The short answer
- 1Find people by contacts (phone number), by @username, or by QR code in person.
- 2Username searches show people you have not chatted with under Global search.
- 3Match the @username, not the name; without a username, a QR code expires in minutes.
In this article
Three ways to find someone
There are three ways to find a friend on Telegram. Which one you use depends mostly on whether you let the app see your phone's contacts when you signed up.
| Way | What you need | Best when |
|---|---|---|
| Contacts | Their phone number | The person is already saved in your phone |
| Username search | Their @username | You do not have their number, or they would rather not share it |
| QR code | Being in the same place | You are standing next to each other |
1. Through your contacts
The first time you open the Contacts tab on a phone, Telegram asks for access to your contacts.
- Continue uploads the names and numbers saved in your phone, and anyone among them who uses Telegram appears in the Contacts tab by themselves.
- Not now uploads nothing. You then find people with a username or a QR code, as below.
- Not now — nothing is uploaded; find people by username or QR instead
- Continue — your phone's contacts are synced with Telegram
To add one person by number instead, open New Contact (the round button with a person and a plus at the bottom right of the Contacts tab).
- Main menu (☰)
- Contacts
- Add Contact
- Contacts
- New Contact
- Contacts
- Add Contact
- Type a First name. Only the first name is required; the last name can stay empty. This is the name you will see, and the other person is not told what you called them.
- Under Phone number, check the country code, then type the number without the leading 0 that some countries use for local calls.
- Tap Create Contact. If someone uses Telegram with that number, you can message them straight away.
- First name (required) — how the person appears in your list
- Phone number — country code first, then the number
- Shown when nobody uses Telegram with that number
- Add via QR Code — scan instead of typing
- Create Contact
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As you type, Android already tells you whether the number is on Telegram. If it shows "This phone number is not on Telegram", there is an Invite link next to it.
2. By @username
Type the person's @username into the search box above your chat list (Search Chats on a phone, the search field at the top left on a computer). People who are not in your chats yet appear under Global search. Tap the profile, and you can send a message straight away.
A link in the form t.me/username, sent to you by the person, opens the same profile.
- Search Chats — type the @username
- Global search — accounts that are not in your chats yet
- Match the whole @username, not just the name
If your friend has no username yet, they can set one in a minute; choosing a name and username shows how.
3. With a QR code
When you are together, one person shows a QR code and the other scans it.
- Showing the code: on Android, open the Profile tab and tap the QR code button at the top left.
- Scanning: tap Scan QR Code on that same screen, or Add via QR Code in the New Contact sheet, and point the camera at your friend's code. Their profile opens and you can send a message.
- Countdown — without a username this code works only for a few minutes
- Share QR Code
- Scan QR Code — scan a friend's code
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An account without a username shows a countdown under its code; when we opened it, it started just under five minutes. The code only works until the countdown ends, so scan it straight away. With a username, the code points to the username and keeps working, which is why it is worth setting one before you hand your code to people. QR codes instead of your phone number goes further.
If your friend is not on Telegram yet
At the top of the Contacts tab, Invite Friends sends them a link to install the app, by text or through another app. Once they sign up you will see them in your contacts, if both of you allowed contact sync, or you can search for their username.
Common mix-ups when finding friends
| What you see | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Your friend is in your phone but not in Contacts | You chose Not now, or they limited who can find them by number | Ask for their @username and search for it. |
| Several accounts with the same name come up | Names are not unique; usernames are | Pick the one whose @username matches exactly. |
| The QR code stops working | An account without a username gets a code that expires | Open it again and scan within the countdown, or set a username first. |
Next step: sending, editing and deleting a message.
FAQ
How do I add someone by username?
Type their @username into the search box above your chat list and tap the profile under Global search.
I typed a phone number and my friend does not show up.
They may have limited who can find them by number, or have no account with that number. Ask for their username.
Why does my QR code show a timer?
Accounts without a username get a QR code that works only for a few minutes. Scan it in time, or set a username first.
Do I have to allow access to my contacts?
No. Choose Not now and find people by username or QR code instead.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Contacts by number
Sync your phone's contacts, or add one person with New Contact.
- 2Search the @username
Search Chats › Global search. Check the username letter by letter.
- 3QR code in person
Profile › QR code. Without a username the code expires in minutes.
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