The short answer
- 1The language is set per device: Settings › Language on each phone and computer, and it changes instantly.
- 2Notifications live in Notifications and Sounds; to quiet one busy group, mute that group instead.
- 3On a PC, set the tray icon, launch at startup, interface scale and Night theme once.
In this article
1. Set the app language
Telegram picks its language from your system the first time it opens. If that is not the language you want, change it once on each device.
On a computer, before you sign in
When your computer is set to a language other than English, the Telegram Desktop welcome screen shows a short link under Start Messaging a few seconds after it opens. It reads "Continue in" followed by your system language, and one click switches the whole app. The same choice is in Settings at the top right of the login screen.
- Language — the app language on this computer
- Show tray icon, Show taskbar icon — where Telegram sits while it runs
- Default interface scale — turn it off to set your own size
- Themes — Night is the dark one
This panel is reachable from the login screen (Settings, top right), so you can set it up before you sign in. After you sign in, the same options live under Settings.
After you sign in
- Main menu (☰)
- Settings
- Language
- Settings tab
- Language
- Bottom Settings tab
- Language
- Chat Settings — text size, theme, Night Mode
- Notifications — opens Notifications and Sounds
- Devices — every device logged in to this account
- Language — the language of this app on this phone
- Settings tab in the bottom bar
- Language — pick the app language; the change is instant
- Translate Messages — a separate feature for translating chats
The change is instant, and no restart is needed. The language is stored on the device, not in your account: switching it on your computer leaves your phone as it was. On Android the same screen also holds Translate Messages, which translates other people's messages. That is a separate feature and does not change the app language.
On a Mac, the native Telegram app keeps its settings in the menu bar instead of a ☰ menu. See the two official Telegram apps for Mac if you are not sure which one you have.
2. Choose how notifications reach you
Sounds, pop-ups and badges are set in one place. On a computer you can turn Desktop notifications and Play sound on or off, and choose Flash the taskbar icon when a message arrives while the window is in the background. On a phone the switches are split into private chats, groups and channels.
- Main menu (☰)
- Settings
- Notifications and Sounds
- Settings tab
- Notifications
- Bottom Settings tab
- Notifications and Sounds
- Private Chats, Groups, Channels — tap a row for sound and preview options
- Stories and Reactions — usually fine to leave as they are
If one busy group is the problem, leave these switches alone and mute that group instead. Muting a single chat keeps everything else working as before.
3. PC tray icon and launch at startup
Telegram Desktop decides how it sits in Windows under System integration. These are the options you are most likely to change in the first week:
- Open Main menu (☰) › Settings › Advanced.
- Find the System integration section.
- Turn on Launch Telegram when system starts if you want it ready every morning, and add Launch minimized so it starts without opening a window.
- Show tray icon keeps an icon in the notification area at the right end of the taskbar. It is on from the start.
- Show taskbar icon keeps Telegram on the taskbar as well, like any open program.
With the tray icon on, closing the window does not quit Telegram; it keeps running so messages still arrive. To quit for real, right-click the tray icon and choose to quit. If you use the version that runs from a folder, see running Telegram without installing it.
4. Adjust text size and the dark theme
On a computer, Default interface scale sits on the main Settings screen and starts at 100%. Turn it off and move the slider to enlarge text and icons together. On a phone you change only the size of message text, and the preview above the slider shows the result as you drag.
- Main menu (☰)
- Settings
- Default interface scale
- Settings tab
- Chat Settings
- Message text size
- Bottom Settings tab
- Appearance
- Text Size
- Message text size — drag; the preview below changes as you go
- Color theme — the light themes
- Switch to Night Mode — the dark theme
For a dark screen, pick the Night theme. On a computer the themes are in Chat Settings, and the main menu (☰) has a quick Night Mode switch. On Android, Chat Settings has Switch to Night Mode; on iPhone, open Appearance. Phones also have Auto-Night Mode, which switches to the dark theme for you on a schedule or with the system.
5. Check which devices are signed in
When setup is done, look once at the list of devices signed in to your account. Anything you do not recognise can be signed out from there straight away.
- Main menu (☰)
- Settings
- Privacy and Security
- Active sessions
- Settings tab
- Devices
- Bottom Settings tab
- Devices
The computer you just set up should be at the top of that list. For what each entry means and when to end a session, see managing your active sessions.
Common first-day mistakes
| What you see | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The computer is in your language but the phone is not | The language is set per device | Open Language on the phone and pick it there too. |
| No language link on the welcome screen | It appears a few seconds later, and only when the system language differs | Wait a moment, or use Settings at the top right of the login screen. |
| Closed the window but Telegram is still running | The tray icon keeps it alive | Right-click the tray icon and quit, or turn off Show tray icon. |
| Everything went silent after one noisy group | Notifications were turned off for all groups | Turn group notifications back on and mute only that group. |
FAQ
Does Telegram need a restart after changing the language?
No. The new language applies the moment you pick it, on both the computer and the phone.
If I change the language on my computer, does my phone change too?
No. The language is a setting of each app on each device, so set it on every device you use.
Why is Telegram still running after I close the window?
The tray icon keeps it running so messages still arrive. Right-click the tray icon to quit, or turn off Show tray icon under Settings › Advanced › System integration.
How do I make the text bigger in Telegram?
On a computer, turn off Default interface scale and move the slider. On Android use Chat Settings › Message text size, and on iPhone use Appearance › Text Size.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Language on every device
Settings › Language. Changing it on the computer leaves the phone as it was.
- 2Notifications and Sounds
Desktop notifications and Play sound on a PC; to quiet one group, mute only that group.
- 3Screen and startup
Default interface scale, Night Mode, and Launch Telegram when system starts.
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