The short answer
- 1Privacy and Security › Messages decides who can start a new chat with you.
- 2Messages outside the range never arrive, and people you message first can still reply.
- 3If strangers need to reach you, split accounts, use a bot or charge Stars instead.
In this article
Refused before it arrives
There is a setting that decides who can start a chat with you at all. Telegram Premium subscribers can limit new chats to their contacts and other Premium users. Messages from anyone outside that range never arrive: no chat, no notification, nothing to delete. It is the bluntest tool on the privacy screen, and the most effective one for anyone with a public username. The full privacy setting, for every account, is covered in stopping strangers from messaging you.
Blocking happens after someone has reached you. This happens before. That difference matters most to the people who get the most unwanted messages: anyone whose username appears in public groups, channels, marketplace posts or job ads. Scraping usernames from a public group and messaging everyone is very cheap, and this setting is what makes it fail.
Whether restricting messages helps your account
| Account | What fits |
|---|---|
| Username visible in public places | Restrict. Large public groups and channels get usernames scraped; limiting messages stops almost everything that follows |
| Private, mostly friends and family | Fine either way; strangers rarely find you. The quieter alternative is to auto-archive new chats from unknown users; see auto-archiving chats from strangers |
| You sell, hire or take bookings | Restricting hurts you: the person who read your ad is also a stranger. Split business onto another account or a bot instead, or charge Stars for messages from non-contacts; see charging Stars for messages |
| Spam from people already in your contacts | This setting is not the answer; block them |
- My Contacts and Premium users - new chats from anyone else are refused
- Charge for Messages - let strangers write, for a fee in Stars
Setting it up
- Main menu (☰)
- Settings
- Privacy and Security
- Messages
- Settings tab
- Privacy and Security
- Messages
- Bottom Settings tab
- Privacy and Security
- Messages
- Open Messages in Privacy and Security. It is separate from blocking.
- Ask whether strangers need to reach you before restricting anything.
- Under "Who can send me messages?", choose Contacts and Premium if your username is public and you have no reason to stay open.
- Point to another route in your bio: a channel, comments or a bot.
- Message first when you want a reply. That opens the door for that person.
FAQ
What happens when a stranger messages me after I restrict messages?
The message is refused before it arrives, so no chat or notification appears on your side.
Can people I message first still reply?
Yes. The restriction applies only to new chats started by others.
Should I restrict messages if I sell things on Telegram?
Usually not. Use a separate account, a bot or paid messages so buyers can still reach you.
Sources
At a glance
- 1What
New chats limited to contacts and Premium users.
- 2Effect
Refused before arrival: no chat, no notification.
- 3Trade-off
Also stops buyers and honest strangers.
Updated
