Microsoft Fixes GIF Functionality in Windows Emoji Panel After Provider Shutdown
In a sudden and unexpected disruption, many Windows 11 users found themselves unable to access GIFs through the operating system’s Emoji Panel on June 30. The issue was caused by the retirement of Google’s Tenor GIF search engine service, which had been providing GIF functionality to the panel since its introduction. Microsoft has since stepped in to resolve the problem, switching to a new GIF provider called GIPHY and releasing a preview update (KB5095093) to restore the feature.
For those who may not be familiar with the technical details, let’s break down what happened: Tenor was an application programming interface (API) that allowed Windows to access and display GIFs from its vast library. When Google shut down Tenor’s API on June 30, Microsoft’s Emoji Panel stopped working as expected, displaying a message informing users that the “GIF service is not available.” This affected some, but not all, Windows 11 users, depending on their operating system version.
Microsoft has been actively working to address this known issue and has now released an update to fix it. The KB5095093 preview update, which was made available on June 23, includes a patch that switches the Emoji Panel’s GIF functionality to GIPHY, allowing users to once again access GIFs through the panel. Users can install the update by opening Settings, clicking Windows Update, and then selecting “Check for Updates.” Alternatively, they can download it manually from the Microsoft Update Catalog.
It’s worth noting that this is not an isolated incident; Microsoft has been busy resolving other known issues affecting its operating system in recent months. In addition to restoring GIF functionality, the KB5095093 update includes a new feature called Point-in-Time Restore, which enables users to roll back their Windows installation to a previous point in time. This can be particularly useful for troubleshooting and debugging purposes.
For those who are not affected by this issue, but want to stay ahead of the game, it’s essential to keep your operating system up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. Regularly checking for updates and installing them as soon as they’re available will help prevent similar issues from arising in the future.
Source: Bleeping Computer — 2026-07-01