Quick Setup
Quick Setup
Section titled “Quick Setup”After installing the plugin, follow these steps to get GIFs working for your members.
Step 1 - Choose a GIF provider
Section titled “Step 1 - Choose a GIF provider”Go to WB Plugins > BuddyPress Giphy > General and find the GIF Provider card. Select either:
- GIPHY - the original GIF service, widely used.
- Klipy - a free alternative to GIPHY.
The provider you choose here is what all members see. There is no per-member selection.
Step 2 - Add your API key
Section titled “Step 2 - Add your API key”You need a free API key for whichever provider you pick. Full step-by-step instructions for each are in Choosing a GIF provider.
In short: get the key, paste it into the GIPHY API Key or Klipy API Key field on the General tab, and save. A green check next to the field confirms the key is valid.
Note: API keys are site-wide and the same key is used for all members. Keys are sent from the browser directly to the provider’s API, so they are visible in browser network requests. This is normal for both GIPHY and Klipy.
Step 3 - Enable GIFs for the areas you want
Section titled “Step 3 - Enable GIFs for the areas you want”On the same General tab, scroll to Where Members Can Post GIFs (visible when BuddyPress is active):
| Toggle | What it controls |
|---|---|
| Profile activity | GIF button on member profile activity streams (and the site-wide activity directory) |
| Group activity | GIF button on group activity streams |
| Private messages | GIF button in the private message composer |
If bbPress is active, a separate bbPress Forums card appears with a toggle for Forum topics and replies.
Turn on the areas where you want GIFs available, then save.
Step 4 - Verify it works
Section titled “Step 4 - Verify it works”- Visit your site as a logged-in member (not only as an admin).
- Go to the activity stream or a group that has GIFs enabled.
- You should see a GIF icon in the post form toolbar.
- Click it, type a search term, and select a GIF. It should attach to the post.
If the button is not showing, check the Overview tab for a summary of your current configuration, or see Troubleshooting.
Optional - Adjust content filtering
Section titled “Optional - Adjust content filtering”By default the picker shows all results. To restrict content for your community:
- GIPHY: set a maximum content rating (Y, G, PG, PG-13, R) under GIPHY Filtering and Rendition.
- Klipy: set a content filter level (off, low, medium, high) under Klipy Filtering and Rendition. The default is
high, the strictest.
See General settings for every option.