The short answer
- 1A bot can send a group message that only you and the bot see; Android labels it 'Only visible to you'.
- 2Some bot commands are ephemeral too, hidden from other members and other bots.
- 3These messages expire and may not arrive if you're offline, so copy anything you need.
In this article
Messages in a group that only you can see
A bot in a group can send a message that only one person sees. Telegram calls them ephemeral messages, and Android labels them "Only visible to you". According to Telegram's bot documentation they are "visible only to a specific user and the bot": the rest of the group does not see them in the chat.
Telegram's announcement gives the reasons: greetings for someone who just joined, a private AI summary you asked for, error and confirmation notices, and menus with buttons. All of these would otherwise clutter the group for everyone else.
Commands only the bot receives
A bot can also mark some of its commands as ephemeral. They are highlighted with a special icon in the bot menu, and when you send one, the documentation says it is "completely invisible to other group members and other bots". The answer comes back to you privately. This only works for bots built to support it; if a bot replies with a normal message, everyone in the group sees it.
Who sees what
| Who | Sees the private message? |
|---|---|
| You, the person it was sent to | Yes |
| The bot that sent it | Yes, and so can whoever runs the bot |
| Other members of the group | No |
| Other bots in the group | No, for commands you send this way |
Why they disappear
These messages are not part of the group's history the way normal messages are. They expire after a while, and the bot can also delete them earlier. The developer documentation adds that delivery is not guaranteed, "especially if they are offline". So if a private reply contains a link or instructions you need, copy them somewhere else right away. If it is gone, send the same command again.
Related bot behaviour in groups
- Asking a bot that isn't a member: guest bots.
- What an added bot can read from the group: what a bot in your group can read.
- Checking a bot before you trust it: finding bots you can trust.
FAQ
Who can see a Telegram bot message that says 'Only visible to you'?
Only you and the bot that sent it. Other members of the group do not see it.
Why did a bot's private message in a group disappear?
Ephemeral messages expire after a while and the bot can delete them earlier. Send the command again if you need it.
Is a private bot message in a group safe to trust?
Not automatically. If it asks for a login code, password or payment details, stop; no one else can see it to warn you.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Who sees
You and the bot; not other members.
- 2Lifetime
They expire; delivery isn't guaranteed.
- 3Caution
No one else can warn you about them.
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