Steps
Record the screen (optional)
Press record and choose a window, a browser tab or the whole screen; stop when you are done and download the recording. Skip this step if you already recorded with your system's tool (on a Mac, Shift-Command-5; on Windows, Win+Alt+R) and drop that file into the next step instead.
Make the GIF
Set the start and end, then drag a rectangle on the frame to keep only part of the screen. The width starts at 800 px and the size limit at 10 MB: if the GIF comes out larger, it is made again at a smaller width (then a lower frame rate or fewer colours) until it fits. Each frame has its own 256-colour palette, unchanged areas are stored as transparent, and dithering is used only in smooth areas, so text stays crisp.
Requirements and sources
| What | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub - maximum attachment size for images and GIFs | 10MB for images and gifs | Attaching files - GitHub Docs Last verified 2026-10-22 |
| GitHub - maximum attachment size for videos (free plan) | 10MB for videos uploaded to a repository owned by a user or organization on a free GitHub plan | Attaching files - GitHub Docs Last verified 2026-10-22 |
| GitHub - maximum attachment size for videos (paid plan) | 100MB for videos uploaded to a repository owned by a user or organization on a paid GitHub plan | Attaching files - GitHub Docs Last verified 2026-10-22 |
FAQ
How big can a GIF be on GitHub?
10 MB, according to GitHub's documentation on attaching files. This workflow aims under that by default.
Is the GIF as good as other converters?
In our tests against ffmpeg's best GIF settings at the same width and frame rate, our GIFs were 13–57% smaller, with higher SSIM on 4 of 6 clips and within 0.005 on the other two (screen recordings). We have not compared against gifski.
Should I use a GIF or an MP4?
An MP4 is far smaller for the same quality, and GitHub plays MP4 attachments too. Use a GIF where video is not accepted, such as README files, older forums and some chat apps. For an MP4 that fits a size limit, use the compress video to a size limit workflow.
Why can't I record my screen on my phone?
Mobile browsers do not allow web pages to record the screen. Record with your phone's built-in screen recorder, then use the GIF step.