Can People See That Your Read Their Message Request

This FAQ provides answers to bones questions about Telegram.
Check out our Avant-garde FAQ for more technical information.

General

What is Telegram?
Who is it for?
How is it different from WhatsApp?
How former is Telegram?
Is it available on my device?
Who are the people behind Telegram?
Where is Telegram based?
How practice you make money?
What are your thoughts on internet privacy?
What about GDPR?
Do you process takedown requests?
Exercise you procedure information requests?

Telegram Basics

Who can I bulletin?
Who can message me?
Who has Telegram?
Inviting friends
What do the check marks mean in Telegram?
Can I hibernate my 'last seen'?
Who can see me 'online'?
What is 'People Nearby'?
Tin I delete my messages?
Voice, Video and Group calls
Using emoticons

Groups and Channels

What makes Telegram groups absurd?
How are channels and groups different?
Creating a group
Adding members and using Invite Links

Usernames and t.me

What are usernames? How do I get 1?
How does t.me piece of work?
What can I use as my username?
Practice I demand a username?
Will people know my number?
How do I delete my username?
What do I practice if my username is taken?
What if someone is pretending to be me?

Security

How secure is Telegram?
How do you encrypt data?
Why should I trust you lot?
Practice I need to trust Telegram for information technology to be secure?
What if my hacker friend doubts y'all?
Can Telegram protect me against everything?
How does two-Step Verification work?

Cloak-and-dagger Chats

What is a secret chat?
Starting a underground chat
Using the self-destruct timer
Screenshot alerts
Encryption key picture
Why non brand all chats 'secret'?

Your Account

Who can see my phone number?
I have a new phone number, what do I practise?
Log out of Telegram
Change your phone number
Delete your Telegram account
How does account self-destruction work?
My phone was stolen. What exercise I practise?

Bots

How exercise I create a bot?
How practise I become rid of a bot?
Are bots rubber?
Where can I become more bots?

Deeper Questions

Can I get Telegram's server-side code?
Tin I use my own server?
Can I use the Telegram API?
Do you lot have a Privacy Policy?
What does the iOS privacy sheet mean?
Why practise you have two apps in the Mac App Store?
Can I interpret Telegram?
Tin can I help?

Troubleshooting

SMS, login, register
Getting a login lawmaking via a phone telephone call
Getting codes via Telegram
Notification issues
Problems with contacts
Deleting contacts on Android
Secret Chats
Can't ship messages to non contacts
Telegram uses the camera or microphone in the background

Contact Telegram Support
Follow Us on Twitter
Facebook
Advanced FAQ

General Questions

Q: What is Telegram? What do I do here?

Telegram is a messaging app with a focus on speed and security, it's super-fast, simple and free. Y'all can utilize Telegram on all your devices at the same fourth dimension — your messages sync seamlessly beyond whatsoever number of your phones, tablets or computers. Telegram has over 500 million monthly active users and is one of the 10 most downloaded apps in the globe.

With Telegram, you can transport letters, photos, videos and files of any blazon (doctor, nada, mp3, etc), likewise as create groups for up to 200,000 people or channels for broadcasting to unlimited audiences. You tin write to your phone contacts and find people past their usernames. Every bit a effect, Telegram is like SMS and e-mail combined — and can take care of all your personal or business organization messaging needs. In addition to this, we support end-to-end encrypted vocalism and video calls, as well as voice chats in groups for thousands of participants.

Follow our Tips Channel to larn more than about Telegram features.

Q: Who is Telegram for?

Telegram is for everyone who wants fast and reliable messaging and calls. Business users and small teams may similar the large groups, usernames, desktop apps and powerful file sharing options.

Since Telegram groups tin can have up to 200,000 members, we back up replies, mentions and hashtags that assist maintain order and keep communication in large communities efficient. You can appoint admins with advanced tools to help these communities prosper in peace. Public groups tin be joined by anyone and are powerful platforms for discussions and collecting feedback.

In example you're more into pictures, Telegram has blithe gif search, a state of the fine art photograph editor, and an open up sticker platform (find some cool stickers here or here). What's more, there is no need to worry nearly disk space on your device. With Telegram'due south cloud back up and cache direction options, Telegram can take up almost nil space on your phone.

Those looking for actress privacy should check out our avant-garde settings and rather revolutionary policy. And if you desire secrecy, endeavor our device-specific Secret Chats with self-destructing messages, photos, and videos — and lock your app with an additional passcode.

Nosotros proceed evolving — check out our Brief History of Telegram and follow u.s. on twitter and Telegram to stay in touch.

Q: How is Telegram different from WhatsApp?

Unlike WhatsApp, Telegram is a deject-based messenger with seamless sync. As a event, y'all can access your messages from several devices at once, including tablets and computers, and share an unlimited number of photos, videos and files (md, zippo, mp3, etc.) of up to 2 GB each.

Telegram needs less than 100 MB on your device – you lot can keep all your media in the cloud without deleting things – only clear your enshroud to gratis up space.

Thanks to Telegram'due south multi-data center infrastructure and encryption, it is faster and way more secure. On tiptop of that, individual messaging on Telegram is free and will stay gratuitous — no ads, no subscription fees, forever.

Telegram's API and code is open, and developers are welcome to create their own Telegram apps. We also have a Bot API, a platform for developers that allows anyone to easily build specialized tools for Telegram, integrate any services, and even have payments from users around the world.

And that's just the tip of the iceberg.

Follow our Tips Channel to learn more almost Telegram features.

Q: How old is Telegram?

Telegram for iOS was launched on August 14, 2013. The blastoff version of Telegram for Android officially launched on Oct 20, 2013. More and more Telegram clients announced, congenital by contained developers using Telegram's open platform.

Q: Which devices can I use?

Yous tin can use Telegram on smartphones, tablets, and even computers. We have apps for iOS (9.0 and above), Android (iv.one and upwardly), a native macOS app and a universal desktop app for Windows, macOS, and Linux. Telegram Web tin also help to quickly do something on the go.

You tin can log in to Telegram from equally many of your devices as you like — all at the same time. Just use your main mobile phone number to log in everywhere, your cloud chats will sync instantly.

The Telegram API is open for developers, should you want to build your ain applications for other platforms.

Q: Who are the people behind Telegram?

Telegram is supported by Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai. Pavel supports Telegram financially and ideologically while Nikolai's input is technological. To make Telegram possible, Nikolai adult a unique custom data protocol, which is open, secure and optimized for work with multiple information-centers. Equally a outcome, Telegram combines security, reliability and speed on whatever network.

Come across as well: manufactures about Telegram

Q: Where is Telegram based?

The Telegram development team is based in Dubai.

Well-nigh of the developers backside Telegram originally come from Leningrad, the city famous for its unprecedented number of highly skilled engineers. The Telegram squad had to leave Russia due to local Information technology regulations and has tried a number of locations as its base, including Berlin, London and Singapore. We're currently happy with Dubai, although are ready to relocate again if local regulations change.

Q: Will y'all have ads in my private chats and groups? Or sell my information? Or steal my beloved and enslave my children?

No. See this mail service for details.

Q: How are yous going to make coin out of this?

We believe in fast and secure messaging that is too 100% complimentary.

Our founder and CEO Pavel Durov, who financed Telegram throughout most of its history, has outlined a strategy to brand Telegram sustainable in this mail.

While Telegram volition introduce monetization in 2021 to pay for the infrastructure and developer salaries, making profits volition never exist an end-goal for us.

Q: What are your thoughts on internet privacy?

We think that the two most of import components of Cyberspace privacy should be:

Protecting your private conversations from snooping third parties, such as officials, employers, etc.
Protecting your personal data from third parties, such as marketers, advertisers, etc.

Telegram'south aim is to create a truly costless messenger, with a revolutionary privacy policy.

Q: What about GDPR?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) came into forcefulness in Europe on May 25, 2018. Since taking dorsum our correct to privacy was the reason we fabricated Telegram, at that place wasn't much nosotros had to change. Nosotros don't use your data for advertisement targeting, we don't sell it to others, and we're not part of any ~~mafia family~~ "family of companies."

Telegram only keeps the data information technology needs to function as a feature-rich cloud service. For example, your cloud chats – so that you lot can access them from any devices without using third-party backups, or your contacts – then that you lot tin can rely on your existing social graph when messaging people on Telegram. Please see our Privacy Policy for more data.

You can utilise @GDPRbot to:

Request a re-create of all your data that Telegram stores.
Contact us virtually Information Privacy.

Q: At that place's illegal content on Telegram. How do I take it down?

All Telegram chats and group chats are private among their participants. Nosotros practice non process whatsoever requests related to them.

But sticker sets, channels, and bots on Telegram are publicly available. If y'all find sticker sets or bots on Telegram that you lot recollect are illegal, delight ping u.s.a. at abuse@telegram.org.

You can likewise use the 'report' buttons right inside our apps, see this post on our official @ISISwatch aqueduct for details.

Note: If a scammer is pretending to be you lot, contact @NoToScam

Q: A bot or channel is infringing on my copyright. What do I practice?

All Telegram chats and group chats are private among their participants. We do not process any requests related to them. But sticker sets, channels, and bots on Telegram are publicly bachelor.

If you run across a bot, aqueduct, or sticker set up that is infringing on your copyright, kindly submit a complaint to dmca@telegram.org. Please note that such requests should simply be submitted past the copyright possessor or an amanuensis authorized to act on the owner'southward behalf.

Q: Wait! 0_o Do y'all process take-down requests from 3rd parties?

Our mission is to provide a secure means of advice that works everywhere on the planet. To do this in the places where it is most needed (and to proceed distributing Telegram through the App Store and Google Play), we take to process legitimate requests to take downwards illegal public content (e.g., sticker sets, bots, and channels) within the app. For example, we can accept down sticker sets that violate intellectual property rights or porn bots.

User-uploaded stickers sets, channels, and bots past third-party developers are not part of the core Telegram UI. Whenever we receive a complaint at abuse@telegram.org or dmca@telegram.org regarding the legality of public content, we perform the necessary legal checks and take it down when deemed appropriate.

Please annotation that this does not use to local restrictions on freedom of spoken communication. For case, if criticizing the regime is illegal in some state, Telegram won't be a part of such politically motivated censorship. This goes against our founders' principles. While we exercise block terrorist (e.g. ISIS-related) bots and channels, nosotros will not block anybody who peacefully expresses alternative opinions.

Q: My bot or sticker fix was banned unfairly, what do I do?

If you think we banned your bot, channel, or sticker set for no apparent reasons, drop u.s.a. a line at abuse@telegram.org.

Q: Do you process information requests?

Hush-hush chats utilize stop-to-finish encryption, thanks to which nosotros don't have any data to disembalm.

To protect the data that is non covered by finish-to-end encryption, Telegram uses a distributed infrastructure. Deject conversation data is stored in multiple data centers around the globe that are controlled past different legal entities spread across different jurisdictions. The relevant decryption keys are divide into parts and are never kept in the same place as the data they protect. Every bit a outcome, several court orders from dissimilar jurisdictions are required to force u.s.a. to give upwards any data.

Thank you to this structure, we tin can ensure that no single authorities or block of similar-minded countries tin can intrude on people'due south privacy and freedom of expression. Telegram tin be forced to requite upwardly data only if an consequence is grave and universal enough to pass the scrutiny of several unlike legal systems around the earth.

To this twenty-four hour period, we have disclosed 0 bytes of user data to third parties, including governments.

Telegram Basics

Follow our Tips Aqueduct to learn more than about Telegram features.

Q: Who can I write to?

You tin can write to people who are in your phone contacts and accept Telegram. Another way of contacting people is to type their Telegram username into the search field – yous don't need to know their telephone number to do this.

Q: Who can contact me?

People tin contact you on Telegram if they know your phone number or if you message them kickoff.

If they don't know your phone number, they tin find yous in these cases:

When yous both are members of the same group.
If you gear up a public username. Others can use Global Search and notice you lot by your username.
If you lot opt-in to appear in the People Nearby section (this is turned off past default).

Q: How do I know who in my contacts has Telegram?

Your contacts, who have Telegram, are shown at the top of your Contacts. They also have pictures.

Q: How do I invite my friends?

iOS: The basic invitations are uncomplicated SMS messages. They will be charged every bit standard outgoing SMS by your carrier (unless sent via iMessage). Naturally, y'all accept other options to bring your friends here. Try sending them a download link via any other messaging service: email, Facebook, WhatsApp, an actual telegram — yous name information technology. The link: https://telegram.org/dl/

Android: Open the app bill of fare (swipe right in chat list) > Invite Friends. And so choose an awarding via which you would similar to transport out invitations.

Yous can requite your friends a t.me link with your username and then that they can easily observe you on Telegram fifty-fifty if they don't take your phone number.

Q: What do the check marks mean?

One check — message delivered to the Telegram deject and your friend has been notified if he allows notifications.
Two checks — bulletin read (your friend opened Telegram and opened the conversation with the message).

We don't accept a 'delivered to device' status for letters because Telegram can run on as many devices as you desire. So which particular one would that check hateful?

Q: Tin can I hibernate my 'concluding seen' time?

You tin can choose who sees this info in Privacy and Security settings.

Retrieve that you won't run into Last Seen timestamps for people with whom you don't share your own. You will, however, see an judge last seen value. This keeps stalkers away only makes it possible to empathise whether a person is reachable over Telegram. There are four possible approximate values:

Last seen recently — covers anything between 1 2nd and 2-3 days
Terminal seen within a week — betwixt 2-3 and seven days
Last seen within a month — between vi-7 days and a month
Last seen a long time agone — more than a month (this is also e'er shown to blocked users)

Q: Who can see me 'online'?

The last seen rules apply to your online status as well. People can just run into yous online if you're sharing your final seen status with them.

There are some exceptions because sometimes it is obvious that you lot are online. Regardless of the last seen settings, people will see y'all online for a brief period (~30 seconds) if you practice the following:

Ship them a bulletin in a ane-on-one chat or in a grouping where you both are members.
Read a message they sent you in a one-on-one conversation.
Circulate a "typing…" status to their chat with y'all or to a group where you both are members.

If you're not sharing your last seen timestamp with someone and don't do anything of the above, they'll never see you online. Another mode of achieving this is to block that person.

Q: What is People Nearby?

People Nearby is an optional feature that allows Telegram users to explore local groups, find friends to conversation with in their area, or quickly exchange contacts with people who are close.

You lot can find it in Contacts > Find People Nearby, as well equally directly in the side menu on Android.

While you have the People Nearby section open on your screen, people who are very shut will be able to see you there. If you don't open the section, others will never meet you in 'People Nearby'.

Annotation: People Nearby is never turned on by default – users must manually enable it. If you are receiving messages from someone you lot don't know, meet Q: Who can contact me?

You can also choose to permanently add your profile to the list of nearby people by tapping Make Myself Visible. Afterward condign visible, y'all can remove your profile from the list at any time past borer Stop Showing Me.

To protect user privacy, 'People Nearby' e'er shows distances to approximate locations. As of February 2022, these distances are beginning by 700 meters (previously 100 meters).

Q: Can I delete my messages?

Yeah. You can ever delete any letters yous sent or received for both sides in any one-on-1 conversation (in groups, it's still your ain messages only). You can likewise articulate the entire chat history on both ends. On Telegram, deleted letters do not go out a marker in the chat.

Together with privacy settings for forwarded messages, this makes exchanging Telegram messages similar to talking face to face (without a tape recorder). Every bit a issue, users no longer need to worry most the data accumulating in their chats over the years. Both parties in a chat accept total control over what does and what doesn't belong to their online identity.

Q: Can I make calls via Telegram?

Yep! You tin can make terminate-to-end encrypted Vocalism Calls and Video Calls.

If you desire more than participants, try starting a Vocalization Conversation in i of the groups you created. Vocalisation Chats add together a live layer of imperceptible talk to the group. They tin can exist used every bit virtual part spaces for teams or informal lounges for any customs. While Phonation Chats are not group calls, they tin reach similar goals.

Q: How tin can I use emoticons?

Type one word in your input field to go relevant emoji suggestions. You can also type ":" followed by any keyword to open emoji search – like :heart.

You can propose missing keywords for emoji in your language using this interface (this will open suggestions for English, don't forget to change to your language in the left bill of fare).

Groups and Channels

Q: What makes Telegram groups absurd?

Telegram groups can have up to 200,000 members each and are extremely powerful communication tools. Here are a few cardinal features that brand them stand out in the messaging world:

Unified history
Edit your messages after posting, delete them and then that they disappear for everyone.

Cantankerous-platform availability
Access your messages anytime, from any number of your mobile or desktop devices.

Instant search
Find the message you lot're looking for, fifty-fifty among millions. Filter by sender to brand searching easier.

Replies, mentions, hashtags
Easily trace a conversation and go on communication efficient, no matter the group size.

Smart notifications
Mute the group to become notifications only when people mention you or reply to your messages.

Pinned messages
You can pin whatsoever bulletin to be displayed at the peak of the chat screen. All members will get a notification — even if they muted ordinary messages from your group.

Moderation tools
Appoint administrators that can mass-delete messages, control membership, and pivot important messages. Define their admin privileges with granular precision.

Group permissions
Set default permissions to restrict all members from posting specific kinds of content. Or fifty-fifty restrict members from sending letters birthday – and let the admins chat amongst themselves while everybody else is watching.

File sharing
Send and receive files of any type, upward to 2 GB in size each, admission them instantly on your other devices.

Public groups
Get a brusque link for your grouping and brand it public, similar t.me/publictestgroup. This way, anybody tin can view the grouping's entire chat history and join to mail messages.

Customization via bots
Create custom tools for any specific needs using our Bot API and Inline Bots.

Q: What's the deviation betwixt groups and channels?

Telegram groups are platonic for sharing stuff with friends and family or collaboration in small teams. Merely groups can likewise grow very large and support communities of up to 200,000 members. You can brand any group public, toggle persistent history to command whether or not new members take admission to earlier messages and appoint administrators with granular privileges. You can also pin important messages to the top of the screen and so that all members can meet them, including those who take just joined.

Channels are a tool for broadcasting messages to large audiences. In fact, a aqueduct can have an unlimited number of subscribers. When yous post in a channel, the message is signed with the aqueduct's proper noun and photo and non your own. Each message in a channel has a view counter that gets updated when the message is viewed, including its forwarded copies.

Read more almost channels in the Channels FAQ »

Q: How exercise I create a group?

iOS: First a new message (tap the icon in the top right corner in Chats) > 'New Group'.
Android: Tap the circular pencil icon in the chat listing > 'New Group'.
Telegram Desktop: Click the menu push button in the top left corner > 'New Group'.

Q: Can I assign administrators?

You tin add together administrators to help you manage your grouping and ascertain their privileges with granular precision.

iOS: Go to Group Info (tap the photo in the top correct corner on the group'southward chat screen) > Edit > Administrators.
Android: Become to Group Info (tap the name in the header) > the pencil icon (in the top right corner) > Administrators.
Telegram Desktop: When in the group, click '…' in the top correct corner > Manage group > Administrators.

Q: How practise I add more members? What's an invite link?

You can add your contacts, or using search by username.

It is piece of cake to drift existing groups to Telegram by sending people an invite link. To create an invite link, go to Group Info > Add together Member > Invite to Group via Link.

Anyone who has Telegram installed will be able to join your group by following this link. If you choose to revoke the link, it will stop working immediately.

Read more about invite links in our blog »

Usernames and t.me

Q: What are usernames? How practice I get one?

You can prepare a public username on Telegram. It and then becomes possible for other users to notice yous by that username — you volition appear in contacts search under 'global results'. Please note that people who find you will be able to send you messages, even if they don't know your number. If yous are not comfy with this, nosotros propose confronting setting upwardly a username in Telegram.

You tin ready up a username in Settings and use the universal search box in the chat list to search for chats, messages, and usernames.

Q: How does t.me work?

Once yous've set up a username, you tin requite people a t.me/username link. Opening that link on their phone will automatically fire up their Telegram app and open a chat with you. You tin can share username links with friends, write them on business cards or put them up on your website.

This fashion people tin can contact yous on Telegram without knowing your phone number.

Q: What can I use every bit my username?

You tin utilize a-z, 0-9 and underscores. Usernames are case-insensitive, merely Telegram will store your capitalization preferences (e.k. Telegram and TeleGram is the same user). The username must exist at to the lowest degree 5 characters long.

Q: Practise I need a username?

You don't have to get one. Recall that Telegram usernames are public and choosing a username on Telegram makes it possible for people to notice you in global search and send you messages even if they don't have your number. If you are not comfortable with this, we advise against setting up a username.

Q: If someone finds me by username, messages and I reply — will they know my number?

No. Neither party will run into another'south phone number (unless this is permitted by your privacy settings). This is similar to the case when you message a person who you lot've met in a Telegram group.

Q: How practice I delete my username?

Go to Settings and save an empty username. This volition remove your username; people will no longer be able to find you via search. This volition non affect existing conversations.

Q: What practise I do if my username is taken?

Telegram usernames are distributed on a first come up — first serve basis.

We sympathise that sure usernames are role of an online identity for some of us. If your desired username is already taken, we volition be happy to help you acquire it for your account or channel, provided that you lot accept that same username on at to the lowest degree 2 of these services: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Due to the fact that one account can register multiple bot and aqueduct usernames, we reserve the right to call back usernames assigned to unused bots and channels, equally well equally openly squatted usernames.

To request a username, contact @Username_bot.

Q: What if someone is pretending to be me?

If a scammer is pretending to be you lot, please contact @NoToScam.

Security

If you are an advanced user, you may discover our FAQ for the Technically Inclined useful as well.

Q: How secure is Telegram?

Telegram is more secure than mass market messengers similar WhatsApp and Line. We are based on the MTProto protocol (see clarification and advanced FAQ), built upon time-tested algorithms to make security uniform with high-speed delivery and reliability on weak connections. Nosotros are continuously working with the customs to meliorate the security of our protocol and clients.

Q: What if I'one thousand more paranoid than your regular user?

Nosotros've got y'all covered. Telegram's special secret chats use end-to-end encryption, leave no trace on our servers, support self-destructing messages and don't allow forwarding. On top of this, cloak-and-dagger chats are not part of the Telegram cloud and tin can only exist accessed on their devices of origin.

Q: Then how practise y'all encrypt data?

We support ii layers of secure encryption. Server-customer encryption is used in Cloud Chats (private and group chats), Secret Chats utilize an boosted layer of client-client encryption. All data, regardless of type, is encrypted in the same way — be it text, media or files.

Our encryption is based on 256-flake symmetric AES encryption, 2048-bit RSA encryption, and Diffie–Hellman secure key exchange. Y'all can find more info in the Advanced FAQ.

See likewise: Practice y'all procedure data requests?

Q: Why should I trust you?

Telegram is open, anyone can check our source lawmaking, protocol and API, see how everything works and make an informed conclusion. Telegram supports verifiable builds, which allow experts to independently verify that our code published on GitHub is the exact same lawmaking that is used to build the apps y'all download from App Store or Google Play.

Nosotros welcome security experts to inspect our system and appreciate whatsoever feedback at security@telegram.org.

On top of that, Telegram's primary focus is non to bring a profit, so commercial interests volition never interfere with our mission.

Encounter also: manufactures about Telegram

Q: Do I need to trust Telegram for this to be secure?

When it comes to cloak-and-dagger chats, y'all don't — just brand sure that the visualized fundamental of your undercover conversation matches the one in your friend'south secret chat settings. More about this beneath.

Q: What if my hacker friend says they could decipher Telegram messages?

Anyone who claims that Telegram messages tin be deciphered is welcome to prove that claim in our competition and win $300,000. You tin cheque out the Great Contest Description to learn more.

Any comments on Telegram's security are welcome at security@telegram.org. All submissions which result in a alter of code or configuration are eligible for bounties, ranging from $100 to $100,000 or more, depending on the severity of the result. Please notation that nosotros can not offer bounties for issues that are disclosed to the public before they are fixed.

Q: Can Telegram protect me against everything?

Telegram can aid when it comes to data transfer and secure advice. This means that all data (including media and files) that yous send and receive via Telegram cannot be deciphered when intercepted by your internet access provider, owners of Wi-Fi routers you lot connect to, or other 3rd parties.

But delight think that we cannot protect you from your own female parent if she takes your unlocked phone without a passcode. Or from your It-section if they access your computer at work. Or from any other people that become physical or root access to your phones or computers running Telegram.

If you have reasons to worry most your personal security, we strongly recommend using only Secret Chats in official or at least verifiable open-source apps for sensitive information, preferably with a cocky-destruct timer. We besides recommend enabling two-Step Verification and setting upwards a strong passcode to lock your app, you will observe both options in Settings > Privacy and Security.

Q: How does ii-Step Verification work?

Logging in with an SMS lawmaking is an industry standard in messaging, but if you're looking for more security or take reasons to doubtfulness your mobile carrier or government, nosotros recommend protecting your deject chats with an boosted password.

Yous tin do this in Settings > Privacy and Security > ii-Step Verification. Once enabled, you will need both an SMS code and a password to log in. You can besides set up a recovery email address that will aid regain access, should you forget your password. If you practise so, please think that it'south important that the recovery e-mail account is also protected with a potent countersign and 2-Step Verification when possible.

Cheque this out for tips on creating a strong password that is easy to call up.

Q: Why can jailbroken and rooted devices be dangerous?

Using a rooted or jailbroken device makes information technology easier for a potential attacker to gain total authoritative control over your device — root access.

A user with root access can easily bypass security features built into the operating organization, read process memory or access restricted areas, such as the internal storage. Once an attacker has root access, whatever efforts to mitigate threats get futile. No application can be called safe under these circumstances, no matter how stiff the encryption.

Surreptitious Chats

Q: How are cloak-and-dagger chats different?

Underground chats are meant for people who desire more than secrecy than the average fella. All messages in undercover chats employ end-to-end encryption. This means but you and the recipient can read those messages — nobody else can decipher them, including us here at Telegram (more than on this here). On superlative of this, Letters cannot be forwarded from undercover chats. And when yous delete letters on your side of the conversation, the app on the other side of the secret chat will be ordered to delete them as well.

You lot can guild your messages, photos, videos and files to self-destruct in a set amount of time afterward they have been read or opened by the recipient. The message volition then disappear from both your and your friend's devices.

All underground chats in Telegram are device-specific and are not role of the Telegram deject. This means you tin can but access messages in a cloak-and-dagger conversation from their device of origin. They are safe for equally long equally your device is prophylactic in your pocket.

Q: How do I start a secret chat?

Open up the profile of the user you want to contact. Tap on '…', so 'Start Secret Conversation'.

Call up that Telegram underground chats are device-specific. If you lot offset a hush-hush conversation with a friend on one of your devices, this chat volition only exist available on that device. If y'all log out, you lot will lose all your secret chats. You can create equally many different undercover chats with the same contact equally you lot like.

Q: How do self-destructing messages work?

The Self-Destruct Timer is available for all letters in Secret Chats and for media in private cloud chats.

To gear up the timer, merely tap the clock icon (in the input field on iOS, top bar on Android), and so choose the desired time limit. The clock starts ticking the moment the message is displayed on the recipient'southward screen (gets two check marks). As presently as the time runs out, the message disappears from both devices. We will attempt to ship a notification if a screenshot is taken.

Delight notation that the timer in Secret Chats only applies to messages that were sent after the timer was set. It has no event on earlier messages.

Q: Can I be certain that my conversation partner doesn't take a screenshot?

Unfortunately, there is no bulletproof fashion of detecting screenshots on sure systems (almost notably, some Android and Windows Phone devices). We will make every attempt to alert you lot about screenshots taken in your Hole-and-corner Chats, but it may still exist possible to bypass such notifications and take screenshots silently. Nosotros advise to share sensitive information simply with people you trust. Afterward all, nobody can stop a person from taking a motion picture of their screen with a different device or an old schoolhouse photographic camera.

Q: What is this 'Encryption Primal' thing?

When a secret chat is created, the participating devices commutation encryption keys using the so-called Diffie-Hellman key exchange. Afterwards the secure end-to-terminate connection has been established, we generate a flick that visualizes the encryption cardinal for your chat. You lot can and then compare this image with the one your friend has — if the two images are the same, you tin be sure that the cloak-and-dagger chat is secure, and no man-in-the-middle attack can succeed.

Newer versions of Telegram apps will show a larger moving picture forth with a textual representation of the key (this is not the key itself, of grade!) when both participants are using an updated app.

Ever compare visualizations using a channel that is known to be secure — it'south safest if y'all practice this in person, in an offline coming together with the conversation partner.

Q: Why not simply brand all chats 'secret'?

All Telegram messages are e'er securely encrypted. Letters in Surreptitious Chats use customer-client encryption, while Cloud Chats use client-server/server-client encryption and are stored encrypted in the Telegram Deject (more here). This enables your deject messages to exist both secure and immediately accessible from any of your devices – even if you lose your device altogether.

The problem of restoring access to your chat history on a newly continued device (east.grand. when you lose your phone) does non have an elegant solution in the end-to-end encryption epitome. At the aforementioned time, reliable backups are an essential feature for whatever mass-market messenger. To solve this trouble, some applications (like Whatsapp and Viber) allow decryptable backups that put their users' privacy at risk – even if they exercise not enable backups themselves. Other apps ignore the demand for backups altogether and leave their users vulnerable to data loss.

We opted for a 3rd approach by offering two distinct types of chats. Telegram disables default system backups and provides all users with an integrated security-focused backup solution in the form of Deject Chats. Meanwhile, the divide entity of Secret Chats gives you total control over the data you lot practise not desire to be stored.

This allows Telegram to exist widely adopted in broad circles, not just by activists and dissidents, and so that the simple fact of using Telegram does non mark users as targets for heightened surveillance in sure countries. Nosotros are convinced that the separation of conversations into Deject and Secret chats represents the most secure solution currently possible for a massively popular messaging application.

See also: Why Telegram isn't Finish-to-End Encrypted "by Default"

Your Account

Q: Who can see my phone number?

On Telegram, you tin can send letters in private chats and groups without making your phone number visible. By default, your number is only visible to people who you've added to your address book as contacts. You lot can further modify this in Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number.

Note that people volition ever see your number if they know it already and saved it in their address book.

Q: I take a new phone number, what do I do?

Each telephone number is a separate business relationship on Telegram. You have several options if you are using multiple phone numbers:

If you will no longer apply the former number (due east.g., yous moved to a new country or changed your number for proficient), simply go to Settings and alter the number connected to your Telegram account to the new number. Of import: make sure you have access to your connected telephone number – otherwise you risk losing access to your business relationship.
If you lot will use the new number for a limited time (due east.thousand., you lot're on a trip or vacation), there's no need to do anything.
If yous desire to keep using both numbers (e.g., you have a work phone and personal telephone), choose ane as your Telegram number. You may create another Telegram account on the second number as well, for example, if you lot desire to proceed piece of work and personal chats separated. It is possible to log in to i Telegram app with up to 3 different accounts at once.

Q: How exercise I log out?

Most users don't demand to log out of Telegram:

You lot tin employ Telegram on many devices at the same time. Just utilise the same telephone number to log in on all devices.
You tin can go to Settings > Information and Storage > Storage Usage> Clear cache to free up space on your device without logging out.
If yous utilise Telegram with multiple telephone numbers, you can switch between accounts without logging out.
If you utilise Telegram on a shared device, you can set upwards a passcode in Settings > Privacy and Security to brand sure only you have admission to your account.

If you practice want to log out for some reason, here's how you practice that:

iOS: Get to Settings > Edit > Log out.
Android, Telegram Desktop: Go to Settings > … (in the top right corner) > Log out.

If y'all log out, you volition keep all your cloud messages. However, you will lose all your Secret Chats and all messages inside those hugger-mugger chats when yous log out.

Note that logging out does not trigger remote deletion of your secret conversation messages on your partner'southward device — to do that, choose 'Clear History' first.

Q: How do I modify my telephone number?

You tin can modify your number in Telegram and keep everything, including all your contacts, messages, and media from the Telegram cloud, likewise every bit all your Secret Chats on all devices.

To alter your number, go to Settings, then tap on your phone number (just above the username), and so 'Change Number'. If you already take a different Telegram account on the target number, y'all'll need to delete that account first.

Q: How do I delete my account?

If you lot would like to delete your account, y'all tin do this on the deactivation folio. Deleting your account permanently removes all your letters and contacts. All groups and channels that you've created are orphaned and left without a creator but admins retain their rights.

This activeness must be confirmed via your Telegram business relationship and cannot be undone.

We recommend using a non-mobile browser for this process.
Note that you'll receive the lawmaking via Telegram, non SMS.

Q: What happens if I delete my account?

Every bit was just mentioned in a higher place, all your data will be flushed from our system: all messages, groups, and contacts associated with your account will exist deleted. That said, your contacts volition still be able to chat in the groups that you have created, and they volition yet have their copy of the letters you sent them. So if you want to ship letters that tin vanish without a trace, attempt using our cocky-destruct timer instead.

Termination of a Telegram account is irreversible. If you sign up again, you will appear as a new user and will not get your history, contacts or groups back. People, who have your phone number in their contacts, volition exist notified. The new user will be displayed as a separate conversation in their letters list and their chat history with this new user will exist empty.

Q: How does business relationship self-destruction work?

Telegram is not a commercial organisation, and we value our disk space greatly. If you stop using Telegram and don't come online for at least six months, your business relationship will be deleted along with all messages, media, contacts and every other piece of data you store in the Telegram cloud. You lot can modify the exact catamenia later on which your inactive account will cocky-destruct in Settings.

Q: My phone was stolen, what exercise I do?

First of all, distressing about your phone. Unfortunately, the telephone number is the simply fashion for us to identify a Telegram user at the moment. We don't collect boosted information well-nigh you, so whoever has the number, has the account. This means nosotros tin't help y'all unless y'all accept admission either to the phone number or to Telegram itself on any of your devices.

I take admission to Telegram on some other device

Become to Telegram Settings > Privacy and Security and turn on Two-Step Verification. This way the phone number alone will not be enough to log in to your business relationship.
Go to Settings > Devices (or Privacy & Security > Active Sessions) and end your Telegram session on the erstwhile device. Whoever has your phone will not be able to log in again, since they don't know your password.
Contact your phone provider, so that they cake your old SIM and event a new i with your number.
If y'all determine to switch to a new phone number, don't forget to go to Settings, tap on your phone number and change your Telegram number to the new one.

I don't have access to Telegram on any other devices

Outset and foremost, you demand to contact your phone provider, and so that they block your old SIM and issue a new i with your number.
Await till yous receive your new SIM with the old number, log in to Telegram, then go to Settings > Devices (or Privacy & Security > Active Sessions) and terminate your Telegram session on the old device.

Removing sensitive data

Common thieves unremarkably throw out the SIM card immediately (the telephone is harder to locate this way), then wipe the devices and sell them, so there isn't much chance for the data in example of regular petty theft. But if you take reasons to worry near the data on the device and are unable to log out the other device, it is best that you wipe it remotely. Y'all can read more near information technology here: Apple iOS, Android. Unfortunately, this requires you to take prepared in advance for this scenario.

Y'all tin can delete your Telegram account if yous are logged in on at least one of your other devices (mobile or desktop). Note that inactive Telegram accounts self-destruct automatically after a catamenia of time — half-dozen months existence the default setting.

Bots

If you're a developer, you may find our Bots FAQ more than useful.

Q: What are bots?

Bots are like small programs that run right inside Telegram. They are made past tertiary-party developers using the Telegram Bot API.

Q: How do I create a bot?

Creating Telegram bots is super-piece of cake, just yous will need at least some skills in computer programming. If you lot're sure you lot're up to it, our Introduction for Developers is a expert place to get-go.

Unfortunately, there are no out-of-the-box ways to create a working bot if you are non a developer. But we're sure you'll soon notice plenty of bots created by other people to play with.

Q: A bot is sending me messages, how do I make it stop?

If y'all don't want a bot to ship you letters, feel free to cake it – same equally you would block a human user. Some Telegram clients have a 'Cease Bot' push button right in the bot's profile.

That said, most bot developers offer commands that silence the bot, cheque its /help for clues.

Q: Are bots safe?

Yes. Bots are no different from human users that yous run across in groups for example. They tin can see your public name, username, and profile pictures, and they can run across messages you send to them, that'southward it. They can't access your last seen condition and don't see your phone number (unless you make up one's mind to give it to them yourself).

Naturally, whatever bot should be treated as a stranger — don't requite them your passwords, Telegram codes or bank business relationship numbers, even if they ask nicely. Also, be conscientious when opening files sent by bots, same every bit you lot would deal with ordinary humans. Example: If a bot sent united states of america a file called OpenMe.exe, nosotros probably wouldn't open information technology.

Q: If I add a bot to my group, can information technology read my messages?

Bots tin can work in two modes when yous add them to groups. By default, bots only come across messages that are meant for them. In this case, you'll see 'has no access to messages' in the group members listing next to the bot.

Some bots need more data to work, so developers may disable the privacy fashion. In this case, the bot volition see all messages sent to the group, and you will see 'has access to letters' in the members list next to the bot.

Learn more almost privacy fashion for bots »

If your grouping contains very sensitive data, perchance information technology's amend to avert adding bots you don't trust 100%.

Q: Are bots fabricated by Telegram?

No. While we accept some official bots for specific purposes (like @gif or @GDPRbot), we don't usually make bots. Bots are made by third-political party developers using the Telegram Bot API and platform.

Q: Where can I notice more than bots?

At that place is no official shop at the moment, so you'll have to ask your friends or search the web for now. Nosotros're pretty certain yous'll detect some bots to play with.

Deeper questions

Q: Can I get Telegram'southward server-side code?

All Telegram customer apps are fully open up source. We offering verifiable builds both for iOS and Android – this applied science allows to independently verify that the application you download from the app stores was congenital using the exact same code that we publish.

Past contrast, publishing the server code doesn't provide security guarantees neither for Secret Chats nor for Deject Chats. This is considering – unlike with the client-side code – there's no way to verify that the same code is run on the servers.

As for Secret Chats, yous don't demand the server-side code to check their integrity – the point of end-to-end encryption is that it must exist solid regardless of how the servers part.

In a post on his channel, Pavel Durov explained why Telegram hasn't published the server code, fifty-fifty every bit a publicity stunt.

The encryption and API used on Telegram's servers are fully documented and open for review by security experts. Nosotros welcome any comments at security@telegram.org

Q: Can I run Telegram using my own server?

Our architecture does not support federation still. Telegram is a unified cloud service, so creating forks where two users might end upwardly on two different Telegram clouds is unacceptable. To enable yous to run your own Telegram server while retaining both speed and security is a task in itself. At the moment, we are undecided on whether or not Telegram should go in this direction.

Q: Tin can I use the Telegram API?

Yes. Developers for all platforms are welcome to use our protocol, API and fifty-fifty source lawmaking. Cheque out the Getting started section of the docs.

Don't forget about our Bot API that lets you build cool stuff on our platform.

Q: Do you have a Privacy Policy?

Sure. Cheque this out.

Q: What does the iOS privacy canvas mean?

Apple created privacy sheets to inform users almost what data apps may collect, simply data there is vague and can exist misleading. You can see a detailed caption of Telegram's sheet hither.

Q: Why practice you take 2 apps in the Mac App Shop?

One is our app for macOS, the other is Telegram Light, the macOS version of our multi-platform client. Both apps are official. Both started out as unofficial applications by two different developers and vary in design and functionality.

Telegram for macOS supports many platform-specific features, such as the MacBook Pro Bear on Bar, gesture navigation, integration with the Mac's Share menu and more. It has every feature from the iOS version of the app including Surreptitious Chats.

Telegram Lite is a lightning-fast app, optimized for work-related tasks and handling large communities. It offers a iii-cavalcade interface, perfect for multitasking and quick access to media, files and links shared in your chats. This app can also be used to export your Telegram information and chats.

Q: Tin can I interpret Telegram?

Telegram is officially available in English language, Spanish, German, Dutch, Italian, French, Standard arabic, Portuguese, Korean, Malay, Russian and Ukrainian on most platforms, and we are gradually expanding the listing of languages built into the apps.

If you don't like how a specific element in Telegram's interface is translated in your language, or would like to help u.s. maintain the translation, check out our localization platform. Everyone can suggest translations and vote for the all-time ones, making Telegram localization a community-driven effort.

If you're looking to go across suggestions for private phrases and would like to help us maintain the official translation to your language on a continuous basis, you can contact @TelegramAuditions. Please include a hashtag with the English name of your language (due east.yard. #Albanian) and a few links to phrases on this platform with your translation suggestions or comments. Be sure to read the Style Guide advisedly before you apply.

Q: Can I aid?

Yes, we are always looking for volunteers to help us with user support. If y'all would be interested in answering questions nigh Telegram to users from your country, contact our auditions business relationship.

Before you lot apply, please check out the Telegram Support Initiative.

Passport

Telegram Passport is a unified authorization method for services that require personal identification. With Telegram Passport, y'all tin can upload your documents once, then instantly share your data with services that require existent-world ID (finance, ICOs, etc.).

Your identity documents and personal data will be stored in the Telegram cloud using Cease-to-End Encryption. To Telegram, this data is simply random gibberish, and we accept no access to the information you shop in your Telegram Passport. When you lot share information, it goes directly to the recipient.

Y'all tin can find more information about Telegram Passport on our blog.

If you lot're a developer or owner of a service that requires existent-life ID, kindly take a await at this transmission. You can too try requesting Telegram Passport data using this folio.

Troubleshooting

Login and SMS

Please make sure you are inbound your mobile phone number in the international format.
I.eastward.: +(land code)(city or carrier lawmaking)(your number)

If y'all are having registration or login problems, please contact us using this form.

Getting a lawmaking via a phone call

For security reasons, login codes dictated via a phone telephone call are only available for accounts that have ii-step verification enabled (Settings > Privacy & Security > Two-Step Verification).

Please also note that Telegram accounts tin only exist continued to a mobile number. We currently don't support landline numbers.

Getting a lawmaking via Telegram

If you have recently used one of our apps on some other device (information technology could also exist a different app on the aforementioned device), nosotros may ship the login code via Telegram instead of SMS.

To receive such a code, simply check Telegram from whatsoever of your connected devices. You volition find it in the chat with Telegram, a verified profile with a blue bank check:

Alert! Delight notation that getting codes via Telegram should not exist considered an alternative to using an upward-to-date phone number. In case of a alter in numbers, always make sure Telegram is connected to a phone number you control, otherwise yous take a chance losing access to your account forever.

Notification bug

If the tips below don't aid, check out this detailed guide on Troubleshooting Notification Issues.

ANDROID

Go to Telegram Settings — Notifications and Sounds, make certain that notifications are ON and Importance is set up to "High" or greater.
Check whether contact or grouping is muted.
Brand sure Google Play Services are installed on your phone.
Check notification priority for Telegram in Android settings, information technology tin can exist called Importance or Behaviour depending on your device.
If your phone uses some battery saving software, make sure that Telegram is whitelisted in that application.

NOTE: Huawei and Xiaomi devices accept evil task killer services that interfere with the Telegram notification service. For our notifications to work, you need to add together Telegram to allowed apps in those devices' security settings. Huawei: Phone Manager App > Protected Apps > Add Telegram to the list. Xiaomi: Services > Security > Permissions > Autostart, notice Telegram and enable autostart.

iOS

Go to Telegram Settings — Notifications and Sounds, make sure that notifications are ON in Telegram.
Check that notifications are ON in telephone Settings.
Check, whether contact or group is muted.
Close downward Telegram (go to home screen, double tap abode push button, swipe upward on Telegram), so go to phone settings, set the alarm fashion for Telegram to NONE. Relaunch Telegram, get to phone settings, set alert way back to banners.

Bug with contacts

If you know your friends take Telegram, but you can't see them — or they appear as numbers instead of names.

Android:

Make sure you are using the latest version of the app.
Relaunch the app (by terminating it from processes list and launching again).
Temporarily change the name of the contact in phone contacts (add a few symbols, and then change back once more).
If that didn't help, re-login. Call up that logging out kills your Hole-and-corner Chats.

iOS:

Forcefulness quit the app (double tap dwelling button, then swipe upwards on Telegram), then relaunch and check if it helped.
If that doesn't help, temporarily change the proper noun of the contact in phone contacts (add a few symbols, and then change back once again).
If that doesn't piece of work, re-login: Settings > Edit > Log Out. Think that logging out kills all your Secret Chats. And then log in over again.

Deleting contacts on Android

To delete a contact, open a conversation with the person, tap the title in the superlative surface area of the conversation screen to open their contour, then tap on (⋮) in the top correct corner > 'Delete contact'.

If you want to delete the contact completely, make sure you also delete them from your phone contacts. Telegram stays in sync and will add the contact back if you don't.

Where did my Cloak-and-dagger Conversation letters go?

Secret Chats are established between the two devices they were created on. This means that all those messages are not available in the cloud and cannot be accessed on other devices.

Moreover, Hush-hush Chats are as well tied to your current login session on the device. If you log out and in again, you will lose all your Secret Chats.

Can't send letters to not-contacts

When users report unwanted letters from a Telegram account, we employ a limit: Reported accounts tin can only transport messages to people who have their number saved equally a contact.

This ways that if you randomly contact people you don't know and send them annoying messages, you may lose the power to practise so in the future.

If y'all recall that this limit was practical to your account wrongly, please visit this page.

Telegram uses the camera or microphone in the groundwork!

Telegram tin utilise the microphone in the background if you minimize the app when making a call, recording a video, or recording a voice/video bulletin.

Permission monitors on Samsung and Xiaomi can inadvertently flag and notify you that Telegram requested access to camera in the background. This happens when the app requests info almost the camera — it isn't using the photographic camera. Unfortunately it may wait the same to the Samsung and Xiaomi permission monitors.

Photographic camera info is requested past the app when y'all tap on the attachment button, or start recording a video or a video message. If yous do this and quickly close the app, the already initiated request may attempt to run asynchronously when the app is already in the background, or exist sent when the arrangement wakes up the app to show a notification nearly a new message. In any case, these requests are only for the camera info, the app never uses the camera itself in the background.

Anyone tin can check Telegram's open up source lawmaking and confirm that the app is non doing anything backside their dorsum. We as well offering reproducible builds that can help you testify that the version y'all downloaded from App Shop or Google Play is built from the verbal same source code nosotros publish.

Telegram Support

If yous have any other questions, please contact Telegram Support (in Telegram go to Settings — Ask a question). Annotation that we rely on volunteers for support.

If you tin can't log in to your account, please utilize this course.

For media requests, please contact @PressBot on Telegram.

Twitter?

Yes. Follow us! @telegram
Our twitter account in Spanish: @telegram_es
In Italian: @telegram_it
In Korean: @Telegram_kr
In German language: @de_telegram
For users from Brazil: @Telegram_br
Our Standard arabic-speaking users may discover @telegram_arabic more interesting.

@SmsTelegram, login help on Twitter

We have a special account that can assist y'all with login bug, @smstelegram. This business relationship is official. Don't be afraid to DM it the number you employ for Telegram, we need this info to investigate issues.

Be conscientious, we don't have any other support accounts on any social media platforms.

Facebook or other platforms?

If anyone on Facebook or any other platform is telling you they're us, they are not.

gilbertwerelf.blogspot.com

Source: https://telegram.org/faq