The short answer
- 1Premium lets you set a story to last 6 to 48 hours, write long captions with links and keep the viewer list.
- 2Stealth Mode hides your views from the last 5 minutes and the next 25 minutes.
- 3Others can watch quietly too, so post sensitive stories to a narrower audience.
In this article
Both posting and watching change
Anyone can post and watch stories for free; see how to post a story. Telegram Premium adds tools on both sides. When you post, you can choose how long a story lasts, write a long caption with links, keep the list of viewers after the story expires, and your stories appear first in the row. When you watch, Stealth Mode lets you view without leaving your name behind.
- Stealth Mode - hide that you viewed other people's stories
- Expiration Options - durations such as 6 or 48 hours
Opened from Settings › Telegram Premium by tapping the feature. This is Telegram's preview page; the setting itself lives where the steps below say.
What posting adds
| Option | What it does | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Expiration options | Instead of the default day, a story can last 6, 12, 24 or 48 hours | Short for a same-day notice, long for something meant to last the weekend. To keep a story for good, use keeping stories on your profile instead |
| Longer captions with links | Much longer captions, with formatting and links | Stories are skimmed, so the first line still does most of the work; for a clickable link, see the link widget in stories |
| Permanent View History | The list of who viewed and reacted stays after the story disappears | Checking reach after a short-lived announcement |
| Priority order | Subscribers' stories appear near the front of the stories row above the chat list | Being seen without asking for it |
What watching adds: Stealth Mode
Watching someone's story normally puts your name in their viewer list. Turning on Stealth Mode removes your views from the previous 5 minutes and keeps your name off the stories you watch for the next 25 minutes. It is a way to look quietly when you would rather not announce it.
Posting a story with these options
Stories are posted from the phone app. On Android, the story duration button sits to the right of the caption field in the story editor (24 by default); tap it to see 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours. You choose the audience on the next screen. In someone else's story, open the menu (⋮) and choose Stealth Mode.
- Open the story camera by pulling the chat list down or tapping the camera icon.
- Add the caption and any link. Put the point in the first line.
- Set the duration with the button next to the caption.
- Choose who can see it: everyone, contacts, close friends or selected people.
- When watching someone else's story, turn on Stealth Mode from its menu.
FAQ
How does Telegram Stealth Mode work?
It removes your story views from the previous 5 minutes and hides your name on stories you watch for the next 25 minutes. It needs Telegram Premium.
How long can a Premium story last?
Premium users can set 6, 12, 24 or 48 hours instead of the default day, or keep a story on their profile.
Can Premium users save a story that blocks saving?
No. The person who posts a story decides whether it can be saved.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Posting
Expiration options, long captions and links, permanent view history, priority order.
- 2Watching
Stealth Mode: 5 minutes back, 25 minutes ahead.
- 3Care
An empty viewer list proves nothing; choose the audience before posting.
Updated
