How to stop GIFs and animations for migraine

Updated 2026-11-02

Quick answerEnable OS reduced-motion settings, disable animated emoji/GIF autoplay in apps, and use a browser freeze tool for the rest. WCAG documents prefers-reduced-motion for a reason — motion can be more than cosmetic annoyance. Keep expectations modest. Adjust intensity to taste.
Not medical advice. Migraine Mode is a screen-comfort tool, not a medical device. It does not diagnose or treat disease. When to see a doctor.

OS

  1. Windows/macOS/iOS accessibility reduce motion.

Apps

  1. Slack, Discord, Reddit animation switches.

Chrome

  1. Migraine Mode freeze GIFs/animations.

FAQ

Will reduced motion break websites?

Occasionally decorative animations stop; core tasks should remain.

Is this anti-seizure protection?

It reduces motion; it is not a certified medical safeguard against photosensitive epilepsy.

Sources

  • W3C. Understanding WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.3.3: Animation from Interactions. Link
  • W3C. Technique C39: Using the CSS prefers-reduced-motion query to prevent motion. Link
  • Slack Help: Manage animated images and emoji. Link
  • Discord Support: Reduced Motion Setting. 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.