Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 11 users running versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1 will see a “GIF service is not available” error in the Emoji panel unless they install the recent update.
This information comes from the Windows Release Health Dashboard notice. The problem began on June 30, 2026, when Google shut down the Tenor API that the Emoji panel used to fetch animated GIFs.
Microsoft replaced Tenor with GIPHY in a June 23 preview update, restoring the feature for users who had it installed.
This change affects the Emoji panel that opens with the Windows key and period keyboard shortcut.
Systems that have not received the update will continue to display the error until they install the fix.
Why is GIF search broken in Windows 11 emoji panel?
The Emoji panel used Google’s Tenor API to find and display animated GIFs.
According to their support document, Google will shut down the Tenor API on June 30, 2026.
After the API was shut down, Windows 11 had no way to fetch GIFs, resulting in an error message when users tried to access them.
Microsoft’s release health notice states: “Install the latest Windows update to continue using GIFs in the Emoji panel through June 30, 2026.
If you don’t update, you will see the message ‘GIF service is not available’ in the panel.
Instead of attempting to restore Tenor access directly, Microsoft switched to GIPHY before the shutdown. This change was included in the preview update released on June 23:
- KB5095093 for version 25H2 and 24H2
- KB5095091 for version 26H1
Devices that installed any updates before June 30 continued to display GIFs without any issues.
Those who skipped the preview update faced an error message on June 30 and it will appear until the update is installed.
How to Restore GIF Support in Windows 11
Users experiencing the error can restore GIF functionality by installing the latest Windows Quality Update. To do this, open Settings and go to Windows Update.
If the Patch Tuesday update has not been released yet, enable the toggle for “Get the latest updates as they become available.” Then click Check for updates and install any available quality updates.
Restart the device when prompted. Once the update is installed, the emoji panel will automatically switch to GIPHY, with no additional configuration required.
Since the emoji panel now pulls results from GIPHY instead of Tenor, users may notice differences in animations, rankings, and content for the same search terms.
The feature works as before, but the underlying library has changed. Those who relied on specific tanner ingredients should expect some variation in the results.
The GIPHY library includes the most common GIF categories, like reactions, animated stickers, and pop culture content.
Users searching for particular memes or animations that were unique to Tenor may get fewer matches or see different variants.
What users should know about the switch on GIPHY
Windows 11 users who are experiencing this issue should install the latest available update as an immediate step.
Those who prefer to wait for the standard Patch Tuesday release rather than the optional preview update can expect the fix to be included in the July 2026 Patch Tuesday cumulative update.
The incident highlights that built-in Windows features also depend on external services that can be turned off at any time without Microsoft’s control.
When a third-party service disappears, native features of the operating system may stop working until Microsoft provides a replacement.
To avoid similar disruptions in the future, users can keep Windows 11 updated with the latest quality updates instead of delaying it.
They can also enable optional preview updates through Settings and Windows Update if they want quick access to fixes.
Monitoring the Windows Release Health dashboard for notifications about known issues can also help you stay informed.
The GIPHY replacement is now available for Windows 11 versions 24H2, 25H2, and 26H1 through the June 23 preview update.
It will be rolled out broadly with the July 2026 Patch Tuesday cumulative update.
Microsoft hasn’t provided details about whether the GIPHY integration will be permanent or whether the emoji panel could move to another provider in the future.
