The short answer
- 1A frozen account is read-only after reports from other users.
- 2The details window shows a deadline: appeal before it, or the account is deleted.
- 3Appeal with Submit an Appeal, which opens @SpamBot.
In this article
What a frozen account is
If a bar at the top of your chat list says Your account is frozen! with "Tap to view details and submit an appeal.", your account has been frozen. Telegram's FAQ explains that this happens when an account is restricted because of reports from other users. Instead of deleting the account straight away, Telegram puts it in a read-only state:
| While frozen | Allowed? |
|---|---|
| Open the app and read your chats | Yes |
| Send messages, post or take other actions | No: "You can access your account but can't send messages or take actions." |
| What appears in a chat | "Your account is frozen" and "Tap to view details" in place of the message box |
Read the three lines, and note the date
Tapping the bar opens Your Account is Frozen, with three short points:
- Violation of Terms: "Your account was frozen for violating Telegram's Terms of Service."
- Read-Only Mode: you can read but not act.
- Appeal Before Deactivation: "Appeal via @SpamBot before [a date], or your account will be deleted."
That date is your deadline. Write it down. At the bottom are two buttons: Submit an Appeal and Understood. "Understood" only closes the window; it does not appeal.
How to appeal
- Tap the bar at the top of the chat list, or "Tap to view details" inside a chat.
- Check the date, then tap Submit an Appeal. A chat with @SpamBot opens.
- Follow the bot's questions. It works in English. Say briefly and factually what you did and did not do.
- Wait. According to the FAQ, Telegram's moderators review the case, and if the restriction was a mistake, the account is unfrozen.
Open @SpamBot only from the appeal button or by typing its name in search, and check the verified mark. Never open it from a link someone sent you.
Frozen is not the same as limited
| Spam limit | Frozen account | |
|---|---|---|
| What is blocked | Starting chats with people who have not saved your number | Sending anything to anyone |
| How you notice | "Sorry, you can only send messages to mutual contacts at the moment." | A bar at the top of the chat list |
| How long | Telegram's spam FAQ says a first limit most likely lasts a few days | Until an appeal succeeds, or the account is deleted at the deadline |
| Where to go | @SpamBot; see mutual contacts only | Submit an Appeal, then @SpamBot |
Why accounts get reported
Telegram's spam FAQ says reports are checked by human moderators, and lists what people report: messaging strangers with anything they find unwelcome, unsolicited ads, links, invite links and random photos, anything about commerce or online popularity, adding people to groups and channels they did not want, and spam in groups. If your account was frozen right after signing up, the FAQ notes that some numbers trigger a harsh response because of a previous owner's activity or because they are virtual numbers. Explain that in your appeal. See recycled numbers.
If the deadline passes
If no appeal is made by the date shown, the app says the account will be deleted, and its chats cannot be restored. If you appealed in time and heard nothing, see contacting Telegram support.
FAQ
What does 'your account is frozen' mean on Telegram?
The account was restricted after reports from other users. You can read chats but cannot send messages until an appeal succeeds.
How do I unfreeze my Telegram account?
Tap the frozen bar, note the deadline, tap Submit an Appeal and answer @SpamBot. Moderators review it.
What happens if I don't appeal a frozen Telegram account?
The app says the account will be deleted after the date shown in the details window.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Frozen
Read chats, but send nothing.
- 2Deadline
Write down the date; Understood does not appeal.
- 3Appeal
Submit an Appeal > @SpamBot; never pay anyone.
Updated
