The short answer
- 1Logging out keeps your cloud chats; they come back when you log in again.
- 2Secret chats on that device are lost for good, and stay on the other person's phone.
- 3Most reasons to log out have a better tool: clear cache, passcode, or end a session remotely.
In this article
The short answer
Logging out of Telegram on one device does not delete your chats. Ordinary chats, groups and channels live in Telegram's cloud, and they come back as soon as you log in again, on that device or any other. What you lose is only what existed on that device alone.
| After you log out | What happens |
|---|---|
| Private chats, groups and channels | Kept in the cloud; they return when you log in |
| Your contacts, account and memberships | Unchanged |
| Secret chats on this device, with all their messages | Gone for good. Logging out "deactivates all Secret Chats" |
| Photos and files downloaded to this device's cache | Removed from the device; they can be downloaded again from the cloud |
| The app's passcode lock on this device | Removed with the session; set it again after logging back in |
| Other devices where you are logged in | Not affected |
You probably do not need to log out
Telegram's FAQ says most users never need to. The reasons people log out usually have a better tool, and on iPhone the app lists these alternatives before letting you go:
| You want to | Do this instead |
|---|---|
| Free up space on your phone | Clear the cache in Data and Storage; your media stays in the cloud |
| Use a second number | Add another account and switch between them |
| Stop others opening Telegram on a shared device | Set a passcode lock in Privacy and Security |
| Move to a new number | Change the phone number on your account; everything moves with it |
| Fix a problem with the app | Contact support; "logging out doesn't usually help" |
| Log out a device you no longer have | End that session from Devices on another device |
That last one matters: you do not need the lost or borrowed device in your hand. Checking active sessions shows how to end it remotely.
Where Log Out is
- Main menu (☰)
- Settings
- ⋮
- Log Out
- Settings tab
- ⋮
- Log Out
- Bottom Settings tab
- Edit
- Log Out
- Log Out - opens a page of alternatives first; nothing happens until you confirm there
The app then asks you to confirm and warns that logging out deactivates all secret chats. Nothing happens until you confirm.
Before you log out, check these
- Can you log back in? You will need a code: on another logged-in device, by SMS or by login email, plus your Two-Step Verification password if you set one. If you are unsure, see the login checklist first.
- Do any secret chats matter? They cannot be restored. Save what you need from them before logging out.
- Are you the only admin somewhere? Logging out does not remove you from groups or channels, so nothing changes for them. Only deleting your account does that.
If an inactive account is what worries you, see what happens to an inactive account. Next step: when you lose your phone.
FAQ
Does logging out of Telegram delete my messages?
No. Cloud chats stay and return when you log in again. Only secret chats on that device are lost.
Are secret chats deleted for the other person when I log out?
No. Telegram's FAQ says to clear the secret chat's history first if you want it removed on their device too.
How do I log out of Telegram on a phone I no longer have?
End that session from Devices on another logged-in device; you do not need the phone.
Sources
At a glance
- 1Kept
Chats, groups, channels, contacts, memberships.
- 2Lost
Secret chats, this device's cache and passcode.
- 3Instead
Clear cache, add an account, set a passcode, end sessions in Devices.
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