If you’re looking to chat with friends and family, Telegram is a reliable cross-platform option, allowing Android, iOS, Windows, MacOS, and Linux users to hang out and communicate. Compared to some other chat options, Telegram places a heavy focus on privacy and security, making it a solid choice for your digital life. If you’re diving into Telegram, here are a few tips and tricks to allow you to get the most out of your experience.
Are you looking for other secure ways to chat with friends? Be sure to check out our article looking at the best encrypted messaging apps for iOS and Android.
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Organize your chats
If you use Telegram often, you might find that you have a seemingly endless list of chats, but if you feel as though you are becoming buried, there is a better option. Telegram allows you to create folders so that you can organize your conversations. For example, you may choose to create a folder to house all your personal chats and a separate folder for school or work. To create folders in Telegram, follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Open the Telegram app on your smartphone or tablet.
Step 2: Using the navigation bar, head to the Settings screen.
Step 3: Tap on Chat Folders.
Step 4: Select Create New Folder to create your first folder.
Step 5: Enter a folder name, then tap the + Add Chats button to add any of your existing conversations to the folder.
Step 6: Tap the Create button to finish the process.
Now, when you head back to your Chats tab to view your conversations, you will see the ability to view All Chats at the top of the screen, as well as your specifically created folders.
Edit sent messages
If you’ve accidentally sent a message with an error in it, don’t panic; in Telegram, there is a way to edit messages that have already been sent. If you want to delete a message completely, you can also do so with only a few clicks; here’s how:
Step 1: Open the Telegram app on your smartphone or tablet.
Step 2: Enter the chat in which you want to alter a message.
Step 3: Hold down your finger on the chat bubble that you wish to alter until the context menu appears.
Step 4: Select Edit to change the message or Delete to remove it from the conversation altogether.
Reply to specific messages
If you’re in a busy chat, it might be difficult for others to determine which message you are sending a reply to, but Telegram has a trick to make everything easier. Within Telegram chats, you can specify which message you are replying to, and Telegram will make it clear to others in the group. Follow these steps to respond to a specific message:
Step 1: Open the Telegram app on your smartphone or tablet.
Step 2: Enter the chat that you wish to reply to.
Step 3: Hold down your finger on the chat bubble that you wish to reply to.
Step 4: Select the Reply button, then type your message as usual.
Step 5: Send your message.
Adjust your app theme
Everything is a bit more awesome when it’s customizable, and Telegram makes it easy for your to change the app’s visual theme. It’s a cinch to make Telegram feel personal, from selecting light or dark mode to accent color themes.
Step 1: Open the Telegram app on your smartphone or tablet.
Step 2: Using the navigation bar, head to the Settings screen.
Step 3: Tap on the Appearance menu setting.
Step 4: From here, you can select your chat color, chat background, text size, and how rounded your message bubbles appear.
Step 5: If desired, press the + button in the upper right corner to create a New Theme; this way, you can switch between a few presets as often as you want.
Copy message text
If you receive a message with information that you wish to copy and paste into another app, you can use this Telegram trick to precisely select precisely what you want. Follow these steps to copy message text with the drag of a finger.
Step 1: Open the Telegram app on your smartphone or tablet.
Step 2: Enter the chat that you wish to copy text.
Step 3: Hold down your finger on the chat bubble that you wish to copy text.
Step 4: With the context menu open, hold your finger down on the displayed chat message, and drag your finger back and forth to select text.
Step 5: Once selected, tap the Copy button that appears.
Schedule messages
Don’t want to send a message right away? With Telegram, you can schedule when a message is sent within a group; this could be useful to remember to check in on someone or ensure a message is only sent when the recipient will see it. To schedule a message, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Telegram app on your smartphone or tablet.
Step 2: Enter the chat that you wish to send a message.
Step 3: Type in your message as usual.
Step 4: Hold down on the Send button and select Schedule Message.
Step 5: Select the date and time you wish the message to be sent; you can also choose to send the message when someone comes online.
If you wish to alter or delete a scheduled message, click on the Clock icon that appears within the chat bar; this will only appear if you have a message scheduled. Next, edit or delete the message as you would any standard message.
Create group polls
Can’t decide on whether to grab a pizza, sushi, or Indian food later with friends? Easily create a poll within any of your group chats for quick decision making. Anyone within the group can then see the poll results as they are voted. Here’s how to create a poll:
Step 1: Open the Telegram app on your smartphone or tablet.
Step 2: Enter the group chat that you wish to create a poll.
Step 3: Tap the Attachment icon (shown as a paperclip) next to the Message bar.
Step 4: Choose the Poll option.
Step 5: Enter your poll question and any voting options; tap Add an Option to include additional voting choices.
Step 6: If desired, toggle to make voting anonymous, allow multiple answers, or turn on Quiz Mode in which users can’t revoke their answers.
Step 7: When finished, tap the Send button.
Keep your chats secure
Telegram is an excellent option for keeping your messages between friends, family, and coworkers secure. If you’re concerned about ‘big brother’ listening in or merely don’t want others to view your messages, here are two ways to keep your chats safe when chatting with others on Telegram:
Turn on Secret Chat mode
Secret Chat mode allows you to create a chat that utilizes user-to-user encrypted messages, meaning that they are not stored on Telegram’s servers. While Telegram’s standard user-to-server encryption will be enough for most people, this method gives you an extra level of added security.
Step 1: Open the Telegram app on your smartphone or tablet.
Step 2: Tap on the contact you wish to create a Secure Chat.
Step 3: With the chat open, tap on the contact’s name at the top of your screen.
Step 4: Tap the More bubble option.
Step 5: Choose Start Secret Chat.
Lock secure messages
Another way to keep your Telegram messages secure is to lock the app; this way, you must first enter a PIN or use biometric authentication when you want to view your conversation.
Step 1: Open the Telegram app on your smartphone or tablet.
Step 2: Using the navigation bar, head to the Settings screen.
Step 3: Tap on the Privacy and Security menu setting.
Step 4: Choose either Passcode Lock or Passcode & Face ID.
Step 5: Tap Turn Passcode On and enter the PIN you wish to use.
Step 6: If desired, choose when Telegram Auto-Locks your conversations.
