To check if it’s available, open the Microsoft Store for Windows Insiders, go to Library, and click on Get Updates. Once your Snipping Tool hits version 11.2505.21.0, you are good to go.
Feedback
Microsoft is encouraging Insiders to submit feedback and suggestions on the new feature through the Feedback Hub (just hit WIN + F, then go to Apps > Snipping Tool).
