The short answer
- 1An empty chat list has three common causes; the screen's wording tells them apart.
- 2'Welcome to Telegram' usually means a different number or account is open.
- 3'Folder is empty' means a folder tab; a blank list may still be loading.
In this article
Read what the empty screen says
An empty chat list after logging in can mean very different things, and the wording on the screen is the best clue:
| The screen says | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| Welcome to Telegram — "Start messaging by tapping…" (Android), or "You have no conversations yet." (iPhone) | This account has no chats at all. Often it is a new account, not the one you meant to open |
| Folder is empty — "No chats currently belong to this folder." | A folder tab is selected, and nothing matches it |
| A blank list with "Connecting..." or "Updating..." at the top | The app has not finished loading your chats |
"Welcome to Telegram": check which account you opened
This is the one to take seriously. If the account has no chats, you may have logged in to a different account from your usual one:
- A different number. Typing a second SIM's number, an old number or a mistyped one logs in to that number's account, and if it had none, Telegram creates a brand-new empty one. Check your profile: is the number the one your chats belong to?
- The wrong account on a multi-account app. If you added several accounts, you may be looking at another one. Switch accounts and look again.
- A deleted account. If the old account was deleted, by you or by the inactivity timer, its chats are gone and the number now opens a new account. See what happens to an inactive account.
"Folder is empty": switch to All Chats
If you use chat folders, the app may have opened on a folder rather than on All Chats. A folder for unread chats, for example, looks empty once everything is read. Tap the All Chats tab above the list, or swipe across the tabs to it. If a whole list seems to be missing, also open Archived Chats.
Blank while connecting: give it a moment
On a fresh login the app downloads your chat list from the cloud. On a slow connection the list can stay blank for a while, with "Connecting..." or "Updating..." at the top. Wait for that line to disappear. If it never does, the problem is the connection; see stuck on Connecting.
Older chats load as you scroll down, so a list that shows only recent chats at first is normal.
Only secret chats are missing
If most chats are there and only a few from another device are missing, those are probably secret chats, which never sync between devices. See phone chats missing on a computer.
Next step: 'Terminate all other sessions' doesn't work.
FAQ
Why is my Telegram chat list empty after logging in?
Usually you opened a different account, often on another number, or a folder tab is selected. A slow connection can also leave the list blank for a while.
Did logging in to the wrong number delete my chats?
No. It opened that number's account. Log out and log in with the right number.
Telegram says 'Folder is empty'. Where are my chats?
A folder is selected. Switch to the All Chats tab above the list.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Welcome to Telegram
Check the number on your profile and switch accounts.
- 2Folder is empty
Tap All Chats; check Archived Chats.
- 3Still loading
Wait for Connecting... to clear.
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