Telegram is a messaging app built around speed, security and being free. It has over a billion active users and is one of the five most downloaded applications in the world.
What makes it different from the start
Your messages live with your account rather than with one handset, so you can be signed in on as many devices as you like at the same time and everything stays in sync. A new phone or a new laptop signs in and the entire history is simply there, with no backup to restore.
What you can do here
- Message anyone, and send files of any type up to 2 GB each.
- Build a group of up to 200,000 members, with real moderation tools.
- Run a channel and broadcast to an unlimited audience.
- Call with end-to-end encrypted voice and video, including group calls for up to 200 people.
- Be reachable by username, so people find you without knowing your number.
Where to start
- Set a username. It gives you a public link and keeps your phone number private.
- Turn on two-step verification under Settings, Privacy and Security. Do this before anything else matters.
- Add a sticker pack or two. The sticker directory is the fastest way to find good ones.
- Follow a channel. The channel directory lists verified ones by topic.
If a conversation needs to leave no trace anywhere, use a Secret Chat rather than an ordinary one. It is end-to-end encrypted, stays on the two devices, and can delete itself on a timer.
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