TELEGRAM FAQ [ Time Code in Description]

This FAQ provides answers to basic questions about Telegram.
Check out our Advanced FAQ for more technical information

General

What is Telegram? 0:08
Who is it for? 01:15
How is it different from WhatsApp? 02:38
How old is Telegram? 04:13
Is it available on my device? 04:56
Who are the people behind Telegram? 04:56
Where is Telegram based? 04:25
How do you make money? 06:06
What are your thoughts on internet privacy? 06:35
What about GDPR? 07:01
Do you process takedown requests? 07:57
Do you process data requests? 09:11

Telegram Basics

Who can I message? 11:40
Who can message me? 11:55
Who has Telegram? 12:22
Inviting friends 12:34
What do the check marks mean in Telegram? 13:23
Can I hide my 'last seen'? 13:50
Who can see me 'online'? 14:34
What is 'People Nearby'? 15:22
Can I delete my messages? 16:34
Voice, Video and Group calls 17:16
Using emoticons 17:46

Groups and Channels

What makes Telegram groups cool? 18:10
How are channels and groups different? 20:07
Creating a group 20:04
Adding members and using Invite Links 22:00

Usernames and t.me

What are usernames? How do I get one? 22:34
How does t.me work? 23:08
What can I use as my username? 23:34
Do I need a username? 23:53
Will people know my number? 24:13
How do I delete my username? 24:32
What do I do if my username is taken? 24:45
What if someone is pretending to be me? 25:28

Security 25:37

How secure is Telegram? 25:44
How do you encrypt data? 26:32
Why should I trust you? 27:11
Do I need to trust Telegram for it to be secure? 27:55
What if my hacker friend doubts you? 28:08
Can Telegram protect me against everything? 28:46
How does 2-Step Verification work? 29:47

Secret Chats 31:10

What is a secret chat? 31:14
Starting a secret chat 32:14
Using the self-destruct timer 32:41
Screenshot alerts 33:25
Encryption key picture 34:00
Why not make all chats 'secret'? 34:50

Your Account 36:30

Who can see my phone number? 36:34
I have a new phone number, what do I do? 37:00
Log out of Telegram 37:58
Change your phone number 39:07
Delete your Telegram account 39:34
How does account self-destruction work? 40:57
My phone was stolen. What do I do? 41:23

Bots 43:35

How do I create a bot? 43:40
How do I get rid of a bot? 43:52
Are bots safe? 44:40
Where can I get more bots? 46:15

Deeper Questions 46:28

Can I get Telegram's server-side code? 46:30
Can I use my own server? 47:33
Can I use the Telegram API? 48:00
Do you have a Privacy Policy? 48:18
What does the iOS privacy sheet mean? 48:24
Why do you have two apps in the Mac App Store? 48:37
Can I translate Telegram? 49:31
Can I help? 50:31
Passport 50:50

Troubleshooting 51:32

SMS, login, register 51:34
Getting a login code via a phone call 51:51
Getting codes via Telegram 52:13
Notification problems 52:55
Problems with contacts 54:31
Deleting contacts on Android 55:28
Secret Chats 55:52
Can't send messages to non contacts 56:16
Telegram uses the camera or microphone in the background 56:36