Migraine-friendly Slack: stop animated GIFs and emoji, use dark mode

Updated 2026-11-02

Quick answerIn Slack on desktop, click your profile picture, open Preferences > Accessibility and uncheck Automatically play animations in Slack, so GIFs and custom emoji stop moving. Then go to Preferences > Appearance and set Color Mode to Dark. Slack says the dark mode choice is device specific, so set it on mobile too.

Stop animations (desktop)

  1. Click your profile picture in the sidebar.
  2. Select Preferences > Accessibility.
  3. Under Other display options, uncheck Automatically play animations in Slack.

Dark mode (desktop)

  1. Click your profile picture.
  2. Select Preferences > Appearance.
  3. Under Color Mode, select Dark (or System to follow your OS).

Good to know

  • Slack says some custom emoji and GIFs may move or flash, which is why the animation setting exists.
  • Dark mode syncs with the OS on Mac, Windows, iOS 13+ and Android 10+ if you choose System.

FAQ

Can I stop GIFs moving in Slack?

Yes: Preferences > Accessibility, then uncheck Automatically play animations in Slack.

Does Slack dark mode on desktop apply to my phone?

No. Slack says the dark mode preference is device specific.

Sources

  • Slack Help: Manage animated images and emoji. Link
  • Slack Help: Use dark mode in Slack. Link

Not a medical device and not medical advice. Migraine Mode is a screen-comfort tool: it does not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent migraine or any other condition, and it does not replace a doctor. Its settings are based on studies of light, colour, flicker, patterns and motion; the extension itself has not been clinically tested. When to see a doctor.