Telegram Mobile App Keeps Crashing or Is Slow

Try these first

Most crashes and slowdowns have simple causes. Work down this list and test after each step:

1. Update Telegram. Crashes are often fixed in the next version. See the app won't update.
2. Restart the phone. It clears memory held by other apps.
3. Free up storage. A nearly full phone makes every app slow and can make Telegram close while saving. Clearing Telegram's cache is safe; see clearing the cache.
4. Notice when it happens. If Telegram crashes only when opening one chat, one sticker pack or one video, the problem is that item, not the whole app.

Make an older phone faster: Power Saving

Animated stickers, emoji, effects and autoplaying video look good but cost processing power. On an older phone, turning some off makes Telegram noticeably smoother. On Android, open Power Saving from the Settings tab:

• Power Saving Mode switches the options off automatically when the battery drops below the level you set, or always if you move the slider to On.
• Power saving options let you turn off individual features: animated stickers and emoji, effects in chats, autoplaying videos and GIFs, and particles.
• Enable Smooth Transitions can be turned off to remove animations between screens.

If it keeps crashing

• Reinstall. Your chats are in the cloud and return when you log in. Before uninstalling, make sure you can log back in, and remember that secret chats on that phone are lost. See what logging out removes.
• Check the phone's system. A very old system can be unstable with new app versions. Update the phone if you can.
• Report it. Telegram's Settings has Ask a Question under Help for problems with the app.

Next step: Telegram Desktop looks blank or garbled.