The short answer
- 1Premium lets any folder be the default tab instead of All Chats.
- 2New chats from non-contacts can be archived and muted automatically.
- 3Both sort rather than refuse, so look through the Archive weekly.
In this article
Two settings that shape the chat list
Telegram Premium adds two chat management tools that change what you see every time you open the app. First, any folder can become the default tab instead of All Chats. Second, new chats from people who are not your contacts can be archived and muted automatically. Neither deletes or refuses anything; both decide what gets your attention first.
- Advanced Chat Management - the feature as Telegram describes it in Settings › Telegram Premium
Opened from Settings › Telegram Premium by tapping the feature. This is Telegram's preview page; the setting itself lives where the steps below say.
The detail for each is in its own guide: setting a default chat folder and auto-archiving chats from strangers. Premium also raises the folder and pinned chat limits; see Premium's doubled limits.
What each tool changes
| Tool | What it does | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Default folder | The app opens on the folder you choose, such as people you talk to, instead of the busiest list | Anyone whose All Chats is dominated by channels and large groups |
| Archive and mute new chats from non-contacts | Strangers' first messages arrive silently in the Archive. They are still delivered; you just are not interrupted | Anyone with a public username who still wants to be reachable |
Setting both up
- Build the folder you want to land in first, for example one that includes people and excludes channels; see folders with rules.
- Move it to the front in Settings › Chat Folders by dragging it above All Chats.
- Open Privacy and Security and turn on the option to automatically archive and mute new chats from non-contacts.
- Open the Archive once a week and move anything genuine back into your chats.
FAQ
Can I make Telegram open on a folder other than All Chats?
Yes, with Telegram Premium. Drag the folder above All Chats in Chat Folders.
Does auto-archive block messages from strangers?
No. They are still delivered, just archived and muted.
Where is the auto-archive setting?
In Privacy and Security, as the option to automatically archive and mute new chats from non-contacts.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Default folder
Open the app on the folder you care about most.
- 2Auto-archive
Strangers' first messages go silently to the Archive.
- 3Habit
Check the Archive about once a week.
Updated
