The short answer
- 1Updating... at the top is a connection status while new messages load, not an app update.
- 2Update check failed :( on a PC means Telegram cannot reach the internet; check that first.
- 3If it still fails, install the latest version over the top; your login stays.
In this article
"Updating..." at the top is not an app update
Many people see Updating... at the top of Telegram and assume an app update has frozen. That line is actually a connection status: Telegram is fetching new messages from its servers. It has nothing to do with the app version.
| Device | Connection status shown at the top |
|---|---|
| Android | Waiting for network... → Connecting... → Updating... |
| iPhone, iPad and Mac | Waiting for Network → Connecting... → Updating... |
| Windows and Linux (Telegram Desktop) | Connecting... · Reconnect in … s... |
If it flashes and disappears, all is well. If it stays, look at your internet connection first, not the app; stuck on Connecting… goes through that in order. This page covers the case where the desktop app itself will not update.
When the PC says "Update check failed :("
If you click Check for updates in Settings and the line under Update automatically turns into Update check failed :(, Telegram could not reach its update server.
- Update check failed :( - Telegram could not reach its update server
- Connection type - here it never connects
- Check for updates - try again once the connection is back
Reproduced by pointing the app at a proxy that does not exist; the same message appears when the internet or a firewall blocks Telegram.
- Check the internet connection. See whether other websites open in your browser.
- Look at Connection type. If it stays at Default (connecting...) in Settings, Telegram itself is not connected. Unless you use a proxy on purpose, leave it on the default.
- Check your security software. Make sure an antivirus or firewall is not blocking Telegram's internet access. Allow Telegram in it rather than switching the protection off.
- If nothing helps, install the latest version over the top. Download the current installer from the official site and run it without uninstalling first. Installing over an existing copy keeps the tdata folder, which holds your login, so you stay signed in.
Where Check for updates is and what the other status lines mean are in how to update Telegram.
When the PC cannot connect at all
If not only the update check but your messages have stopped too, the connection itself is down. Telegram Desktop then shows Reconnect in … s... with a Try now link at the bottom left of the window, counting down to its next attempt.
Swipe to see more ›
- Reconnect in … s... and Try now - Telegram has no connection at all
If Try now changes nothing, this is a connection problem, not an update problem. Stuck on Connecting… also covers proxies and the network.
When the phone app will not update
Phones are updated by the Google Play Store and the App Store. If the store will not update Telegram, or the app warns that your version is too old, see when the mobile app won't update.
Common mistakes when an update seems stuck
| What you see | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Updating... stays at the top | It is the connection status, and the internet is unstable | Switch networks and reopen the app. |
| Update check failed :( | Telegram cannot reach the internet | Check the connection and your security software, then try again. |
| You uninstalled because it would not connect | Reinstalling rarely fixes a connection problem | Install again, sign in, and check the internet connection first. |
FAQ
Does Updating... mean I have to update the app?
No. It means Telegram is fetching new messages. If it stays for long, check your internet connection.
Should I uninstall and reinstall when the update fails?
Try installing the latest version over the old one first. Uninstalling removes the login on this PC, so you would have to sign in again.
My Telegram Desktop shows Reconnect in a few seconds and Try now. Is that an update problem?
No. It means Telegram has no connection at all. Check the internet, your security software and Connection type in Settings.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Updating... is the connection
It shows while messages load. If it stays, check the internet.
- 2Update check failed
Telegram cannot reach its server: network, Connection type, security software.
- 3Install over the top
The latest official installer over the old copy keeps you signed in.
Updated
