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Fix Microsoft Designer Suggestions and Animated GIF Options Missing

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to find design suggestions, animated GIFs, videos, and templates in Microsoft Designer that were previously available in the application.

Product: Microsoft Designer
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to utilize built-in media options like animated GIFs, videos, and intelligent design templates while creating a new design project.
Observed behavior: Features such as design suggestions, animated GIFs, videos, and templates have disappeared from the interface and are no longer visible.

Before you start

Before proceeding, check your internet connection and ensure you are logged into the correct Microsoft account, as feature availability can vary based on subscription status and account type.

Solution 1Recommended

Check for Feature Updates and Official Announcements

Microsoft Designer is frequently updated, and certain features may be temporarily disabled for maintenance or modified during version rollouts.

Cloud-based design applications like Microsoft Designer regularly undergo server-side updates. During these updates, resource-intensive features like animated GIFs, video generation, and AI design suggestions might be temporarily pulled offline to address bugs or improve performance.

Because these changes are controlled by Microsoft's servers, they do not require a traditional app update and can seemingly happen overnight.

Check official Microsoft channels

Visit the official Microsoft 365 or Microsoft Designer blog to look for recent release notes or feature deprecation notices.

Clear browser cache

If using the web version of Designer, clear your browser cache and cookies, then reload the page to ensure you are loading the most recent interface.

Test on a different platform

Try logging into Microsoft Designer using a different web browser or switch to the desktop/mobile application to see if the missing features appear.

Temporary Disablement: If the features are missing across all platforms and devices, they are likely temporarily disabled by Microsoft. Monitor the official support forums for updates on when they will be restored.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Create Stunning Presentations Easily with WPS Office

If Microsoft Designer is missing the animated GIFs and design suggestions you need for your project, consider using WPS Presentation as a reliable alternative. It offers a rich, built-in library of templates and animations, completely free and seamlessly compatible with Microsoft formats.

1. Download and open WPS Presentation: Launch WPS Office and click on 'Presentation' to start a new project.
2. Browse built-in templates: Click the 'Design' tab to explore and apply professional templates directly to your slides.
3. Add media and animations: Go to the 'Insert' tab to easily add pictures or downloaded GIFs, then use the 'Animation' tab to bring your designs to life.

Access a massive free library of professional templates, animations, and design assets.Highly compatible with Microsoft PowerPoint (.pptx) formats for seamless file sharing.Lightweight, fast, and completely free to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate interface.Reliable offline access means your favorite design tools won't disappear due to server updates.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my design suggestions suddenly disappear in Microsoft Designer?

Design suggestions rely on AI processing in the cloud. If there is a server issue, high traffic, or an ongoing update, Microsoft may temporarily disable the AI suggestion panel to maintain overall app stability.

Can I still use animated GIFs if the built-in search is missing?

Yes. While the built-in search option might be missing, you can manually download an animated GIF to your computer and use the 'Upload' or 'Insert Media' option to add it to your design.

Are video options and templates permanently removed?

Typically, Microsoft does not permanently remove core features like templates and videos without a major announcement. They are likely hidden due to a localized bug, browser incompatibility, or temporary server maintenance.

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