Note: I keep updating the article by exploring the new features introduced in recent updates. So, save the page in your bookmarks as the good stuff keeps coming.
Telegram tips and tricks for messagingMake the most of video or voice calls in TelegramTricks to master Telegram’s Voice Chat featuresTricks to edit and send media in Telegram ChatsDo more with TelegramTricks to personalize your Telegram accountHow to handle Telegram notification like a proHacks to secure your Telegram account
Telegram tips and tricks for messaging
Telegram is a befitting iMessage alternative; you can talk one-on-one or with a group of up to 200,000 members. And if you want to send a message across to a broader audience, you can also broadcast a message to unlimited audiences. As for features, Telegrams proudly boasts all the basics, from replies, mentions, hashtags, etc., to some unique tricks like secret chat, edit text even after sending, silently deliver messages, and more. So, let’s get on with them without further delay.
1. Start an encrypted secret chat
Secret chats are encrypted and have a bunch of unique features like – timer-based disappearing messages. Also, messages in a Secret Chat cannot be forwarded or saved. If the other person takes a screenshot, you are notified of it.
2. Broadcast messages using a Telegram channel
Alongside the usual format of groups, Telegram also boasts ‘channels.’ Thanks to it, you can broadcast messages to several (unlimited) people. The messages are sent not in your name but the channel’s name. Further, only the admin can send messages to subscribers of this group. For example, I have created a Telegram channel named ‘iGB Announcements.’ When I send a message here, all the channel subscribers are notified. See the steps and screenshots below for more.
3. Send disappearing messages and media
Earlier, Telegram restricted this feature to Secret Chats, but now, you can add a self-destructing timer to a message, photo, or video in normal chats. However, I am disappointed with Telegram for its complicated steps. You’ll have to long-press any message in the chat, tap Select → Clear Chat → Enable Auto Delete, and then select the timer. Check out this article for a detailed guide on setting an auto-delete timer for both normal and secret chats.
4. Send voice or video messages
It’s the era of short-form videos. And while Telegram is miles away from stories or shorts concept (thankfully), it offers a fun way to share snippets from your day. You can share live high-resolution videos or voice messages with a tap. Here’s how: When you record, the audio from the device keeps playing. So, you can sing along or reply without pausing the podcast. And while the circular frame looks quite interesting initially, it cuts out quite a lot of frames.
5. Select and copy a part of the text in Telegram
There are several instances where we only need to copy a portion of a long message. This happens a lot with me, and sadly, it isn’t supported by WhatsApp or Instagram. Telegram seems to be one app that makes it effortless.
6. Edit sent Telegram messages
Sent a message with a tiny error? No problem. You can edit Telegram messages in both normal and group chats for up to 48 hours. Note:
7. Schedule Telegram messages on iPhone
Want to wish Happy Birthday to your friend precisely at 12 am but feeling sleepy? Schedule a Telegram message! Easy. Note: To see scheduled messages, tap the tiny clock icon inside the message typing box.
8. Use inline reply in Telegram groups
Like iMessage, WhatsApp, etc., Telegram also lets you reply to a specific message in group chats. When several people are chatting, you can use an inline reply to convey your thoughts regarding a particular message. For this, long-press a message and tap Reply. Next, type and send the message.
9. Send silent Telegram messages on iPhone
You have the power to send a message to your friend, siblings, or colleague without disturbing them with message notification or vibration. One of the many unique features of Telegram! It is perfect when you know your contact is studying, sleeping, or in a meeting, and you understand that it is best not to bother them with your text. Now, when the recipient opens their Telegram app, they will see your silent message.
10. Delete received messages from the sender’s phone
You can delete the message you send from your or the receiver’s device. I bet you already knew this. But did you know? Telegram (unlike other messaging apps) lets you delete even the received message from both your and the sender’s phone.
11. Instantly correct mistakes while forwarding messages
This happens even to the best of us; we sometimes select the wrong chat when forwarding messages. Telegram has a neat and quick way to correct it:
12. Pin important chats on top
13. Organize Telegram chats into folders
Most chat apps like WhatsApp and Signal have one screen where all your chats are displayed. This gets confusing when you have several conversations ongoing with different contacts – friends, family, colleagues, business, etc. This is where chat folders come in to help you organize. Let me show you how to create and use them. Note: Chats added to folders are listed under All Chats as well. Besides, deleting a chat folder does not delete the conversations.
14. Bookmark messages on iPhone
Make the most of video or voice calls in Telegram
Telegram is sort of a jack of all trades. Besides hosting a fantastic messaging system, it also sports solid group video call and voice chat features. A solid contender for FaceTime and Zoom, the video calling feature currently allows up to 1000 viewers on a group call and promises to increase that limit over time. Notably, the video is only available for the first 30 people; the rest join in as voice chat participants.
15. Make a voice/video call on Telegram
16. Hide your name during a voice or video call
Interestingly, if you want to remain anonymous during the call, you can choose to display the group’s name. Simply tap Display Me As and select the options.
17. Schedule voice/video chat in Telegram
Tap the Schedule Voice Chat option and select a suitable date and time. The app will inform you and other group members about the time remaining. If you want to prepone the meeting, tap Start Now or Share icon to invite other participants. Note: You can’t schedule video calls.
18. Share your screen during a call in Telegram
You can also tap the camera to switch the video source. The latest update brings screen sharing to one-on-one calls and supports sound from your device when broadcasting.
Tricks to master Telegram’s Voice Chat features
While the video calls boast a participant limit, Telegram offers a limitless voice chat option. The Clubhouse alternative allows channel and public group admins to host voice chats for millions of live listeners. Telegram has also introduced improved suppression options in a recent update to enable precise and crisp audio quality.
19. Record your voice/video call on Telegram
Oh yes, Telegram can do that as well! Now, you understand why I called it a worthy video calling app for iPhone. Tap the three-dot icon → Start Recording → Give a title and tap Done. As soon as the recording finishes, You can access the audio file from the Saved Messages section. All recorded chats are marked with a red light next to the title to inform all participants. Notably, Admins can now create separate invite links for speakers and listeners. This way, you won’t have to play, mute/unmute, or keep a vital guest mute when they join.
20. Edit voice call permissions for participants
You can decide whether to mute new participants initially, or they can speak as soon as they join. Tap the three-dot icon → Edit Permissions → Select an option. Note: If you are a participant, you can raise your hand to ask for permission to speak. The admins will be notified and can allow/reject your request accordingly.
Tricks to edit and send media in Telegram Chats
A significant part of any messaging app is sharing media, and Telegram has some exciting tricks up its sleeve in that department.
21. Send images, videos, or documents without compression
One of the nicest and neatest features of the app. When sharing media, you don’t have to worry about compression or change in the media extension.
22. Add animated stickers to images and videos
Note: This will convert your still image into GIF, which may decrease the quality.
23. Add timestamps to videos
Want to highlight something in a video? Send it to your group or friend with a timestamp, and the video will play from that point. Pretty nice, right? Furthermore, you can also maintain the timestamp when forwarding a message. Press and hold the timestamp in the message to copy the link and share it in any other chat.
24. Edit videos before sending on iPhone
Telegram offers a robust video editing tool that lets you play with the clip before sending it. There are several functions like cropping, writing on it, adding stickers, adding text, changing resolution, tweaking brightness, contrast, saturation, etc., and much more.
25. Manage video playback speed
Whether you are screening a movie, home video, Ted Talk, or something, Telegram gives you the freedom to watch it at your speed. The built-in media player supports 3 playback speeds 0.5x, 1.5x, and 2x. When watching a video on fullscreen, tap the three-dot icon and select the preferred speed.
Do more with Telegram
You can send text, voice chat, or video messages; voice or video call with tons of people together. And you can even edit and share videos, images, music, and more. Remarkably, Telegram wears all this hat and some more; let’s explore some additional, quirky, and unique features.
26. Polls and Quiz mode
Whether deciding upon a holiday spot in the family group or fishing for a consensus within your professional group, Telegram can help you in all scenarios. You can create 3 kinds of Telegram Polls. To create a poll: Telegram also supports Quiz Bots, which lets you create and share multi-question quizzes. You can add text, images, tables, stickers, graphs, and more before the question to pep up the quiz.
27. Take advantage of various Telegram bots
From sending GIFs (@gif), YouTube videos(@youtube), Wikipedia page (@wiki), IMDb page (@imdb) to music (@music), or stickers (@sticker), these bots make sharing content a breeze.
28. Add nearby people in Telegram
This helps find people and groups nearby when you are at an event, concert, etc.
28. Set reminders in Telegram
29. Share live location
Note:
To stop: Tap the live location → Stop Sharing Location.You cannot share live location in a secret chat.
30. Use #hashtags to manage chats better
When you prefix a word with #, it becomes a searchable hashtag. Tap it, and you will see all the conversations with this tag.
31. Use Slow Mode for better group management
If you are bombarded with very persistent messages in a group, or if some member is spamming or misbehaving nonstop, you can enable Slow Mode. This will ensure that each member has to wait for the set time before sending the next message. It is pretty handy, and you must try it out once.
32. Move chat history from other apps
While you are free to use multiple messaging apps, it might get exhausting. So, if you want to pack all your baggage from other apps like WhatsApp, Line, and Kakao Talk and move to Telegram, the app facilitates that. Check this guide for a detailed tutorial on how to transfer WhatsApp messages to Telegram. Amazingly, you don’t necessarily have to move all this data onto your device. All the messages and media can be saved over Telegram’s cloud without hampering your access to them.
33. Use multiple Telegram accounts
In a country like India, most people have two SIM cards for work and personal use. Telegram lets you add and use up to 3 accounts with different phone numbers inside the same app (on the same phone).
34. Change phone number in Telegram
If you have shifted to a new number, follow the steps explained above and tap Change Number. Your account, messages, media, contacts, etc., will move to the new number.
Tricks to personalize your Telegram account
35. Change the appearance of your chat window
You can also set animated backgrounds for your chats. These algorithmically generated, multi-color gradient wallpapers move when you send a message. To enable it, go to Appearance →Chat Background.
36. Set video as your Telegram profile picture
Note: The video plays only when a person goes to your Telegram profile on their phone.
37. Hide your last seen on iPhone
For more details go through our detailed guide: How to hide the last seen status on Telegram
38. Pick a desired but unavailable username
After you set a username, the app lets people find you with this username without needing your phone number. You can share a t.me link, and people can message you there. For this, go to Telegram Settings and tap Set Username. Next, if the username of your choice is not available, you may contact Telegram support. However, before you do that, you must be using that username on at least two other services (like, say, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, etc.) To contact Telegram support volunteer:
39. Self-destruct your Telegram account in case of inactivity
How to handle Telegram notification like a pro
Notifications are a massive part of messaging apps; after all, if you don’t receive an alert, how would you know that someone has messaged you. But at the same time, they can be very distracting and irritating, and Telegram has some solutions for that.
40. Turn off the ‘joined Telegram’ notification on iPhone
41. Disable notification for a specific person
Hacks to secure your Telegram account
When the whole controversy of WhatsApp privacy arose, Telegram saw a massive boost. All thanks to its secure and almost transparent policies. But that’s not it., the app incorporates some potent security features into the mix, such as:
42. 2-step verification
It’s always better to be safe than sorry. This step will ensure your account is doubly secure; you’ll be asked for a one-time code (sent to your registered number) whenever you log in from a different device. For a step-by-step guide on how to enable 2FA on Telegram, check out this article.
43. Lock Telegram chats on iPhone
44. Prevent yourself from being added to groups
45. Turn off message preview
If you do not wish to preview new incoming messages on the lock screen or in notifications, Telegram offers a quick way to turn previews off.
46. Forward messages anonymously
A smart step to secure your privacy by restricting who can forward your messages. Plus, the setting also prevents someone from tracking the forwarded message back to you. They only see an unclickable name in the “from” field, keeping your account away from their reach. You can also add individual users or groups as exceptions to this rule; select Add Users under the Exceptions section. There are a few reasons that make me fall in love with Telegram. And the most potent one of them all is the sheer amount of features and tools it boasts. Here are some of the most helpful Telegram tips and tricks I have found till now. But as Telegram always promises, there is much more to come. So, keep revisiting this article for updates and step-by-step introduction to newer Telegram features. Are you a social butterfly with an addiction to messaging apps? Here are some articles you’ll love.
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