You’re not alone if you’re having trouble saving a GIF in Photoshop. This is a common problem that comes with an array of potential solutions. It depends on which save mode you are using.

If you can’t save a GIF in Photoshop, you should start by making sure that your file size is not too large. Also, you may need to change your format settings if you are using the Save For Web option. 

Find out how to save a GIF in Photoshop and much more in the article below. You’ll also find a host of tips and tools on how to make GIFs with ease. There’s a free tool online that makes it super easy to convert any MP4 or MOV video to a GIF.

Why You Can’t Save a GIF in Photoshop

There are several potential reasons why this is occurring. Scroll down to find out how you can quickly fix this.

There Is No GIF Option in “Save As”

You may have encountered the following problem in Photoshop. You go to “Save As”, but you don’t see GIF as an option in the format drop-down. This happens because you are using the wrong image mode.

To fix this:

• Pan to the File menu
• In the File menu go to  Image and then to Mode
• Change the mode to RGB or Indexed Color

Now you should be able to see GIF as one of the choices once you open up the Save As menu.

I Can’t Save It as a GIF in “Save for Web”

If you are not seeing GIF as an option in the Save For Web menu, do this:

• Pan towards the options on the right side of the screen.
• Make sure that the format drop menu is set to GIF
• If you don’t update this setting, then you will only be able to save in an RGB format (i.e JPG)

The File Size Is Too Large

Your file size is too large if all you see are the following options for file format: PSD, TIFF, or RAW. Fortunately, this problem can be resolved in a few quick steps.

For starters, make sure that you are choosing Save For Web from the File menu rather than Save As.

Once you have navigated to the Save As Web option:

• Choose GIF from the format options in the panel to the right and choose the desired compression setting.
• Click the Save button
• When the “Save As Optimized” window pops up, be sure to select an appropriate file name and location for the image.

At this point, the file should’ve been compressed enough so that you can save it as a GIF. If you are still encountering trouble, you may need to reduce the image size and resolution.

Why Do I Keep Getting a “Not Enough Memory” Error in Photoshop?

Users commonly report getting this weird error code when using the Save For Web feature. There are several potential ways to fix this problem: free up space in Photoshop, update to the latest version or let the app automatically manage memory space for you.

How to Free up Space in Photoshop

Close all the projects that you’re currently not working on. This should free up enough space to be able to save at least a few GIF files. 

Here’s how:

• Close out all the projects you’re not working on.
• Click on the Edit menu.
• Select Purge and then choose All for which projects to delete.

Update Photoshop

It’s also possible that this error is a result of you using an outdated version of Photoshop. Click on the Help menu and choose Updates. This simple step alone may be enough to resolve this issue.

To find updates in Photoshop, go to the Help menu. From there just scroll down until you see updates.

Let Photoshop Manage Your Memory for You

You can prevent your projects from taking up too much memory by allowing Photoshop to purge old projects for you. 

Do this:

• Go to the Windows Search Bar and type “regedit”. Hit Enter.
• Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Photoshop
• Click on the version number of Photoshop you are using
• Right-click on an empty area in the pane on the right side
• Select New>DWORD(32-bit)

Name the new key OverridePhysicalMemoryMB. Then double-click on the key you just made and set the value data to whatever your computer’s max system memory is. Hit OK to finish.

Tips For Creating GIFs in Photoshop 

You can make it even easier to create and save GIFs in Photoshop with the below tips.

Use a Free Video to GIF Converter Online

One great tool for creating GIFs is the PlaceIt free online video to GIF converter.  You can convert videos that are saved in either MP4 or MOV format. Best of all, you do not need a subscription to use this service.

 The website does come with a subscription service, however, that gives you access to many features that’ll enhance your Photoshop experience.

GIF Story Maker Template for Instagram

One of the other features that PlaceIt has to offer is this. It’s a GIF Instagram Story Maker Template. Why settle for the basic, boring Instagram story maker? With this all you need to do is edit the text, select your background and you’re ready to go with a few clicks.

Use This if You’re a Streamer

Here’s how to make your stream stand out from the rest. Go to this website and scroll through the many animated logos, Twitch templates, and YouTube templates. If you’re having trouble brainstorming your viral moment, this is a good place to start.

You don’t necessarily need a subscription to enjoy this service either. Many of the templates are available for free and you can cancel a subscription anytime.

Final Thoughts

If you can’t save a GIF in Photoshop, the file size may be too large. You may need to clear up some space in the app or install the latest updates. Alternatively, you can set a few commands to allow Photoshop to automatically delete projects that are left unused for an extended time.