How to Send a Virtual Hug: GIFs, Videos, Sweet Texts & More Ways

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Send your love, even when you can’t be there to give a hug IRL

Co-authored by Supatra Tovar, PsyD, RD and Marcus Pruitt, BS

Last Updated: October 17, 2025 Fact Checked

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What is a virtual hug?

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Best Ways to Send

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When to Send

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Video

When you can’t hug your loved ones in person, a virtual hug is the perfect alternative! A virtual hug is exactly what it sounds like: a hug that you send to someone virtually (online, over text, through a video call, etc.). They’re useful for many different situations, and in this article, we dive deep into them all. Read on to learn about what a virtual hug is and the best ways to send them so your loved ones know you care (even from far away!).

Virtual Hugs Explained

Virtual hugs are an online gesture of affection. You might send a GIF, photo, text, or emoji of a hug (typically captioned with a message like “sending virtual hugs”), or even show yourself giving a hug over a video call. Virtual hugs convey the warm, fuzzy feeling of a hug when you can’t hug someone in person.

Section 1 of 3:

What is a virtual hug?

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A virtual hug is a GIF, photo, emoji, video, or text that represents a hug. Virtual hugs are typically sent over text, email, or video call to let the recipient know that you care about them and are sending love their way. They’re like digital cuddles that symbolize support and affection, which are especially useful when you’re far away from someone and can’t actually hug them.^{[1]
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- Virtual hugs are sent to convey the warm and fuzzy feeling of an actual hug when you can’t hug someone in real life.

Section 2 of 3:

Ways to Send a Virtual Hug

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GIFs GIFs are some of the most popular types of virtual hugs to send. Virtual hug GIFs tend to include an animated animal or emoji making a hugging motion with some text that reads “Sending virtual hugs” or “Virtual Hug: 100% sent,” making them the perfect thing to send when you want to express that you care with one text rather than 3 texts, a photo, and a handful of emojis.
- How to Send: Select the GIF you want to send and text it to the person you want to give a virtual hug to. You can send it on its own, or include a short, heartfelt message!
- When you don’t have any virtual hugs in your personal photo library, head to sites like GIPHY, Tenor, or Pinterest, type “virtual hugs” in the search bar, click search, and save the GIFs that you want to use to your device.
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Photos If GIFs aren’t your thing, photos are another great way to send over virtual hugs. Whether you’re sending a photo in a meme format or just a cute photo of a cat or pet hugging something, a virtual hug photo shows that you care about the person and are thinking about them in the moment. You know what they say: A picture’s worth a thousand words.
- How to Send: Select a photo and send it to the person you want to send a virtual hug to via text or social media. You could even send a photo of yourself giving an “air hug.”
- If you don’t already have a virtual hug photo on your phone, you can download one from Pinterest, iStock, and other photo-based sites.
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Videos Videos are a great way to personalize your virtual hugs. Rather than relying on premade photos or GIFs to show your love, virtual hug videos rely on your own words and actions. All you have to do is prop your phone up and record yourself saying some kind words. Once you finish saying what you have to say, you just have to hug the air or hug your phone and click send. It’s a great way to let your loved ones know how much you care!
- How to Send: Prop your phone up against a flat surface (or use a tripod), record the message you want to send, and finish by hugging the air or camera. Then, send it to the person you want to virtually hug.
- Example: “Hey! I just wanted to film a video to let you know how much I miss you! I know we haven’t been able to see each other, so I’m sending a warm, fuzzy hug your way!”
- Example: “Hi Grandma! I know we haven’t been able to see each other in a while, so I wanted to send you a virtual hug! I hope you’re able to feel the love through the screen. We’ll be back together so soon!!”
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Texts Virtual hugs also come in the form of texts, which is a simple way to show your love. Sometimes, all you need to do is send a text that shows you care, and you can do that by sending something like “Sending virtual hugs” or “Hugs and kisses! Xoxo.” While they may not have flashy visuals, virtual hug texts still let others know you’re thinking of them all the same.
- How to Send: Type a message describing the virtual hug or express that you’re sending hugs, then send the text to the person who needs a pick-me-up.
- Example: “Hey, I was just thinking about you and I hope you’re doing well! Sending my hugs and love!”
- Example: “Yooo, what’s up bro. Ik it’s been a minute, just wanted to say I hope you’re doing well. Sending hugs your way!”
- Although texting can come off as impersonal, licensed clinical psychologist Supatra Tovar, PsyD, RD, says, “It can also be a quick and valuable tool to let your friends know you are thinking about them and wishing them well.”^{[2]
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  Supatra Tovar, PsyD, RD
  Licensed Clinical Psychologist
  
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Phone calls Calling to send virtual hugs is a great way to personalize your hugs in real time. You can have a natural conversation, check in on the person you’re calling, and catch up on everything that’s going on in your lives, then close the phone call off by sending a virtual hug. It’s as simple as saying something like “I’m sending you lots of hugs! Love you!!”
- How to send: All you have to do is call up your loved one and tell them you’re sending them a big hug!
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Emojis Sending virtual hugs with emojis can be a bit unorthodox, as the number of hug emojis is limited, but they still convey the message that you’re thinking about someone and want to hug them even though you’re a long distance away. Some of the emojis you can use to do this include:
- 🫂 (people hugging)
- 🤗(hugging face)
- 🙆‍♂️❤️ (man gesturing okay + heart)
- 🥰 (smiling face with hearts)
- 🫂🤗 (people hugging + hug)
- 🫂🥰 (people hugging + smiling face with hearts)
- How to send: Pair your virtual hug emojis with a text for added emphasis! For example, say something like “Thanks again for coming out to lunch, sis!! Sending hugs and safe travels your way 🤗”

Section 3 of 3:

When to Send Virtual Hugs

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Birthdays When it’s your friend’s birthday and you need a way to show them love that doesn’t involve being in person, drop a virtual hug in their inbox. While it isn’t necessarily like celebrating a birthday in person, sending someone a virtual hug on their special day can help cheer them up and make them feel loved and cared for, so send that text on their birthday!
- Example: “Hey! Sending hugs and best wishes for your birthday 🙌 Sorry for not being able to make it this week, hopefully this virtual hug cheers you up [insert GIF HERE].”
- Example: “Happy birthday, Samantha! I’m proud of you for making it another year around the Sun. Sending lots of 🫂 and kisses 😘”
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Anniversaries Whether your parents are celebrating their anniversary or you’re celebrating your own and want to express how much you care about your partner, send virtual hugs. If it’s your parents’ anniversary, just a virtual hug is fine. If it’s your anniversary, though, accompany the virtual hug with a GIF, gift, or teasing text about your plans for later that night.
- Example: “Happy anniversary, my love ❤️ Sending hugs and kisses to start the day 😘 I can’t wait for what the night has in store!”
- Example: “Hey Mom and Dad! I just wanted to wish you guys a happy anniversary! Sending love and virtual hugs 🫂 Here’s to a million more years!!”
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Big moves Moving to a new city, state, or country is always huge news. Picking your life up and moving to a new area is a huge step in life, and it’s the perfect opportunity to send a virtual hug. Let the person moving know how excited you are for them and pair it with a virtual hug GIF, emoji, or photo to show how happy you are for them.
- Example: “Dude, I can’t believe you finally moved to your dream city! I’m so happy for you, man 🫂🫂”
- Example: “Man, you did it!! I’m so proud of you, dawg. Sending virtual hugs your way till I can actually hug you at your new place 🫂🤣”
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New jobs A new job is cause for celebration, but if you can’t make it to the in-person celebration, a virtual hug can suffice, as it will let the person with the new job know that you’re thinking of them and/or proud of them for their new milestone.
- Example: “Hey Bobby. Just heard you got a new job. I’m proud of you, man 🫂 Sending hugs, bro 🙏”
- Example: “Hey Janice!! Congratulations on the new job, girl! I’m so proud of you ❤️ sending love, hugs, and lots of kisses 🥰”
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New children When one of your friends or family members has a new baby and you aren’t able to see them in person, send a virtual hug to congratulate them on their new birth. It doesn’t have to be over the top, either. As long as you genuinely express how happy you are for them, you’ll be able to send the same love as you would with a real-life hug.
- Example: “Hey Jen!! I just saw the new baby photos on Facebook and wanted to say congrats!! Mike and I are sending over virtual hugs and kisses for you, John, and the little bugger 🥰 Seriously, congratulations!!!!”
- Example: “Hey Don! Just heard you and your wife just gave birth to your first kid and wanted to say congratulations, man. You’ve got a blessing on your hands, man. Sending hugs and love, bro 🫂💪”
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Holidays Whether you can’t make it to a celebration or you’re super excited and just need to send a text before seeing your loved ones in person, holidays are the perfect time to send virtual hugs. Film a video of you hugging the camera, draft a text with emojis or photos of virtual hugs, or send a virtual hug GIF with a holiday text to let the recipient know you’re thinking about them.
- Example: Hey Uncle John! I know I told you we won’t be able to make it out to the Labor Day celebration, but I still wanted to text and let you know that we’re thinking of you today 🫂🫂 Happy holidays, unc!”
- Example: “Merry Christmas, Grandma! Me and the Mrs are sending hugs and kisses from Nebraska 🫂🥰”
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Losses When someone close to you loses someone they care about, send a virtual hug to comfort them when there isn’t much else for you to do. For example, if a family friend just passed but you’re on the other side of the world, reach out to your family and the friend’s loved ones to send over a virtual hug, let them know that you’re sorry for the loss, and that you’re thinking of them.
- Example: “Hey. I heard about what happened to James and wanted to send my condolences. I’m so sorry for the loss. If you need anything at all, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m sending hugs and love your way. ”
- Example: “Hey, my mom told me what happened to Benny. I’m so, so sorry for your loss. He was a joy to be around, and he kept all of us in high spirits. Sending hugs and lots of love your way 🫶🫶”