The short answer
- 1A Telegram account has no setting for choosing a country.
- 2What looks like your country comes from your phone number's country code.
- 3To move countries, change your number; to change the words on screen, change the language.
In this article
There is no country setting
A Telegram account has no setting where you pick a country. Almost everything in Telegram that looks like "your country" comes from the country code of your phone number, such as +1 for the United States or +44 for the United Kingdom. So "changing your country" means something different depending on what you actually want to change.
What you want to change, and what to do instead
| What you want | What to do |
|---|---|
| Move your account to a number from another country | Use Change Number in Settings. Chats, groups and contacts stay with the account; see how to change your phone number |
| See the app in another language | Choose it under Language in Settings. It has nothing to do with country and can be changed any time (path below) |
| The sign-up or login screen shows the wrong country | Tap the country name on the phone number screen and pick another, or type the code yourself; see 'Invalid phone number' |
| The country shown on a stranger's first message | That card shows the country of the other person's number. It is not something you or they can edit; see checking a stranger's first message |
| The currency of Premium or Stars prices | In the store apps it follows your Google or Apple account. Through @PremiumBot, the first Premium price follows your phone number's country code |
| Message times show another country's time | Telegram follows the time zone of your phone or computer. Fix the date and time in the device settings |
Where to change the app language
- Main menu (☰)
- Settings
- Language
- Settings tab
- Language
- Bottom Settings tab
- Language
- Language — pick the app language; the change is instant
- Translate Messages — a separate feature for translating chats
The language is stored on each device, so changing it on a computer leaves your phone as it was. For a first setup, see how to change the language in Telegram.
Things a country switch would not fix
People often look for a country setting because they heard that "changing your country" unlocks a channel that cannot be shown to them. Since there is no country setting, changing the language or buying a number from another country is not a reliable way around that. Why the message appears, and what you can do, is covered in 'This channel can't be displayed'.
Before you move to a foreign number
Your account is tied to one phone number. If you move it to a number you later lose, getting back in becomes hard, because login codes go to that number. Do not use virtual numbers sold by strangers: they are often reassigned, and the seller can still receive your codes; see sign-up blocked with a virtual or foreign number. Whatever number you use, turn on Two-Step Verification so the number alone is not enough to take over the account.
FAQ
Can I change my country in Telegram?
No. There is no country setting. What Telegram shows as your country comes from your phone number's country code.
How do I move my Telegram account to a number from another country?
Use Change Number in Settings. Your chats, groups and contacts stay with the account.
Why are Telegram Premium prices in another currency?
Store prices follow your Google or Apple account. Through @PremiumBot, the first price follows your number's country code.
Sources
At a glance
- 1No setting
Country comes from the number's code, not a menu.
- 2Instead
Change Number, Language, or the device time zone.
- 3Careful
Avoid strangers' virtual numbers and keep 2-Step Verification on.
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