The short answer
- 1'New message' without text means content is hidden on purpose.
- 2Causes: previews off, passcode lock on, a secret chat, or the phone's preview setting.
- 3Only previews and the phone setting are yours to change freely.
In this article
Telegram hides the content on purpose
A notification that says only "New message", "You have a new message" or "… sent you a message" is not broken. Telegram, or your phone, has chosen not to show the text. There are four common reasons:
| Reason | What you see | Change it? |
|---|---|---|
| Message previews are off in Telegram | "… sent you a message" or a sender name with no text | Yes, turn previews on |
| Telegram's passcode lock is on | Sender "Telegram" and the text "New message" (Android), or "You have a new message" (iPhone) | By design while the app is locked |
| It is a secret chat | "You have a new message" | No, secret chat content never appears in notifications |
| The phone hides previews | Text appears only after unlocking, or never | Yes, in the phone's notification settings |
Turn message previews on
- Main menu (☰)
- Settings
- Notifications and Sounds
- Show message preview
- Settings tab
- Notifications
- Private Chats
- Show Message Previews
- Bottom Settings tab
- Notifications and Sounds
- Message Preview
Private chats, groups and channels each have their own preview switch, so a group can show text while private chats do not. Telegram Desktop also has Show sender name next to the preview option.
The passcode lock hides text, and that is the point
If you set a passcode lock in Telegram, notifications stop showing who wrote and what they said: on Android they come from "Telegram" with "New message". That protects the content from anyone who sees your screen. If you want previews back, you have to choose between them and the passcode lock. See what the passcode lock protects.
Secret chats never show content
Messages in secret chats are end-to-end encrypted and only readable inside that chat on your device, so their notifications always say only "You have a new message". There is no setting to change this, and that is intentional.
The phone's own preview setting
On iPhone, Settings, Telegram, Notifications, Show Previews can be Always, When Unlocked or Never. On Android, the lock screen setting under Notifications may hide sensitive content. Both apply on top of Telegram's switches. iPhone details are in iPhone badges or previews not showing.
Next step: notified, but the message isn't there when you open it.
FAQ
Why do Telegram notifications say only 'New message'?
Previews may be off, Telegram's passcode lock may be on, it may be a secret chat, or the phone hides previews on the lock screen.
How do I show message text in Telegram notifications?
Turn on Show Message Previews in Telegram's notification settings, and allow previews in the phone's settings.
Why are secret chat notifications always hidden?
Secret chats are end-to-end encrypted; their notifications only say you have a new message.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Previews
Show Message Previews per chat type.
- 2Passcode lock
Hides sender and text while on.
- 3Secret chats
Never show content in notifications.
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