The short answer
- 1Check the official address, desktop.telegram.org, and the browser's downloads list (Ctrl + J) first.
- 2A partly downloaded file says The setup files are corrupted and has no signature; delete it and retry.
- 3Still stuck: use another official route, such as the portable version, the Store or Telegram Web.
In this article
Check these first when the download won't start
- Are you on the official site? Telegram Desktop comes from desktop.telegram.org. When you click the button, the address switches to td.telegram.org while the file downloads; both are Telegram's own.
- Has it already downloaded? In your browser, press Ctrl + J to open the downloads list. The Windows installer is saved to your Downloads folder with a name like td-setup-win-x64- followed by the version number and .exe.
- Does the downloads list show it as failed? Then try again in the order below.
When the download stalls or is very slow
- Download it once more. Cancel the stalled download and click the button on the official site again. A brief connection hiccup is the usual cause, and this fixes most cases.
- Try another connection. If the Wi-Fi is slow, switch to a different network or a cable.
- Try another browser. Open the same address in Chrome, Edge or Firefox, whichever you were not using.
- On a work or school network, downloading programs may be blocked on purpose. Do not try to get around it; ask the IT team.
It downloaded but will not run: an incomplete file
A file whose download was cut short can look normal, but running it brings up the error below. We reproduced it by keeping only the first part of the official installer.
- The setup files are corrupted - the download was cut short; delete it and download again
Reproduced with a copy of the official installer cut short on purpose. On a non-English Windows the box title and OK button appear in your system language.
An incomplete file also loses its digital signature, because the signature is attached at the very end of the file. Right-click the file and open Properties: if there is no Digital Signatures tab, the file is incomplete or not an official one. Checking that an installer is genuine shows how to read that tab.
Either way the fix is the same: delete that file and download it again from the official site.
Still stuck? Other official ways to get Telegram
If the main button on the official site keeps failing, these are also provided by Telegram.
| Route | Where | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Portable .zip | Portable version on desktop.telegram.org | Unzip and run, nothing to install. Portable version |
| Official repository releases | github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop | The release list in Telegram Desktop's official repository. Older versions and supported systems |
| Microsoft Store | Telegram Desktop by Telegram Messenger LLP | The Store downloads and installs it. Store version or installer |
| Telegram Web | web.telegram.org | Nothing to download; use it in the browser. Telegram Web |
When the phone app will not download
Android gets Telegram from the Google Play Store, and iPhone and iPad from the App Store. If the store install does not progress, check the phone's free storage and internet connection first. On Android you can also install the APK from the official site instead (installing the Telegram APK).
Common download mistakes
| What you see | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "The setup files are corrupted" | The download was cut short | Delete the file and download it again from the official site. |
| You cannot find the downloaded file | Its name starts with td-setup, which is easy to miss | Press Ctrl + J in the browser to open the downloads list. |
| You downloaded it from a site you found in search | It is not an official file | Delete it and download from desktop.telegram.org. |
FAQ
Nothing happens when I click the download button.
Your browser may have blocked the download. Look for a notice next to the address bar or in the downloads list (Ctrl + J), and try another browser.
The download fails only at work.
The office network may block program downloads. Do not work around it; ask your IT team.
A download portal is faster. Can I use it?
No. It may serve a fake installer. Use only the official routes.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Official site and Ctrl + J
td.telegram.org is official too; the file is td-setup-win-x64-…exe.
- 2Corrupted means incomplete
No Digital Signatures tab either. Delete it and download again.
- 3Other official routes
Portable .zip, the GitHub releases, the Microsoft Store, Telegram Web.
Updated
