The short answer
- 1Telegram's own download page offers Windows users the installer and the portable version only.
- 2In the Microsoft Store, the real app is Telegram Desktop, published by Telegram Messenger LLP.
- 3Telegram for Windows (Unigram) is a different program that Telegram lists as unofficial.
In this article
Short answer: use the installer from the official site
Search the Microsoft Store for Telegram and several apps with similar names come up. Telegram's own download page, desktop.telegram.org, offers Windows users the installer and the portable version only, and does not send you to the Store. The install guides and menu paths on this site are written for that official installer.
Unless you have a particular reason to use the Store, follow how to install Telegram on Windows.
- Get Telegram for Windows x64 - the installer this site's guides are based on
- Portable version - runs from a folder without installing
Telegram in the Microsoft Store: check the name and publisher
Of the Telegram-related apps in the Store, the one Telegram publishes itself is Telegram Desktop. This is how to tell them apart, going by the Store listings when this page was checked.
| App name in the Store | Publisher shown | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Telegram Desktop | Telegram Messenger LLP | The desktop app, published in the Store by Telegram. |
| Telegram for Windows (Unigram) | Not Telegram | A different program, listed as an unofficial app on Telegram's own app page, telegram.org/apps. |
| Anything else named Telegram | Various | Do not install it. |
Store version vs installer: the differences
| Item | Official installer | Store Telegram Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Where you get it | desktop.telegram.org | Microsoft Store |
| Updates | Built-in automatic updates (how updates work) | Handled by the Microsoft Store |
| Where your data lives | %APPDATA%\Telegram Desktop | %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\TelegramMessengerLLP.TelegramDesktop_…\LocalCache\Roaming\Telegram Desktop UWP |
| Updater | Updater.exe sits in the install folder; once a new version has downloaded, Settings offers to update and restart | No updater in its install folder (WindowsApps) |
| Version without installing | Yes, the portable version | No |
| Account and chats | The same. Sign in with the same account and you see the same chats. | |
The Store lists Telegram Desktop with an 18+ age rating, so a family account with parental controls may not be allowed to install it from there.
If you already use the Store version
If it works for you, you can keep it. To switch to the official installer:
- Remove the Store version in Windows Settings › Apps.
- Download and run the installer from the official site (install steps).
- Sign in again from your phone. Regular chats are stored in the cloud, so they all come back. Secret chats belong to one device and do not move.
There is no reason to keep both on one computer. Keep one.
Common mistakes with the Store version
| What you see | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The menus do not match the guides on this site | A Store app other than Telegram Desktop was installed | Check the app name and publisher, and switch to the official installer. |
| Two copies of Telegram are installed | Both the Store version and the installer were installed | Remove one. Your account and chats stay as they are. |
FAQ
Is Telegram Desktop in the Microsoft Store official?
Telegram Desktop published by Telegram Messenger LLP is the app Telegram put in the Store. Telegram's download page itself points Windows users to the installer and the portable version.
Can I use Unigram?
Telegram's app page lists it as an unofficial app. This site only covers the official apps.
Do I lose my chats when I switch from the Store version to the installer?
No. Regular chats are in the cloud and come back when you sign in again. Secret chats are tied to one device and do not move.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Prefer the official installer
desktop.telegram.org: installer or portable. This site's guides follow it.
- 2Store: check the publisher
Telegram Desktop by Telegram Messenger LLP. Anything else is not Telegram.
- 3Same account either way
Updates and the data folder differ; your chats are the same.
Updated
