Google shut down the Tenor API on June 30th, 2026, ending third-party access to the GIF search service and requiring platforms that relied on it — including X, Discord, Bluesky, and WhatsApp — to migrate to alternative providers.
The Tenor website and its GIF library will remain live, and Google will continue using Tenor across its own products, including Google Messages and Gboard. However, any existing API agreements and integrations have been “fully decommissioned,” and API requests made after the deadline will fail with an error message. Google stopped accepting new API sign-ups and integrations on January 13th, 2026.
Google acquired Tenor in 2018. The platform functions similarly to competing services like Giphy and Klipy, allowing users to search for GIFs using keywords. The company cited an “ongoing effort to focus resources on enhancing our core products” as the reason for shutting down the API.
Several affected platforms began preparing for the transition ahead of the deadline. X Product head Nikita Bier said on June 21st that the platform was “forced to migrate” due to the shutdown, though did not specify a replacement. Discord began testing Giphy and Klipy as alternatives in January, and WhatsApp was working on replacing Tenor with Klipy as of May.
For users, the most noticeable impact may be losing access to familiar GIFs, as different providers maintain different libraries. The change also shifts the competitive landscape for GIF services. When Meta announced plans to acquire Giphy in 2020, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority identified Tenor as the only equivalent large GIF provider, warning the deal would harm competition among social media platforms. Meta was ultimately required to divest Giphy in 2023.
Source: The Verge