What is Telegram Software and How Does it Work

Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app that allows users to send messages, photos, videos, and files of any type. It was founded in 2013 by Russian entrepreneurs Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai.

Telegram's encryption is end-to-end, which means that only the sender and recipient can read the messages. This is a key feature that sets Telegram apart from other messaging apps.

Telegram has a large user base, with over 200 million active users worldwide. Its user-friendly interface and wide range of features have made it a popular choice for people of all ages.

Telegram allows users to create groups with up to 200,000 members, making it a great platform for communities and organizations.

See what others are reading: Xiaohongshu Users

Telegram was launched in 2013 by the brothers Nikolai and Pavel Durov. They previously founded the Russian social network VK, which they left in 2014 after it was taken over by the government.

The company is registered as a company in the British Virgin Islands and as an LLC in Dubai, but it doesn't disclose where it rents offices or which legal entities it uses to rent them, citing the need to "shelter the team from unnecessary influence" and protect users from governmental data requests.

Telegram's data centers are spread across a complex corporate structure of shell companies in various jurisdictions to avoid compliance with government subpoenas, and the company says this is done "to protect the data that is not covered by end-to-end encryption".

User numbers have been a point of contention for Telegram, with the platform facing an EU probe in August 2024.

The EU's Digital Services Act requires companies to provide accurate user numbers, but Telegram failed to do so in August 2024.

In February 2024, Telegram claimed it had 41 million users in the EU.

Telegram's vague statement in August 2024, declaring it had "significantly fewer than 45 million average monthly active recipients in the EU", did little to alleviate concerns about the platform's transparency.

We've been working hard to improve our development process, and I'm excited to share the latest updates with you.

Bug fixes have been a top priority, and we've made significant progress in addressing some of the most common issues.

Our team has also been working on minor improvements to make our development workflow more efficient.

For another approach, see: Duckduckgo Search Not Working

Telegram's features are quite impressive. You can send voice notes, photos, videos, and files of all types. Groups can have a maximum of 200,000 members, making it a great platform for large communities.

Channels are also available, allowing for one-way broadcasting of messages to unlimited subscribers. This is especially useful for content creators, news outlets, and other organizations that want to share information with a large audience.

Telegram's message read statuses are similar to WhatsApp's, with 1 check indicating that a message was sent and 2 checks showing that it was read (opened).

Mini Apps are a game-changer in the world of messaging apps, and Telegram is leading the way with its open API for creating custom bots.

These custom bots can perform a variety of tasks, from integrating other services into Telegram chats to working as mini apps or games.

Most of these mini apps work on the 8XR game engine, which is a powerful tool for developers.

In July 2024, Telegram Mini Apps reached an impressive 500 million monthly active users, showing just how popular this feature has become.

By offering this open API, Telegram is giving developers the freedom to create innovative and useful mini apps that enhance the user experience.

For another approach, see: Lumia Imaging Apps

Voice and video calls on Telegram are incredibly convenient and secure.

You can initiate one-on-one calls in private chats since 2017, and they're end-to-end encrypted for maximum security.

Video calls were introduced in August 2020, and Telegram uses a neural network to learn and improve the call quality over time.

Group voice chats were added in December 2020, allowing all group members to participate and share their screens.

Group video chats, which support picture-in-picture video and screen sharing, were launched in June 2021.

In channels, you can even start a livestream that integrates with third-party apps like OBS Studio and XSplit.

Group voice chats will remain open until an admin closes them, making it easy to keep the conversation going.

In April 2025, Telegram launched secure group calls with end-to-end encryption, allowing up to 200 participants to join in.

Related reading: End-to-end Encryption

Telegram's sticker collection is impressive, with over 40,000 stickers to choose from. These cloud-based, high-resolution images are designed to provide more expressive emoji options. Stickers come in collections called "packs", and multiple stickers can be offered for one emoji.

Users can install additional sticker packs provided by third-party contributors. Sticker sets installed from one client become automatically available to all other clients. Sticker images use WebP file format, which is better optimized to be transmitted over the internet.

Animated emoji were introduced in August 2019, featuring larger versions of familiar emoji with unique animations. Interactive emoji, which also play a fullscreen effect in the chat, were added in September 2021. These interactive emoji were later used for Premium Stickers in June 2022 and for message effects in May 2024.

Video stickers were added in January 2022, using the WebM file format and not requiring any software to create. An emoji platform was launched in August 2022, allowing users to upload their own custom emoji, either in animated or static versions. However, the use of custom emoji in chats is only available to users with Telegram Premium.

Reactions were first added to Telegram in 2021 and expanded to include more emoji options for Premium users. In September 2022, Telegram gave free users access to dozens of reactions, even some that were only previously available to Premium subscribers.

Recommended read: Dropbox Paper Tutorial

The ratings and reviews section of this app is telling. With 13.3K ratings, it's clear that many users are frustrated with the app's limitations.

Some users have expressed disappointment with the app's inability to allow users to delete messages from their own side only. This is particularly frustrating when dealing with large groups where thousands of messages come in daily.

Users are also unhappy with the lack of options for deleting messages, with some reporting that clicking on a message doesn't show the option to delete it. Instead, the app suggests that there's no need to delete messages since they're stored on the cloud.

The app's support team has been criticized for being unresponsive, with users reporting that messages sent to them result in deafening silence.

Telegram's messaging system is built for speed and security. With features like end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages, users can have private conversations without worrying about their data being compromised.

One of the standout features of Telegram is its ability to send large files, up to 1.5 GB in size. This makes it a great option for sharing videos, photos, and other multimedia content.

Security is a top priority in Telegram's messaging system, with features like two-factor authentication and secret chats that provide an additional layer of protection.

Groups on Telegram can support up to 200,000 members and can be public or private, with users able to freely join public chats.

Admins have flexible control over group settings, including the ability to hide member lists and post anonymously.

Groups can be split into topics, creating subgroups dedicated to specific subjects with separate settings for each.

Admins can also use bots for moderation to prevent spam and unwanted activity.

You can tag specific users in a group by adding @username to a message.

Groups support threaded replies, allowing users to view a thread of replies made to a message and the subsequent ones.

Polls in groups can be open or anonymous and can support multiple choices.

When forwarded, polls retain the answer data and any votes cast in other chats will count toward the overall total.

Channels are one-way feeds where the channel owner or admins can post content while followers can only read, react, and comment if comments have been enabled.

Channel owners can create giveaways, randomly awarding channel members with prizes such as Telegram Premium subscriptions.

Channel owners can also use Telegram to customize messages or post stories as the channel, depending on their level.

Channels have been used by governments and heads of state, including Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Emmanuel Macron.

Channels have also been used by journalists in oppressive regimes to establish independent news networks.

Bots are a crucial part of the Telegram experience. They can be used for moderation to prevent spam and unwanted activity in groups. Admins can choose to use bots to help manage their groups and channels.

Readers also liked: Best Bots Telegram

Bots can also be used for a variety of other purposes, such as creating giveaways and awarding prizes to channel members. Channel owners can use Telegram to create giveaways, randomly awarding channel members with prizes such as Telegram Premium subscriptions to their followers, based on certain criteria.

In 2020, a Telegram bot was blocked by Apple after posting deepfake pornography. In the same year, Telegram reportedly banned more than 350,000 bots and channels, including those that contained child abuse and terrorism-related content.

Some notable examples of bot abuse include a bot that sold the personal data of Ukrainian citizens, and a bot that sold leaked phone numbers from Facebook. In 2021, a bot was found selling leaked phone numbers from Facebook.

Here are some key facts about bots on Telegram:

People Nearby was a feature that helped users meet new friends by turning on phone GPS location and opting-in contacts.

It also allowed users to create a local group by adding location data to groups, known as Groups Nearby.

In 2024, the "people nearby" and "groups near me" features were removed due to issues with bots and scammers.

This removal had a significant impact on how users could connect with others in their area.

Stories are a fun feature on Telegram, allowing users to share short-form content. They're similar to stories on other social platforms.

You can post stories on Telegram using a dual-camera mode, which gives you more creative options. I've tried it out and it's really cool to see the different effects you can achieve.

One of the best things about Telegram stories is the extra privacy settings. You can choose who sees your stories, which is great if you want to share something with a specific group of friends.

If you make a mistake in your story, don't worry - you can edit it after posting. I've done this before and it's super helpful.

While watching a story, you can rewind or fast-forward it, which is really convenient. It's like having a remote control for your stories!

Telegram's default login process requires either an SMS message sent to the registered number or a code message sent to one of the active sessions on another device. This provides an additional layer of security to prevent unauthorized access.

Users can also set a two-step verification password and add a recovery email, making it even harder for others to access their account. The option to Sign in with Apple or Google, or with an email address, was added in late 2022.

A special service notification is sent and a login alert is displayed in the chat list of other devices whenever a new device logs in to a user's account. This feature helps users stay aware of suspicious activity.

To further protect their privacy, users can hide their "Last Seen" status, which reflects the last time they opened the Telegram app. This makes it harder for others to know when they're online.

Users can also choose to hide their phone number and profile photo from people based on categories such as Non-Contacts or by adding exceptions.

Related reading: Evernote Cancel Account

Logging into Telegram requires either an SMS message sent to the registered number or a code message sent to one of the active sessions on another device, with the option to set a two-step verification password and add a recovery email.

You can also log in using Sign in with Apple, Sign In with Google, or with an email address, options that were added in late 2022.

Whenever a new device successfully logs in to a user's account, a special service notification is sent and a login alert is displayed in the chat list of their other devices.

To hide your "Last Seen" status, which reflects the last time you opened a Telegram app, go to the Privacy and Security submenu of Settings and toggle the switch.

Hiding your "Last Seen" status will obfuscate the exact time of you being online and hide the statuses of other people respectively.

You can also hide your phone number and profile photo from people based on categories such as Non-Contacts or by adding exceptions.

On a similar theme: Itch Io Status

If you choose to hide your profile photo, you have the option of setting an alternative "Public Profile Picture" that will be shown instead.

In the Devices submenu, you can see all of the active devices on your account and remotely log out from those devices.

For encrypted chats, Telegram uses a custom-built symmetric encryption scheme called MTProto, which was developed by Nikolai Durov and other developers at Telegram.

MTProto 2.0, which was deployed in Telegram clients as of v4.6, is based on 256-bit symmetric AES encryption, 2048-bit RSA encryption and Diffie–Hellman key exchange.

The MTProto 2.0 protocol was formally proven correct in December 2020 by a team from the University of Udine, Italy, using the ProVerif verifier.

However, the team also stated that because all communication, including plaintext and ciphertext, passes through Telegram servers, and because the server is responsible for choosing Diffie–Hellman parameters, the "server should not be considered as trusted."

To protect yourself from a man-in-the-middle attack, always check the fingerprints of your shared keys.

You can adjust your auto download settings for media type and size, and even apply different settings based on chat type such as group, channel or private.

You can also clear your cache automatically once it reaches a certain size or a certain time passes, and see a visual representation of your storage usage to clear specific items.

Telegram's Open Network, or TON, was a blockchain platform developed by the company in 2017. It was designed to be a decentralized alternative to traditional payment systems like Visa and MasterCard.

The TON network was planned to be powered by Telegram's existing user base, with the goal of creating a platform for apps and services similar to WeChat, Google Play, and App Store. This would have allowed users to access a range of services without needing to use other social networks or messaging apps.

The development of TON was led by Nikolai Durov, the core developer of Telegram's MTProto protocol, and the project's codebase was developed in isolation. A private sale of futures contracts for Grams, the native cryptocurrency of TON, raised around $1.7 billion in 2018.

However, the launch of TON was delayed multiple times, and in October 2019, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) obtained a temporary restraining order to prevent the distribution of Grams to initial purchasers. The regulator considered the sale of Grams to be an unregistered securities offering.

Additional reading: Microsoft Mobile Services

Telegram has stated that it will never serve ads in private chats, focusing on public channels instead.

In late 2020, Pavel Durov announced that Telegram was working on its own ad platform, which would integrate non-targeted ads in public channels.

The company began displaying ads from its "Sponsored Messages" platform in channels with more than 1000 followers in October 2021.

These ads are displayed in the form of regular messages, and channel owners can earn Toncoin, Telegram's crypto currency, from them.

In June 2024, Telegram launched Telegram Stars, allowing users to make in-app purchases of digital goods and services.

This feature is in compliance with the App Store and Play Store's policies.

Telegram Stars have been used to unlock media in channels or buy gifts for other users.

In December 2024, Telegram CEO Pavel Durov announced that the company had reached profitability, thanks to growth in Premium subscriptions and Telegram ad sales.

Telegram takes security and user protection seriously, requiring a two-step verification process to log in, which can be enhanced with a password and recovery email.

Users have the option to hide their "Last Seen" status, phone number, and profile photo from certain groups of people, and Premium users can also restrict who can send them messages.

To add an extra layer of security, users can set up a recovery email and enable two-step verification with a password, making it harder for unauthorized access.

Additionally, users can remotely log out from all active devices on their account, and Premium users can restrict who can call them or invite them to groups and channels.

Telegram has taken action against bot abuse, banning over 350,000 bots and channels that contained child abuse and terrorism-related content in 2020.

Logging into Telegram requires either an SMS message sent to the registered number or a code message sent to one of the active sessions on another device.

Users have the option to set a two-step verification password and add a recovery email, which was a welcome addition in late 2022 with the options to Sign in with Apple and Sign In with Google or with an email address.

Related reading: Email Filtering

A new device successfully logging in to a user's account sends a special service notification and a login alert is displayed in the chat list of their other devices.

Hiding the "Last Seen" status in the Privacy and Security submenu of Settings obfuscates the exact time of the user being online and hides the statuses of other people respectively.

Users can hide their phone number and profile photo from people based on categories such as Non-Contacts or by adding exceptions, and when hiding their profile photo, they have the option of setting an alternative "Public Profile Picture".

The Devices submenu shows all of the active devices on a user's account and allows them to remotely log out from those devices.

Take a look at this: Google Photo Software

Censorship is a complex issue that affects many online platforms, including Telegram. The app has been blocked temporarily or permanently by governments like Iran, China, Brazil, and Pakistan, as well as Russia, although the ban was lifted in 2020.

In 2024, Apple removed Telegram from the App Store in China, and Ukraine banned government officials and military personnel from using the app on official devices due to concerns about Russian espionage.

The Russian government's ban on Telegram was lifted in 2020, but the company's founder wants to implement an anti-censorship tool to help users in Iran and China, similar to the tool that helped fight censorship in Russia.

Here are some examples of censorship incidents involving Telegram:

In some cases, censorship on Telegram has been criticized as a form of "private censorship" imposed by companies like Apple and Google, which have the power to dictate what content is allowed on their platforms.

You might enjoy: Censorship of Telegram

In March 2024, a judge in Spain temporarily blocked Telegram due to copyright infringement concerns.

The block was ordered following a complaint from media organizations Mediaset, Atresmedia, and Movistar Plus+, which claimed the app allowed users to share copyrighted content without their consent.

The same judge later suspended the order after facing repeated criticism.

A report on the consequences of the block was requested from the police before the judge could make a final decision.

The judge eventually annulled the order, deeming it "disproportionate".

The Send button lag in Telegram can be a frustrating experience, especially in group chats. This lag can tempt you to hit the button multiple times, causing your message to be delivered as many times as you hit Send.

In group chats, this can trigger Telegram's spam bot, which will restrict your account functionalities, claiming you're sending spam or unsolicited messages. This happened to me, and I was prevented from posting in the group for three days.

The spam bot's response is automatic and can't be appealed. There's no way to prevent this from happening except to wait it out.

Telegram has a history of shutdowns, particularly in 2021. The company suspended several bots spreading information about the Russian regional elections, citing election silence as the reason.

In September 2021, Telegram blocked the main Smart Voting bot, which was run by the opposition party and critics of President Vladimir Putin's government. This move was criticized by allies of Alexei Navalny, a Kremlin critic and former opposition leader.

The block was reportedly due to pressure from Google and Apple, which demanded the takedown of content related to Navalny. Telegram's CEO, Durov, even shared a screenshot of an internal email from the App Store to developers, highlighting the issue.

In September 2021, Telegram suspended several bots spreading information about the Russian elections, citing election silence as the reason. This move was criticized by allies of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny.

The main Smart Voting bot was blocked, and a tactical voting app was deleted from app stores. This led to accusations of censorship imposed by private companies.

Telegram's CEO, Durov, later stated that the block was a result of pressure from Google and Apple. He included a screenshot of an internal email sent by the App Store to developers, demanding the takedown of content related to Navalny.

Telegram was forced to comply with the policies of Apple and Google, or risk having its app shut down for millions of users. This highlights the power that tech giants have over smaller companies.

Here are some key points about the 2021 Russian bot shutdown: