12 Useful Telegram Features You Should Use If You Haven't Used It Yet
Here are the best Telegram features you need to know to get the most out of the app.
Whatever your reason for using Telegram, it's a solid messaging app. It makes a great alternative to WhatsApp and SMS messaging, and Telegram is worth using, especially if you can convince your friends to join.
However, if you haven't gone beyond the basics, you're missing out on many of the best Telegram functions. Below we detail some lesser-known features of Telegram that you may have overlooked by now.
1. Move Phone Numbers or Add a Second Number
Have you ever had to change your phone number and worry about transferring all your contacts and other information to the new number? While that's a lot of work, Telegram does it all for you. You can easily change the phone number linked to your account without losing your chats or contacts.
To change the number you use with Telegram, open Settings (on Android it's in the left menu). On iPhone, tap Edit in the upper right corner in the next menu. This step is not required on Android.
Then select Change Number and follow the instructions. This will migrate all messages, clients and media to your new mobile number. Also, Telegram will automatically add your new number to all your contacts' address books.
If you want to add a second number instead of porting it, Telegram also allows you to use multiple accounts at the same time. For Android, in the left sidebar, tap on your contact information to expand the account switcher and select Add Account. On iPhone, tap Edit on the profile page and select Add Another Account.
You can use this, for example, to keep your personal and professional lives separate on Telegram without having to use another messaging app.
2. Upload Multiple Profile
Pictures to Telegram Speaking of floors, Telegram allows you to upload additional profile photos. While the last photo is the profile picture your contacts will see, they can swipe to see your other pictures.
To upload new profile pictures, open Settings. Tap the camera icon in the top right on Android. Tap the Edit button on iPhone and select Set New Photo or Video.
You can take a new photo, upload an existing photo, search the web for a new image (Android), or remove your existing photo.
Tap your profile picture here to see everything you've uploaded in the past. You can navigate between them; To set an old picture as your current profile picture, tap the Set as Main Photo option that appears in the top right menu (three dots on Android or Edit on iPhone).
3. Try Secret Telegram Chats
Even though all Telegram chats are client-server encrypted, the default chats are still stored on Telegram's servers. This conveniently lets you access your messages from multiple devices, but can raise privacy concerns.
You can create secret Telegram chats that use end-to-end encryption for maximum privacy. These are not stored on Telegram's servers, so you can only access them with your own phone. If either party deletes a message, the message disappears on both devices. And if you want, you can set a self-destruct time for all environments.
On Android, swipe out the left menu and select New Secret Chat to start a new one. Open a chat on iPhone, tap the person's name at the top, select More, then press Start Secret Chat.
4. Customize Telegram's Appearance
You can set color and background in Telegram. If you want, you can even create your own custom theme to make Telegram look exactly the way you want.
To set the theme, go to Settings > Chat Settings on Android or Settings > Appearance on iOS. Here you can change the text size, balloon colors, night mode settings and so on. Select Chat Background to set a new wallpaper for your groups.
Tap the three dots button (Android) or go to Chat Themes (iOS) and select Create new theme to create your own theme. If you don't like any of the default options, you can create your own look here.
Even better, with Cloud Themes you can share your custom themes using a link (or try themes created by others). If the owner updates the theme, anyone using it via that link will see the changes. Long press on a theme and select Share so others can use it.
To find more themes, Android users can try Themes for Telegram. If you're using an iPhone, have a look at the Telegram Themes subreddit.
5. Use Telegram Bots
Like many communication apps, Telegram includes chatbots. Bots add useful functionality both on their own and in your chats; they can do everything from checking the weather to playing games.
There are thousands of bots on Telegram. We've ranked them and selected the best Telegram bots you should use.
6. Enable Automatic Night Mode
Do you enjoy using both light and dark modes? Telegram has automatic night feature so the app won't blind you at night.
To use it, go back to Settings > Chat Settings (Android) or Settings > Appearance (iOS) . Select Auto Night Mode to choose how it works.
You will have four options to choose from:
- System Default (Android) or System (iOS): Matches the theme to the current mode of your operating system.
- Scheduled: Night mode will start when the sun goes down and turn off when the sun rises again. If you want, you can set your own times for it to turn on and off.
- Adaptive (Android) or Auto (iOS): The mode changes automatically according to the light level around you; You can define the threshold.
- Disabled: Turn off automatic night mode and always use the selected theme.
This page also lets you choose your preferred night mode theme.
7. Mute Contacts and Groups If
you're part of many Telegram chats—perhaps you've joined too many of the best Telegram channels—they can quickly become frustrating. When this happens, you can always mute a conversation without leaving it. This way you can check on your own terms instead of getting a ping for every new message.
On Android, tap the three-dot Menu button at the top right of any Telegram chat and select Mute notifications. On iOS, tap the person or group name at the top of the screen and select Mute. You can then choose to mute the chat for various times or forever.
8. Share Your Live Location
Sharing your location helps others monitor your progress to a destination or take care of your safety. Open a chat in Telegram, tap the paperclip button and select Location to share.
You can choose to share your current location or live location. Send My Current Location will provide a one-time update on where you are. As you can see in the image below, the app allows you to manually change this before submitting, so don't blindly trust the locations. In addition to manually selecting a point on the map, you can also select a nearby place from a list.
Share My Live Location constantly updates that chat for the period you specify. Be careful not to give too much information when using it.
9. Connect with a Proxy Server
If you want to use Telegram in a region where it is blocked, you will appreciate the Telegram function that allows you to connect through a proxy server. Often times, it's better to use a VPN on your phone, but a proxy can still help you bypass regional restrictions.
To use a proxy server in Telegram, open Settings > Data & Storage > Proxy Settings. Enable Use Proxy and you have to fill in all the required information to add it. You can find server information for this online if needed.
10. Use Telegram Chat Tools
Telegram offers a few more useful options in chats. You can delete any message by long pressing on it and then pressing the Trash icon that appears. The application allows you to delete messages at any time, including messages that the other person sent in the chat.
Telegram also supports hashtags. If you tap a hashtag, you can search for it in all your activated chats. This makes it easier for you to find messages in the future or categorize information for yourself.
Another great option in groups or channels is to be able to pin messages. Tap a message and select Pin to keep it at the top of the conversation so anyone can easily refer to it.
There is also a hidden menu that appears when you long press the submit button. Select Schedule message to postpone sending to a future time. You can also tap Send When Online to send the message the next time the other person is active on Telegram. Finally, if you don't want to disturb the other person, select Send silently to transmit the message silently without notification to the other party.
Not all of Telegram's great features are that serious, though. If emojis aren't enough, check out how to make your own Telegram stickers.
11. Take Control of Telegram Privacy and Security
You may want to make your account more private, as Telegram allows you to interact with people even if you're not on each other's contacts. To change privacy options, go to Settings > Privacy & Security. Here you can change who can see your phone number, active status and more.
Telegram also includes useful security options in this menu, which differ slightly in name on Android and iPhone. Use Password Lock to prevent people from reading your chats. You can review all Active Sessions and end sessions you no longer use.
And under Advanced you can change how long inactivity should pass before Telegram automatically deletes your account. See ways to increase your security on Telegram for a more comprehensive review.
12. Save Messages You Want to Access Anywhere
Next time you want to move a piece of media from one device to another quickly, Telegram will help you. Saved Messages chat is your own personal cloud scrapbook to keep track of information you can access from any device you are logged into Telegram.
To save a message from anywhere in Telegram, tap it, select Forward and select Saved Messages to add it instantly. You can also paste text, links, images and anything else you want from other sources.
This is incredibly useful for following an important URL, importing an image to another device without cloud storage, or keeping track of important information. Tap the title bar at the top to browse by media type and make it easier to find past messages you've saved.
Use These Cool Telegram Features to Become a Professional With
these features, you are ready to become an advanced Telegram user and enjoy all the benefits of the app. There are many little touches around the app that make it enjoyable to use, so you can find even more.
Telegram is a great all-around messenger, especially when you start using its best features and know all it can do.
