GIFs that normally automatically repeat multiple times are played only once by default when loaded. That option can be changed in the Settings dialog. To change a GIF to repeat multiple times is also in the Settings dialog. That is confusing because the Settings dialog is then used for two different things. The ability to change how many times a GIF should repeat should be on the regular panel that allows other things to be changed/edited.
The two functions should be clearly separated; settings in one view, and editing the actual GIF in another, which in this case, is the default display screen.