Messaging & calls app

A cloud-based messenger for chats, large groups, channels and files up to 2 GB.

Telegram is a messaging app that keeps your chats in its cloud, so the same conversations appear on your phone, computer and tablet at once. Beyond one-to-one chats, it has groups for up to 200,000 people and channels that broadcast to an unlimited audience, and it can send files of up to 2 GB.

Pavel and Nikolai Durov launched Telegram in August 2013, and its development team is based in Dubai. It is often described as an encrypted messenger, but only secret chats are end-to-end encrypted. Ordinary chats are encrypted on the way to Telegram’s servers and stored there, which is what lets them sync across devices.

01Is Telegram free?

Telegram is free, with no ads in private chats and groups. You can send files of up to 2 GB each. Telegram Premium is an optional monthly subscription that raises the file limit to 4 GB, speeds up downloads and adds extras such as voice-to-text and more pinned chats.

02How to start using Telegram

1
Install Telegram on your phone and sign up with your phone number. Telegram sends a code to confirm it.
2
Set a username under Settings, so people can find you without knowing your number.
3
Under Settings, Privacy and Security, Phone Number, choose who can see your number.
4
Install Telegram on your computer too, or use web.telegram.org. Your chats appear on every device.
5
For a private conversation that stays on one device, open a contact and choose Start Secret Chat.

03Is Telegram safe?

Encryption

Ordinary chats are encrypted between your device and Telegram’s servers, and stored in Telegram’s cloud. Only secret chats are end-to-end encrypted, and groups and channels cannot be.

Two-step verification

Add a password under Settings, Privacy and Security, Two-Step Verification, so a stolen SMS code alone cannot open your account.

Scams in groups and channels

Large public groups attract fake investment offers and impersonators. Telegram staff never message you first to ask for a code or payment.