How telegram work
7 Reasons Why You Might Want to Stop Using Telegram
There are a variety of reasons to use Telegram, from its convenient multi-device sync to its fun stickers and other chat features. And while Telegram has greatly increased its popularity in recent years, there are some downsides of the app to consider, too.
Let's look at some of the reasons you might want to step away from Telegram. Not all of them will apply to everyone, but it's good to know the weaknesses in each app you rely on.
1. Telegram Chats Aren't End-to-End Encrypted by Default
If you're not too familiar with Telegram, you might assume that all your chats are protected with end-to-end encryption, like they are on WhatsApp and Signal. But this isn't the case.
Telegram does encrypt your messages as they travel between your device and the Telegram server. However, these messages sit on the server so you can access them from multiple devices. A breach of Telegram's servers could thus result in your messages being exposed.
The service offers end-to-end encryption in its secret chats, but you have to start these manually. If you forget to start one, or someone else begins a non-secret chat with you, it doesn't enjoy the same privacy protections.
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By default, Telegram collects basic data about the contacts on your phone. The company says it does this to notify you when someone you know signs up for Telegram and to show their name in the service. When someone you know joins Telegram, you'll see the name you have saved for the contact, not their Telegram screen name.
While Telegram only stores the first and last name and phone number of your contacts, this is still a bit concerning for an app that's focused on privacy. Also, getting a notification every time a friend joins the app is a pain, especially if you have most other notifications turned off.
Telegram also uses phone numbers to figure out which of your contacts know the most Telegram users, as the Telegram Privacy Policy states:
Our automatic algorithms can also use anonymized sets of phone numbers to calculate the approximate number of potential contacts an unregistered phone number may have on Telegram.
When you open the "Invite friends" interface, we display the resulting statistics next to your contacts to give you an idea of who could benefit most from joining Telegram.
3. No Individual Read Receipts in Group Chats
If you use a messaging app for a lot of group chats, Telegram lacks a handy feature that might be a deal-breaker. While Telegram group chats do include read receipts, they don't keep track of each person who has read your message.
Instead, as soon as one member of the group has opened a message, two checks will appear. There's no way to be sure who hasn't seen the message yet, aside from using people's Last Seen status to infer who hasn't opened the app in a while. Depending on what you use group chats for, this might cause you to jump to another app.
4. Telegram Has Limited Support
Hopefully, you won't ever have a problem with Telegram that requires you to contact a support team.
Telegram offers limited support; the main options are reaching out on Twitter, visiting the Telegram Support form, or going to Settings > Ask a Question in the app.
This is staffed by volunteers, so while you may get an answer to your query, there's no guarantee. If you can't get an answer by reaching out, you'll have to hope it's in the FAQ.
If you have deeper problems with the app, getting ahold of someone who actually works at the company could be tough. This isn't a huge knock against Telegram, but it could be a concern for some.
5. Your Friends Might Not Use It
A lot of the potential reasons to avoid Telegram are related to usability, privacy, and security. But there's another practical reason that's easy to overlook: if your friends aren't on Telegram, there's not much point in using it.
You might be able to convince a few friends to make an account on Telegram to make a group chat with them, but that only goes so far. Most people won't want to bother downloading a secondary messaging app just to talk to you when WhatsApp, iMessage, SMS, or whatever else they already use works fine for their needs.
Telegram still has some value if you use it alone; check out the best Telegram channels to join to see how.
But any messenger is a lot better when you can talk to most of your friends in one place.
6. Ads and a Subscription Plan
Apps like Telegram have to make money somehow, especially as they scale to serve hundreds of millions of users. Most of the time, apps introduce monetization by showing ads, and Telegram is no exception.
In late 2021 and early 2022, Telegram started rolling out ads in its app. These ads do not appear in one-on-one messages or group chats. Instead, they are limited to public channels with more than 1,000 followers, and only appear in certain regions. See the differences between Telegram groups and channels if you aren't familiar.
While these ads are non-intrusive and privacy-conscious, they're still annoying to see in what was once a totally free app.
In June 2022, Telegram introduced Telegram Premium, an optional subscription service that gives you extra goodies. These include doubling the file size upload limit, providing unique stickers, letting you create more folders to organize your chats, and removing ads.
At $5/month, Telegram Premium isn't worth it for most people. But it's annoying that the app locks some handy features behind a paywall, especially compared to other messaging apps that don't include ads or any subscriptions.
7. Miscellaneous Telegram Concerns
We've looked at some of the major reasons you might want to step away from Telegram above. There are a few other minor considerations to keep in mind, including:
- While this is up to personal preference, some people complain that Telegram's interface isn't visually pleasing. Telegram supports custom themes, though, which should take care of any problems here.
- You can only sign up with a mobile phone number; there's no option to sign up with just an email address, or something else. This might be a roadblock for you.
It's Up to You Whether to Use Telegram
This isn't a list of reasons to convince you to immediately stop using Telegram. Rather, it's a set of considerations you should keep in mind when you choose to use the service.
Some of these points might be non-issues for you, or you can correct them with the right settings.
If you choose to leave Telegram, make sure you stick with a secure messaging app.
What is Telegram Messenger and why should I use it?
Table of contents
01What is Telegram?02How does Telegram work?03Is Telegram safe?04Is Telegram free?05Telegram web06Pros and cons07Should I use it?08Other FAQs
Telegram may be among the most popular messaging services in the world, yet there are still many who don’t know what it’s all about. The app is often name-dropped in discussions regarding online privacy and security, but aren’t all messaging apps secure? Don’t more popular apps like WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger (despite their ties to Facebook) also have the fabled “end-to-end” encryption? What makes Telegram so special?
Keep reading to learn what Telegram does, what its main features are, and why you might consider using it. You can also download the app right away at the link below.
What is Telegram?
Telegram is a multi-platform messaging service founded by Russian entrepreneur Pavel Durov, although it was temporarily banned in Russia and has no affiliation with any government or company. It first rolled out on iOS and Android in late 2013, and now has an estimated 550 million monthly users. Telegram’s user base tends to increase whenever a privacy scandal hits one of its larger competitors.
What makes Telegram unique is its focus on privacy, encryption, and an open-source API. There are countless unofficial clients to go along with the official Telegram apps and web interface. It also allows multiple devices to use the same account (verified by SMS), and multiple accounts on the same device.
How does Telegram work?
Telegram’s core functionality is the same as most other messaging apps: You can message other Telegram users, create group conversations, call contacts, make video calls, and send files and stickers. However, there are a few specific features that make it work differently from other chat apps.
Read also: WhatsApp vs Telegram vs Signal: Which messaging app should you use?
First and foremost, Telegram’s headline feature is privacy, and to ensure this it employs end-to-end encryption. This is what stops those outside a two-way conversation — be it a company, the government, hackers, or someone else — from seeing what has been sent.
However, Telegram only uses this encryption in calls and in its “secret chats” feature, not in regular chats. Those are only encrypted client to server. Meanwhile, WhatsApp, the supposedly less secure service, has used end-to-end encryption in all messages, calls, and video calls since 2016.
Telegram is all about privacy and security, and it isn't beholden to larger companies like Facebook.
The reason for this is Telegram’s enhanced use of the cloud. Essentially, it stores all of your messages and photos on a secure server. This means you can access them from any connected device, making Telegram much more multi-platform friendly than other chat apps like WhatsApp.
Another security feature that adds usability is usernames. Instead of giving people your phone number, you can simply give them your username. This gives you better control over what information is out there, and how people can contact you in the future.
Is Telegram safe to use?
Christian Wiediger on Unsplash
In general, Telegram is as safe or safer than most other chat apps. It could be argued that WhatsApp’s end-to-end encryption on all messaging is a better approach, but the company’s ties to Facebook/Meta may turn off privacy advocates.
Plus, if you’re using the “secret chats” feature, you’re getting the same level of end-to-end encryption. On top of this, users can’t forward or screenshot messages in secret chats, and messages can be programmed to self-destruct. Deleting a message also deletes it for everyone on the service, and users have the option to delete not just their own messages, but other users’ messages, too. It’s also worth mentioning that all chats are encrypted, even if not end-to-end encrypted.
Read also: How to protect your privacy using Android
Another thing to keep in mind is that selling your data isn’t at the core of Telegram’s business model. According to Telegram’s FAQ page, the company is funded by its founder and CEO Pavel Durov, not through advertising or data collection and sharing.
On the same page, Telegram also lists one of its two tenets of internet privacy as “protecting your personal data from third parties, such as marketers, advertisers, etc.” That puts it in stark contrast to a myriad of services from Facebook, Google, Amazon, and others.
Ultimately though, using Telegram doesn’t necessarily mean your messages are more private or secure than when using WhatsApp or other messaging apps. Server-side data leaks can still happen, and no amount of encryption will help if your end device is already compromised.
Is Telegram free?
Telegram is free to use and supported by its founder and CEO Pavel Durov.
The company began employing new monetization methods in 2021, including a Telegram Premium subscription service, but the core business of chatting will remain free for everyone.
These new monetization methods include ads on public one-to-many channels (which function like Twitter feeds), premium features for business teams and power users, and paid sticker packs. Some of these funds will go back to users in the form of enhanced visibility for channels or payments to creators of unique sticker packs.
Can Telegram be used on PC?
Since Telegram stores chats and files on a remote server instead of your device, you can also access everything (except secret chats) from the web. Access it via the web portal or any of several Chrome extensions.
The company also makes its API publicly available for free and invites developers to create clients on other platforms. Users can also create custom bots, themes, stickers, and more free of charge.
Pros of switching
Telegram’s main feature list may cross over with other apps, but there are many specific differences between it and its competitors.
Here is a short list some of the major features that may push you to switch messaging apps.
Secret chats
The aforementioned secret chats are where you can take part in end-to-end encrypted messaging with a contact. But that’s not its only benefit: Secret chats also don’t allow a person forward messages from there or take screenshots. Of course, someone could take a picture of the screen with another device, but it’s still discouraged, and it’s bolstered by another feature: self-destruct timers.
Self-destruct timers
If you don’t want messages in your secret chats to hang around forever, Telegram lets you set self-destruct timers to permanently remove them. After a message is received, it remains in the chat for a predetermined period — you can choose times between one second and one week – before disappearing.
You’ll have to be especially concerned with privacy to want to do this — it means you’ll never have a chat log — nonetheless, it’s a nice option that Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and WeChat don’t have.
Cloud access
Since non-secret chats and files are stored in the cloud, you can access them from any device by logging into your account. You will never have to worry about on-device storage or losing important files, but the trade-off is that you lose a bit of privacy and security.
Global message deletion
Since an update in 2019, Telegram has allowed users to delete messages sent by other users, across all devices. It’s a somewhat divisive feature. Having your messages deleted by someone else doesn’t feel very good. But if your conversation is between you and a person you trust, it’s another handy way to control your online communications.
Usernames
As mentioned above, the use of usernames instead of phone numbers means your account isn’t tied to just one phone. This makes it easier to log in on other devices, allows you to have multiple accounts on the same device, and makes it so you don’t have to share your phone number with someone to add them as a contact in Telegram.
Large file size limit
If you want to send big files, Telegram has much of the competition beat with support for up to 2GB files. Meanwhile, WhatsApp’s limit is a measly 100MB, WeChat’s limit is also 100MB, and Skype’s limit is 300MB. Telegram files are also stored in the cloud, so you can access them from other devices.
Customizations
Telegram comes with some customization options absent from many of its competitors where you can choose the dominant app color, how the app opens links, whether or not the UI shows animations, and more. There is also chatbot integration where you can make use of bots to improve the experience. You can even create your own themes, bots, and full apps using the Telegram API. Over the years, Telegram has built up an extensive bot ecosystem that adds even more functionality to the app.
Cons of switching
New user announcement
A further privacy blunder is that Telegram notifies your contacts when you join it — unless you don’t give it permission to access your contacts.
The app doesn’t warn you it’s about to ping your contacts, and that’s a big caveat for those who want to use Telegram to keep a low profile.
Stories and statuses
Telegram lacks the Stories feature of some competing messaging apps which lets you post images or short videos without messaging a contact directly. Admittedly it isn’t an essential feature for most people.
Users
Possibly the biggest disadvantage Telegram has over more popular messages is simply that: popularity. Despite its hundreds of millions of fans, Telegram is still leagues behind WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, and WeChat in active monthly users.
If you’re in the West and you meet a new contact, the odds are they’ll prefer using WhatsApp to Telegram messenger. Popularity breeds popularity, and trying to dethrone WhatsApp is an uphill battle for Telegram.
See also: How to delete a Telegram account
Should I use Telegram?
Scott Adam Gordon / Android Authority
“Privacy” itself isn’t a particularly attractive product feature in online services.
It can be nebulous: We can’t always feel or understand it, and sometimes it’s only when privacy is taken away that we take it seriously.
If you’re a particularly private person and troubled by news reports regarding online security and privacy breaches, you should absolutely consider using Telegram with secret chats enabled. You will have largely the same experience as with more popular messaging apps, with greater peace of mind.
That’s far from saying Telegram will protect you from all privacy terrors the online world presents — you should check out our Android privacy guide for a broader look at that. Telegram just offers a good marriage of popularity and security for those with concerns over other messaging apps.
You can download the app for free from the Google Play Store via the button below — give it a try with a pal if you’re keen. The best way to decide if it’s right for you is to try it for yourself.
Other FAQs
The founder and CEO of Telegram Pavel Durov is Russian, but the company has no ties to the Russian government.
In fact, the founder fled Russia in 2015 after being pressured by the Kremlin for his ownership of the social media network VKontakte. The app has also been banned in Russia in the past for not sharing user data with the government. The company is currently based in Dubai.
Telegram does remove copyright-infringing content from public channels, sticker sets, and bots. The company cannot access or remove content from private one-to-one or group chats.
No. Your data is stored on servers spread across several countries, with encryption keys spread across multiple jurisdictions. This means no one government can force Telegram to give up your data. According to the company’s FAQ page, it has never given governments any private data. In fact, it was briefly banned in Russia for refusing to do so.
Yes. However, if you are not connected to Wi-Fi you may be subject to data charges if you go over your data limit.
Yes, all chats are encrypted, but only “secret chats” are end-to-end encrypted by default.
No, it doesn’t. You can use the app and find contacts using just a username.
Group voice calls are currently in beta. You can try them by installing the beta version of the app. Note that it will only work for admins in the group.
Finding groups in Telegram is easy. Simply head to the desktop app and use the search bar in the top left corner. This will bring up groups that match your search term, and you can join with a single click.
Telegram offers security in the form of end-to-end encryption. This means your messages are protected when you send them. However, they are decrypted once they reach Telegram servers, which could leave you vulnerable.
Telegram was launched by Russian brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov, who still own it today.
Telegram offers end-to-end encryption, but the feature is not enabled by default. Your messages are protected on the way to and from Telegram’s servers, though they can be accessed while on the server.
Instructions for using Telegrams | About Telegram
The most detailed instruction on Telegram for people who are just about to install it.
What is Telegram ?
So, Telegram, what is it? is a free messenger for smartphones and PCs running all the most common operating systems today, which allows you to exchange not only text messages, but also various media files (pictures, music, archives, text documents, etc.)
How to start communication and what are groups (Group) ?
Telegram provides the ability to communicate with one or several people at once. If you just click on the username, you can chat with him one-on-one in chat mode. Other users will not be able to read or join your conversation. To communicate with a large number of people, you need to create a group (Group). There can be two users in a group (you and someone else. At the same time, unlike a chat, in the future you will have the opportunity to invite other interlocutors to the group) or much more. And to be more precise, the limit on the number of users in one group is 5000 (!) People.
Is chat in groups visible to everyone?
No, group members only.
How to become a member of the group?
Only by invitation of someone who is already a member. In the Telegram itself, to invite participants, you must click on the name of the group - Add member - Select the people you want to add. Otherwise, with rare exceptions, nothing. This exception is the ability to create a temporary link to a group. Only a group administrator can create such a link. He can do this in order to invite people to the group who are not yet telegram users, or who are not registered in his contacts. If you have such a link to the group, go through it and click join.
If you are an administrator and want to create such a link for your group, then for this you need to: click on the name of the group - Add member - Invite to Group via Link - copy Link or Share Link. Send the link where the person you want to invite can see it.
Are there any Telegram groups specially created to meet people united by common interests or living in the same region (city).
Yes. And they are called supergroups (Supergroup) . You can find the list of groups that will be glad to see you as their member: here ( Interest groups ) or here ( City and regional groups. Groups for residents of any countries ). If you have not found anything that suits your interests or there is no group of your city (region) in Telegram yet, you can create such a supergroup yourself. To do this, you must first create a regular group using the command in the New Group menu, and then use the Upgrade to Supergroup function in the group settings. Don't forget to add her to our group directory so that as many people as possible know about her.
I heard that Telegram is the most secure messenger, is it true?
One of the most protected.
To protect against surveillance, Telegram uses its own development - the cryptographic protocol MTProto . Without knowing his keys, attackers will not be able to read your correspondence with anyone. However, the data about your correspondence, although encrypted, is still stored on the Telegram servers. Note that this approach, in addition to the minuses, such as the potential possibility of cracking keys and gaining access to your messages, also gives a lot of pluses. For example, you will always have access to your correspondence from any device currently available to you. In addition, you can always be sure that valuable messages that you want to keep will not go anywhere. If this is not enough for you and you want to completely protect yourself, you can use the function Secret Chat . This is a chat in which messages are stored exclusively on the smartphones of its participants (the so-called " end-to-end encryption") and are deleted from all devices after a certain period of time (which one you decide for yourself).
Did you say something about the fact that you can send not only text messages but also various files?
Right. To do this:
-If you are using the smartphone version, click on the paperclip to the right of the message field (Message)
-In the PC version, click on the camera icon to the left of the text entry field (Write a message ...), and then, depending on the type of file being transferred, select either the camera again - to transfer a photo, or a paperclip to transfer any other file.
What else is in Telegram that distinguishes it from other messengers?
There are also so-called channels and bots.
What are channels (Channel) ?
Channels are chat rooms that act as mass mailings. It can be: a feed with updates to some of your favorite sites or publics (For example, @lastmag), a blog of some famous person (For example, Yuri Saprykin - @forevernotes), someone's channel created to inform their subscribers about updates to their pages in social networks, thematic channels created specifically for Telegram (For example, @historyporn), etc.
The key difference from groups is that you can only read the channel (of course, if you are not its creator) and share publications from it with others Telegram users. There is no function of replies, likes and comments in channels.
What are bots (Bot) ?
A distinctive feature of Telegram from other messengers (WhatsApp, Viber, Hangouts, ICQ, etc.) is the presence of bots with which you can diversify your communication with other people (for example, the Quiz bot), follow updates from various media and others sources of information (such as @Meduza (Recognised as a foreign agent)), playing games (such as the turn-based strategy game Endless Summer), solving everyday tasks (such as a cooking bot with recipes that can be filtered based on the ingredients you have on hand, or receiving information about the weather), etc. In fact, this means that this messenger can be a useful program for you even if you don’t have a single person in it who would use it, because in addition to communicating with friends, Telegram provides a wide range of opportunities for their users, who sometimes have nothing to do with communication.
How do you manage these bots?
With commands. The command list is usually located to the right of the
message input box and is indicated either by a "/" or by four small squares in one large square. There are other ways to manage. But don't worry. All of them are intuitive and you can easily understand them.
Well, how now to search in Telegram for all these channels and all these bots that you talked about so much?
Channels, at the request of their creator, can be private or public. A public channel can be found through a Telegram search or by following a regular link posted on the Internet. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with our channel catalog, in which you can also always add your channel, if any, and is of interest not only to your friends.
You can only join a private channel if you are invited to it in the application or send you a temporary link to the channel. You won't be able to find such a channel through the search.
You can find the list of bots on our website in the Bots section. If you have written your own bot and want to share it with people feel free to add it to our list.
Where to download Telegram?
We advise beginners to download Telegram only from the links indicated on the official website of the program. Alas, on the official website everything is in English and there is no instruction on how to change the program interface to Russian. All this is on our website on the page Download Telegram in Russian. All the links to the installation files that we have indicated are identical to the links from the telegram.org website.
Note that there are many alternative messengers based on Telegrams that have both their pluses and minuses relative to the official version of the program. We think that if you need to use unofficial versions of the messenger, you can easily find them in the application store installed on your device.
How to register in it?
You just need to enter your phone number.
Wait for the SMS message to be received and enter the code in Telegram that will be indicated in it.
Is it all free?
Yes. Installation, registration, and use are absolutely free. Like all other Telegram functions. An exception are some bots associated with the provision of various services (for example, calling a taxi). But, in this case, you pay not for using Telegram, but for the service itself.
How to invite your friends to Telegram?
Telegram is synchronized with your phone book, thanks to which you can send your friends an invitation to Telegram via SMS. There are also other ways, the number and variety of which depends on the applications that are installed on your smartphone.
A stickers (Stickers) what is it? Is it some kind of food?
Of course not! Stickers are sets of pictures that can replace some words or even sentences when communicating with friends.
With the help of them, you can diversify your conversation, please a person with a beautiful picture, congratulate you in an original way on something, or simply cheer up your interlocutor.
Where can I get them?
You can download the ones that your friends already have. Or choose your favorite from our catalog.
Why is the application not Russified (there is also no Ukrainian and Belarusian language)?
The developers are not in a hurry to add the Russian language to the application interface (as well as Ukrainian and Belarusian). But you can do it yourself. To do this, use the following bots:
—Russian
—Ukrainian
—Belarusian
Next: Download the resulting file (click on the arrow icon). Click on the three dots in the upper right corner of the message. In the menu that opens, select "Apply localization file", then in the list of languages, find the one you need.
Is that all?
The program is constantly updated and acquires new functions.
But for now, yes! This is the basic information that will be enough for you to start using Telegram and feel like a fish in water in it. We can also advise you to read our tips for Telegram users that will make your pastime in the messenger even more comfortable. Have a nice chat!
Telegram FAQ
General questions
What is Telegram?
Telegram is a fast and secure messaging app. Almost like SMS or e-mail, but in addition to sending simple text messages, you can also send photos, videos and any other files. You can also create group chats (up to 200,000 participants), read channels and make video and audio calls.
All this can be done on an unlimited number of devices - each of them will have all your contacts, chats and message history. Applications are available for both mobile devices and PC, and even for the browser.
How is Telegram different from WhatsApp?
Perhaps, if we list all differences , they won't fit on this site.
Therefore, we restrict ourselves to the main ones:
- Telegram can work simultaneously on several devices. You don't need to have an app on your phone to use Telegram on your computer.
- You don't have to install Telegram on your phone at all. The login code for the first time will come in SMS, and with subsequent logins it will come to the Telegram application.
- Message history in Telegram is synchronized between devices in real time. You can start writing a message on your phone and finish it on your PC.
- Any sent message can be edited within two days after sending.
- Telegram stores all your data in the cloud, not in the phone's memory. All downloaded photos and files can be deleted from the device to free up space - they will not be lost and can be downloaded back at any time.
- In Telegram you can send any files up to 1.
5 GB without any type or quantity limitation. - You don't have to give someone your phone number to communicate with them. It is enough to come up with an @username (pseudonym), and the number will remain hidden.
- Telegram has a huge number of stickers available for one-click installation. If you have not found suitable ones, you can create your own set directly in the application.
You can find a more complete comparison in this article.
Who needs it?
Telegram is designed for everyone who prefers fast and reliable messaging and calls. Entrepreneurs and small businesses will appreciate groups, desktop apps, and file sharing.
In group chats, message forwarding, mentions and hashtags are available - so even in large conferences (up to 200 thousand participants are supported), communication is efficient and streamlined. You can add moderators to the group who will keep order with the help of special tools.
Anyone can join public groups, so they are a great option for collecting feedback or just discussing any topic.
For fans of photos and pictures, Telegram has a built-in GIF search, a convenient photo editor and a lot of free stickers. At the same time, you do not need to worry that all these goodies will take up all the space on your phone - thanks to cloud technologies and Telegram cache management, you need a little more than 100 MB on the device.
How long has Telegram been around?
Telegram for iOS was released on August 14, 2013. The alpha version of Telegram for Android was officially released on October 20, 2013. Over time, more and more clients for Telegram appear, created by third-party developers using an open platform.
What devices are supported?
Telegram can be installed on a phone, tablet, computer or used online. Devices on iOS, Android, Windows Phone, Windows and many other operating systems are supported.
A list of all applications is available on the download page.
You can log into Telegram on multiple devices at the same time. There is no limit on the number of simultaneous sessions.
Who are the creators of Telegrams?
Telegram is maintained by Pavel and Nikolai Durov. Pavel provides financial and ideological support, while Nikolai takes care of the technical side. Especially for Telegram, a unique protocol was developed - open, secure and able to work effectively with several data centers. As a result, Telegram is the fastest and most secure messenger in the world.
Read also: press about Telegram
What country is the Telegram team currently in?
Telegram is headquartered in Dubai.
The homeland of most developers is St. Petersburg, a city known, among other things, for its incredible concentration of talented engineers and developers. However, the Telegram team had to leave Russia due to local laws regulating the IT industry and “settle down” in the UAE.
How do you earn money?
Telegram's mission is convenient, safe and 100% free communication.
Pavel Durov, who personally financed Telegram for most of its existence, expressed his thoughts on further securing Telegram in this post.
Despite the planned monetization in 2021 (which is necessary to pay for infrastructure and pay salaries), profit will never be a priority goal for Telegram.
I found illegal content. Where can I report it?
All chats and private groups in Telegram are the private and inviolable property of their owners. We do not accept any requests related to them.
However, channels, sticker packs and bots are publicly available. If you find a sticker pack or bot that you think is illegal, please report it to [email protected].
The bot or channel violates my copyright. What to do?
As mentioned above, all private groups and chats in Telegram are the private and inviolable property of their owners.
We do not accept any requests related to them.
However, if a bot, channel or sticker pack violates your rights, please report it to [email protected].
Wait a minute! Are you removing content at the request of third parties?
Our goal is to provide a secure method of communication that works for everyone and everywhere without exception. That is why, in order to provide the possibility of communication where it is most needed (well, so that Telegram is not banned from the App Store and Google Play), we have to remove content at the request of third parties. So far, this only applies to channels, stickers, and bots. For example, we remove sticker packs that infringe copyrights or remove bots that distribute pornography.
User-generated content is not part of the Telegram app. Therefore, we remove all illegal content upon requests sent to the special mail [email protected] and [email protected].
However, we do not censor or restrict freedom of speech.
For example, if criticism of the government is prohibited in a certain country, then Telegram will not regulate this in any way and delete user content. While we are blocking and removing terrorist-related bots and channels, everyone else can sleep peacefully - we are not blocking those who peacefully express their alternative opinion.
My bot or sticker pack was banned, what should I do?
If you think that your channel, sticker pack or bot has been banned unreasonably, email [email protected].
Key features
Who can write to?
You can write to everyone who is in your contacts and who has Telegram installed. You can also contact anyone who has username (username) - you do not need to know the phone number for this.
You can also create a username for your account. Please note that in this case, your phone number is visible to other users of NOT .
Who can write to me?
Any Telegram user can write to you if he knows your phone number, or if you yourself write to him first.
If your phone number is unknown, then they will be able to start a chat with you in these cases:
- If you and your interlocutor belong to the same group .
- If you have set a public username (username) in your account, then your account can be found by this username through the search.
- If you have enabled the "People Nearby" feature (it is disabled by default).
How can I find out which of my contacts has Telegram installed?
Contacts that have Telegram are shown in the Contacts tab. They also have pictures.
How to invite friends?
To invite friends to Telegram, just send a link to download the program to any of your contacts. Once your friend installs the app, they will appear in your contact list.
Link: https://telegram.org/dl
What do the check marks next to messages mean?
- the message has been sent (it has already been saved on our server and is waiting for your interlocutor to open Telegram).
The interlocutor received a notification of a new message.
- the message has been read (the interlocutor launched Telegram and opened a dialogue with this message).
N. B. Telegram doesn't have any designation for messages "delivered to device" because Telegram can run on an unlimited number of devices. Therefore, it would be unclear to which device the message was delivered.
Can I hide my online status?
You cannot completely hide your online status. However, you can choose to hide the last time you were online. This is done in Settings Privacy and Security (see blog post).
Please note: you will not see the last time online of those people from whom you hid yours. Only an approximate value will be available to you:
- Recently visited - from 3 days to a few seconds ago
- Visited this week - 3 to 7 days
- Visited this month - from 7 days to a month
- Visited for a long time - more than a month.
This status is also shown to blocked users.
Who can see that I'm online?
Online time visibility rules also work for online status. Users can only see that you're online if they have access to your last online time.
There are exceptions to this rule because in some situations it is obvious that you are currently online. Regardless of your privacy settings, for a short period of time (~30 seconds) everyone will see that you are online if:
- You sent a private message to a user who is in the same group as you.
- You have read a message in a private chat.
- You are typing a message to a public group or private messages (then you will see the status X is typing... ).
If you hide your last online time from everyone and do none of the above, then no one will ever be able to see that you are online. Another way to hide from someone that you are online is to block that person.
What does the People Nearby feature do?
"People Nearby" is a function that allows you to search for local groups and people who are nearby (for example, it can be a chat room in your home).
You can also share contacts with users in your immediate vicinity.
You can enable this feature in the section Contacts , or in the side menu on Android.
As long as this feature is enabled on your screen (and only if this is the case), your profile will be displayed in this section to all people nearby. You can also make it work all the time - to do this, click on the button " Show me .”
Please note: this function is disabled by default - to activate it, you need to manually go to the appropriate section and click on the button. If you are receiving messages from people you don't know, see Who can message me?
Can I delete my post?
Yes. You can delete both your own and other people's messages in private chats (in groups, you can only delete your own messages). You can also delete the entire chat completely - deletion will occur for both interlocutors.
Can I call via Telegram?
Yes! At the moment, audio and video calls are available to every Telegram user.
In addition, you can create a voice chat in a group (this is not the same as a group call).
How do I put an emoji (smiley face)?
Just type any word in the message input field and select from the suggested emoji. You can also type a colon and a keyword, such as :heart or :smile .
You can suggest your own emoji/word matches using our translation platform.
Is it possible to save correspondence on a computer?
Yes. You can export your entire chat history to your computer, including files and photos. Read more about this in this article.
How do I separate my contacts into groups (colleagues/friends)?
Unfortunately, this option does not currently exist. Perhaps in the future, such functions will be introduced into Telegram applications.
How to enable Russian in Telegram?
In the latest versions of Telegram, Russian and other popular languages can be enabled in the settings (no files need to be downloaded, as it was before).
iOS
Android and Telegram Desktop
Settings > Language > Select your language.
Click on the menu icon in the upper left corner > Settings > Language > Select your language.
If your language is not listed, you can install it from the localizations page.
Account
Who can see my phone number?
Only to those who know your number and added it to their contacts. All other users, including group members, do not see your number . You can further tighten these rules in the " Phone number " section of the privacy settings.
I now have a new number, what should I do?
Telegram operates the principle one number - one account . If you have multiple numbers, then you can:
- Transfer account from old number to new one. This option is suitable if you decide to permanently change your number (for example, when moves to another country).
To do this, simply go to the settings and change the number associated with your account. Important: to transfer you must have access to the old number. If you don't have it, you risk losing access to your account. - Use both numbers. This will be useful if, for example, you have a personal and work phone. In this case, you can register to this number new Telegram account and switch between accounts right in the app. Each account will have its own contacts, chat histories and other data.
If you have a new number temporarily (for example, you went to another country and bought a local SIM), do not need to do anything .
How do I log out of my account?
In most cases, you do not need to log out of your account.
- If you need to login on another device, you don't need to log out of Telegram. You can use Telegram on any number of devices simultaneously .
- If you run out of space on your device, you don't need to sign out either. You just need to clear the cache in the "Data and storage > Storage usage" section in the settings.
- If you need to use multiple accounts, you can add them all and switch between them in the app. You don't need to log out of your account to do this.
- If someone other than you has access to your device, you can protect yourself with blocking pin code , which will need to be entered every time to open Telegram. You can set it in the "Privacy and security" section in the settings.
If you still need to log out of your account, you can do it like this:
iOS
Android and Telegram Desktop
Settings > Edit (upper right corner) > Sign out (at the very bottom) .
Click on the icon in the upper left corner > Settings > Three dots in the top right corner > Exit .
If you log out of your account, you will not lose your chat messages. However, all secret chats will be permanently deleted along with the messages (they will remain with the interlocutor).
How do I change my phone number?
You can transfer your account to a new phone number. All data including secret chats, contacts, messages and files will be saved .
To change your number, go to settings, then tap on your phone number. If an account is already registered for the new number, it must be deleted.
How do I delete my account?
To delete an account, go to a special page. Deleting your account will result in the complete and permanent deletion of your messages, contacts, chats and other data. All chats and channels that you are the creator of will remain without a creator (however, nothing will happen to other administrators).
Account deletion must be confirmed via the Telegram app (not via SMS). Please note that the account is permanently deleted and cannot be restored.
What happens if I delete my account?
As mentioned above, all your data will be deleted from the Telegram servers. All groups, stickers, chats, message history and other content associated with your account will be deleted. If you created groups, then the participants will be able to continue to communicate in them.
Important : your messages in groups and private chats will not be deleted . Anyone you've had chats with will show you as "Deleted Account". If you need to delete messages or chats, you must do so manually.
Please note that account deletion is irreversible. If, after deleting your account, you (or someone else) register again for the same number, then the new account will be completely “empty” - that is, without any information. There will be no trace of anyone having used it before.
How does account self-destruction work?
Telegram is a non-profit organization and we really value the free space on our disks.
If you stop using Telegram and do not appear online for at least six months, then your account will be deleted along with all messages, files, contacts and other data stored in the Telegram cloud.
In the settings you can change the period after which your inactive account will be self-destructed.
My phone was stolen, what should I do?
Unfortunately, at the moment the phone number is the only way to enter Telegram. We do not collect any additional information about you, so whoever has access to your number has access to the telegram. This means that we cannot help you in any way if you do not have access to either the phone number or Telegram on another device.
If you have access to Telegram on another device
- Go to Settings > Privacy and enable 2-Step Verification (how to do it). Thus, one phone number will not be enough to enter the account.
- End your Telegram session on the old device. Whoever has your phone won't be able to log in again because they don't know your password.
- Contact your carrier to block your old SIM card and issue a new one with your number.
If you decide to change your phone number, don't forget to go to Settings and link your account to the new number. How to do it?
If you don't have access to Telegram on other devices
First of all, you need to contact your carrier to reissue your SIM card and block the lost one.
Wait until you get a new SIM card with the old number, log in to Telegram and end your sessions on the old device.
Delete confidential data
As a rule, thieves immediately throw away the SIM card (to make it harder to find the phone), so the risk to data in the event of a simple petty theft is small. But if you have reason to be concerned about the data on your phone and you can't sign out of your account using other devices, then it's best to remotely reset your device. You can read more about this here: iOS, Android.
You can delete your Telegram account if you are logged in on at least one of your other devices (mobile or desktop).
Please note that inactive Telegram accounts will automatically self-destruct after a certain period of time - 6 months by default.
How to end unnecessary sessions?
If you have a suspicion that someone other than you is using your Telegram account, then you can always look at the list of sessions (logins) and end unnecessary ones.
iOS
Android and Telegram Desktop
Settings > Devices > Edit (upper right).
Press the menu button in the upper left corner > Settings > Privacy > Show all sessions .
To further protect your account, we recommend that you set an additional password that you will need to enter every time you log in.
Please note: sessions require you to be logged into your current account for at least 7 days to end sessions.
I can't log in because my number is blocked. What to do?
In very rare cases, users cannot log in or register on Telegram due to the error “ Phone number blocked " ( or "Your phone was banned" ).
To solve this problem, you need to contact support via one of these communication channels:
- via email [email protected]
- Via private messages to Twitter account @smstelegram
- Through a special form on the official website of
Briefly describe your problem and be sure to include the phone number with which the problem occurred.
Username
What is a username? How can I get it?
Username (username, pseudonym) is a short address for your page where you can be found in Telegram without knowing your phone number . If this is not convenient for you, we do not recommend creating a username.
The username is not only for people: it can also be set for channels, groups and bots. You can set it for your page in your account settings.
How does t.me work?
If you have created a username for yourself, you can share a link to your profile with other users: t.
me/username . Clicking on this link will automatically launch Telegram and open a chat with you. You can share this link on social networks, indicate it on your business card or post it on your website - in a word, distribute it in any way you like.
This way other people can contact you on Telegram without knowing your phone number.
What username can I use?
Latin letters, numbers and underscores are allowed. Usernames are not case sensitive, but Telegram will retain your preferences (for example, Telegram and TeLeGrAm are the same user). The username must start with a letter and be at least 5 characters long.
Is it mandatory?
No. In Telegram, usernames are public and by installing it, you make it possible for anyone to find you and send you messages without even knowing your phone number. If this is not convenient for you, we do not recommend creating a username.
If someone finds me by my username and I reply, will my number be visible?
No. Neither you nor your interlocutor will see each other's numbers (unless you have specifically turned on the visibility of your number in the privacy settings).
How do I delete a username?
Go to section Settings and save an empty username. After that, people will no longer be able to find you through search, and links to your profile will no longer work. Deleting will not affect existing chats.
What if my username is taken?
Usernames in Telegram are distributed according to the principle "who managed, he ate".
However, we understand that a username may be a "brand" for you or your company. Therefore, we will be happy to help you get it - provided that you have the same username on at least of two of these services: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. In this case, write @Username_bot to the bot and follow the instructions.
Telegram also reserves the right to revoke usernames from cybersquatters and inactive bots and channels.
What if someone pretends to be me?
Email the @NoToScam bot and follow the instructions.
Channels and groups
What is the coolness of Telegram groups?
Groups can have up to 200 000 members, which makes groups very powerful and convenient for general communication as well as for any other purpose. Here are the key advantages of groups:
- History management . Messages can be edited or deleted - all changes will be instantly displayed to all participants.
- Cross-platform . The entire message history is available at any time from any number of devices.
- Instant search : even in a chat with tens of millions of messages, finding what you need is very easy. Filtering by date and by message authors helps a lot with this.
- Replies, mentions and hashtags will provide systematization and easy navigation in chats of any size.
- Smart Notifications : You can set them up so that you only receive notifications when your @username is mentioned or when your message is directly replied to.
- Pinned messages that are pinned at the top of the chat window. When a new message is pinned, all participants will receive a notification, even if they have disabled them.
- Moderation tools . Assign admins to delete posts, control members, and pin posts. Everything that a moderator can and cannot do is, of course, configurable.
- Allowed content settings . Set a ban on a certain type of messages - for example, sending stickers or links. Or even forbid writing to everyone except administrators - this is also possible.
- Public groups : you can create a username for the group and share a link like t.me/publicgroup with everyone. Anyone who opens this link or finds the group via search will be able to join.
What is the difference between groups and channels?
group chats are ideal for chatting in any group of people - for example, between friends or relatives. Everyone who joins the group will be able to send messages to it, which will be visible to all other members. Up to 200,000 members can join a group.
Channels is a tool for one-way communication. Channel admins send messages and everyone else reads them, without the ability to send their own. Each post has a view counter, and the number of subscribers is unlimited.
Both groups and channels can add administrators, attach messages, and create both public and private invitation links.
Read more in the channel help section.
How to create a group?
iOS
Android
Windows/macOS/Linux
Click on the chat icon in the top right corner.
From the menu that appears, select To create a group.
Press the large pencil button in the lower right corner, then select from the menu To create a group.
Press the button in the upper left corner, then select from the menu To create a group.
How do I add members to a group? What is an invite link?
You can add users that you have in your contacts, or by using username search.
Invitation link is a special link that, when clicked, will open your chat or channel. You can create a link in the group or channel settings ( Group information > Add members ).
Who can add members to a group?
Only an administrator can add members to groups. The administrator can also delete messages and block users.
How to add administrators?
Large groups often require the help of additional administrators ( moderators ). Add them to the group and assign their rights to each:
iOS
Android
Windows/macOS/Linux
Go to the group information (to do this, click on the group avatar in the upper right corner).
Then in the top right corner select Edit > Administrators
Go to the group information (click on the group avatar in the top panel). Then click on the pencil icon in the top right corner, then select Administrators .
Open the group and click on the icon with three dots in the upper right corner. In the menu, click on Group management , then in the window select Administrators.
Important: administrators can only be assigned by the creator of the group or another administrator with the appropriate rights. Only the creator of a group can delete it.
What if I created a group and deleted my account?
If you have lost access to the account from which the group was created, you will no longer be able to manage the group. In this case, there is only one way out - to create a new group.
Why did my group lose notifications that a member left it?
Such notifications appear only in small groups (several people).
As soon as the group becomes larger, only notifications about the member's entry into the group remain.
This is to avoid cluttering up the group with automated messages. You cannot turn these notifications on or off.
Security
NoteIf you consider yourself an advanced user, you can read our technical FAQ.
How secure is Telegram?
Telegram is much safer than other similar messengers like WhatsApp or Line. Telegram is based on the MTProto protocol (see description and technical FAQ), created according to time-tested algorithms and providing high speed and reliability. We are also constantly working with the community to improve the protocol and clients.
What if I'm paranoid?
It's okay, we can help you. Telegram supports secret chats that use device-to-device encryption, leave no trace on our servers, self-destruct after a certain amount of time, and cannot be forwarded. The only disadvantage of this approach is that if your interlocutor is offline, then the message will not be delivered - in the secret chat mode, messages are transmitted only directly from device to device.
Enough baby talk, I need technical details!
Well, you asked yourself. We use two layers of encryption (client-server and client-client). Client-server encryption is used in regular chats (including group chats), and client-client encryption is used in secret chats. Please note that all data, regardless of its type (messages, files, audio, etc.) is always securely encrypted.
Encryption based on AES 256-bit symmetric encryption, RSA 2048 encryption, and Diffie-Hellman key exchange. See Technical FAQ 9 for details0005
Why can I trust you?
Telegram is an open source application, protocol and API project, you can see for yourself how it works. Telegram has a function for checking application builds, thanks to which you can make sure that applications downloaded from Google Play or the App Store are compiled from published source codes.
Important InformationIf you find any security issue, please email us at [email protected].
Can I really trust Telegram for security?
For Secret Chats, just make sure that the encryption key graphic on your device matches the one on the other party's device.
What if I hacked Telegram?
Anyone who can hack Telegram or decrypt traffic can win $300,000. Read more in FAQ on contests.
All comments about Telegram security are welcome at [email protected]. The reward for found vulnerabilities is from $100 to $100,000 , depending on the severity of the problem.
Please note that the bounty will not be paid if vulnerability is publicly disclosed until is fixed.
Can Telegram protect me from everything?
Telegram guarantees security in everything related to encryption and transmission of encrypted data. This means that all data (including files and messages) that you send and receive via Telegram cannot be intercepted by third parties (providers, hacked Wi-Fi routers, etc.).
However, it will not be able to protect your correspondence from people who have physical access to the device where you are logged in. For example, from your grandmother, if she takes your unlocked phone and reads the correspondence.
Or from IT people at your work who have full access to a working PC.
If you have reason to be concerned about your information security, we recommend using only secret chats with the self-destruct timer turned on and using only official applications. It's also a good idea to enable 2-Step Verification and App Lock Pin.
How does 2-Step Verification work?
If for some reason you do not trust your mobile operator, we recommend that you enable two-step authorization for your account . After enabling, in addition to the code from the SMS, you will also need to enter an additional password that you can come up with yourself.
You can activate this function in the application settings (how to do it). We recommend setting up a password recovery email — otherwise, if you forget your password, you will have to completely reset your account (there is no other way to recover your password).
Don't forget to protect your email as well: set a complex password for it and enable two-factor authentication.
How do I enable 2-Step Verification?
Two-step authorization allows you to protect your account with an additional password. It will need to be entered along with the code from SMS every time you enter the application.
iOS
Android and Telegram Desktop
Settings > Privacy & Confidentiality > 2-Step Verification > Enable 2-Step Verification .
Press the menu button in the upper left corner > Settings > Privacy > Add cloud password .
Important: If you don't enter your email address, then if you lose your password, it will be impossible to restore your account. The only option would be full reset account, with the removal of all your data. Learn more about deleted data.
Why is it not safe to use jailbreak or rooted devices?
Using a jailbreak or rooted device makes it easier for an attacker to gain full control over your device - root rights.
A user with full administrative rights (root) can do whatever he wants with your device - no protection and no encryption can interfere with it. Under such conditions, no application can be considered secure.
Secret chats
What is special about secret chats?
Secret chat rooms are for people who want to is really safe communication. All traffic is encrypted from device to device. This means that only you and your interlocutor will be able to read your messages. No one will be able to intercept or decrypt them, including us Telegram staff. Messages from a secret chat cannot be forwarded. You can also set the time for messages to be deleted after being read by the interlocutor. Messages will be deleted both from your device and from the device of the interlocutor.
Another difference between secret chats and regular ones is that they are not stored on our servers. All undelivered messages can only be read on your device.
How do I create a secret chat?
Open the other person's profile, click on the button with three dots and select Create a secret chat .
Remember that Secret Chats are device-specific. If you create a secret chat on one of your devices, it will only be available on that device. If you log out of your account, all secret chats will be lost. You can create as many chats with one person as you want.
How does message self-destruction work?
The self-destruct timer is available for all private chat messages and for media (photos, videos) in regular chats.
To set the timer, click on the clock icon (found on the top bar on Android, on the text entry field on iOS, and on the chat info page on Windows Phone). This timer will start when the recipient reads the message (two green ticks). As soon as the set time has passed, the message will disappear without a trace from both devices.
Photos sent with the timer turned on for a short period (less than 1 minute) can only be viewed while you keep your finger on them. In addition, you will receive a notification if the interlocutor takes a screenshot.
Note that the timer only applies to messages sent after it was set. It will not affect previously sent messages in any way.
Can I be sure that my interlocutor will not take a screenshot?
Unfortunately, there is no 100% sure way to prevent taking a screenshot (especially on Android and Windows devices). And even if such a method existed, nothing prevents your interlocutor from taking a screenshot with a regular camera (or even scanning it). Therefore, we would recommend that you only share sensitive information with people you trust.
What does the picture with the encryption key mean?
When a secret chat is created, the participating devices exchange encryption keys using the so-called Diffie-Hellman protocol. After a secure end-to-end connection is established, an image is created that visualizes your chat's encryption key. You can compare this image with the one displayed by your interlocutor - if they are identical, be sure that this secret chat is safe and a man-in-the-middle attack is basically impossible.
Newer versions of Telegram show not only a picture, but also a textual representation of the key (not the key itself, just a representation, for convenience).
Always use the most secure communication channel for key comparison: the best way is to meet the interlocutor and check the pictures with your eyes.
Why not make all chats private?
It is important to understand that all messages in Telegram are always securely encrypted. The difference between secret and regular chat is only in the encryption method: client-client for secret chats, client-server/server-client for regular chats. Thanks to this, you can access your correspondence in regular chats from any device without losing privacy.
This does not work in secret chats - it is tied to a specific device. Your entire message history is stored on one device and is only available on that device. Therefore, messengers, in which all chats are secret, have to come up with something to provide an opportunity to at least just move to another phone and not lose the message history.
For example, WhatsApp and Viber do this by creating backups.
Therefore, Telegram chose a compromise option: it has more convenient "regular" chats and more secure "secret" ones. You can choose the option that you like best.
Other questions
Why not open the whole code?
The source code of all applications (clients) of Telegram is in the public domain. Thanks to the assembly verification function, you can check that the downloaded application was compiled from those sources.
Publication of the source codes of the server part is meaningless in this regard - you will never be able to check what kind of software is running on the servers. As for secret chats, you don't need the backend source code to check their security - that's the point of end-to-end encryption.
In this post, Pavel Durov explains why Telegram didn't post the source codes of the server side, even for PR.
Can I use my server to send messages?
Our architecture does not yet support this feature.
