The short answer
- 1A profile warning means that person uses an unofficial Telegram client.
- 2Messages to them may be less secure, so don't send codes, passwords or ID photos.
- 3Only apps on telegram.org/apps are official; check your own app and your device list.
In this article
What the warning on a profile means
Telegram lets anyone build their own Telegram app with its open API. These are called third-party or unofficial apps. When a person uses one, Telegram now shows a warning on their profile: "uses an unofficial Telegram client — messages to this user may be less secure."
The warning is about the app, not about you and not about the person. It means Telegram does not vouch for the software your messages pass through on their side. Official apps publish their source code, and anyone can check that the store version was built from it; see open source and reproducible builds. Nobody checks that for a third-party app. Where it stores messages and whom it sends them to depends on whoever made it.
What to do when you see it
- Don't send sensitive things. Login codes, passwords, photos of ID or bank cards, and card numbers should never be sent to anyone, and even less to someone whose app is unverified.
- Secret chats depend on both apps. End-to-end encryption is done by the apps at each end, and Telegram cannot vouch that an unofficial app does it correctly; see secret chats.
- If you know the person, ask. Ask outside Telegram which app they use, and suggest an official one.
The official apps
Only the apps on Telegram's official list at telegram.org/apps are official. An app with a similar name that is not on the list is third-party.
| Device | Official app | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Android | Telegram | Google Play, or the APK on telegram.org |
| iPhone and iPad | Telegram | App Store |
| Windows, Mac, Linux | Telegram Desktop | desktop.telegram.org |
| Mac | Telegram for macOS | Mac App Store |
| Web | Telegram WebK and WebA | web.telegram.org |
The same page lists some apps separately as unofficial, such as Unigram for Windows. For where to get a genuine installer, see fake Telegram APKs and modified apps and checking that an installer is genuine.
Check which app you are using
On PC, the bottom of the main menu shows Telegram Desktop and its version. On Android, scroll to the very bottom of Settings, where an official app shows "Telegram for Android" and its version. On iPhone, the name of the app appears under This device in Devices.
- The app you are using — an official Android app says Telegram for Android
Also check that no unofficial app is quietly logged in to your own account. The list of signed-in devices names the app for each session. If you see an app name or a device you don't recognise, end that session.
- Main menu (☰)
- Settings
- Privacy and Security
- Active sessions
- Settings tab
- Devices
- Bottom Settings tab
- Devices
- The app on this phone
- Every session names the app it was logged in with
- Telegram Desktop — the official computer app
If something there is unfamiliar, see what to do if an account was hacked.
FAQ
What does 'uses an unofficial Telegram client' mean?
The person uses a third-party app built with Telegram's API, so Telegram cannot vouch for how it handles messages.
Is someone with the unofficial client warning a scammer?
Not necessarily. The warning is about their app. Judge the person by the conversation, and don't send them sensitive details.
How do I know if my Telegram app is official?
An official Android app shows Telegram for Android at the bottom of Settings, and Devices lists the app for every session.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Warning
About their app, not about you or their intent.
- 2Official
Only the apps listed at telegram.org/apps.
- 3Your account
Devices shows the app behind every session.
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