The short answer
- 1Reinstalling removes the app's copy, not your cloud chats.
- 2Chats and media return after login; secret chats do not.
- 3Missing chats usually mean a different number or a list still loading.
In this article
What comes back, and what does not
Reinstalling Telegram only removes the app and its copy of your data on that device. Your account and ordinary chats live in Telegram's cloud. What you see after logging back in depends on the kind of data:
| After reinstalling | Comes back? |
|---|---|
| Private chats, groups, channels, contacts | Yes, after you log in |
| Photos, videos and files in those chats | Yes, they download again when you open them |
| Secret chats on that device | No, they existed only on that device |
| Files you saved to the device's folders or gallery | Only if the uninstall did not delete them |
| Settings such as notification sounds and theme on that device | Some return with the account, some are per device |
Your chats are missing after logging in
- Check the number. Logging in with a different number opens a different, possibly new, account with an empty chat list. See the chat list is empty.
- Give it a moment. On a slow connection the chat list loads gradually. Wait for "Connecting..." or "Updating..." to clear.
- Check Archived Chats and folders. Archived chats stay archived after a reinstall.
- Missing only secret chats? That is expected; they cannot be restored. See missing secret chats.
Your downloaded files are missing
Media in chats is not lost: open the chat and it downloads again from the cloud. What can disappear is the copy that lived on the device:
- Android: files kept in Telegram's own folder are often removed with the app. Photos and videos you saved to the gallery usually stay.
- iPhone: deleting the app deletes its stored files; the cloud copies remain in the chats.
- Telegram Desktop: the default download folder, Downloads/Telegram Desktop, usually stays. If you chose the temporary download folder, it is cleared on logout or uninstall. See where desktop downloads go.
If a chat's media will not download again, the sender may have deleted the message. Media in deleted messages is gone for everyone.
Before you reinstall next time
- Make sure you can log in again: a code by SMS, login email or another device, and your Two-Step Verification password.
- Save anything from secret chats that you need.
- Move important files out of Telegram's own folders. For a full copy of your chats, Telegram Desktop can export your data.
Next step: is Telegram down, or is it just you?
FAQ
Did reinstalling Telegram delete my chats?
No. Ordinary chats are in the cloud and return when you log in with the same number.
Why are my secret chats gone after reinstalling?
Secret chats exist only on the device where they were started; reinstalling removes them for good.
Where are my Telegram files after reinstalling?
Media in chats downloads again when opened. Copies stored only in Telegram's folders may have been removed with the app.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Comes back
Chats, groups, channels, media in the cloud.
- 2Gone
Secret chats; files only stored in Telegram's folders.
- 3Next time
Check login, save secret chats, export if needed.
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