Complete Guide to Using Telegram: From Beginner to Pro

Are you looking for a powerful, privacy-focused, and free communication app? Then Telegram is definitely worth a try. Launched in 2013, this cloud-based instant messenger has rapidly gained popularity worldwide thanks to its unique sync capabilities, rich group/channel features, and excellent privacy protection.

What is Telegram?

Telegram is a free, cloud-based messaging app. This means all your messages are synced in the cloud, allowing you to use it simultaneously on your phone (Android or iPhone), tablet (iPad), and computer (Mac or PC), with messages syncing seamlessly across all devices. This differs from some other messaging apps you might be familiar with.

How to Download and Install Telegram?

Downloading Telegram is straightforward:

Official Website: Visit telegram.org to find download links for all platforms.
App Stores: Android users can find it in the Google Play Store, while iPhone or iPad users can search for “Telegram” in the Apple App Store.

Registering and Setting Up Your Telegram Account

The first time you open Telegram, it will ask you to enter a phone number for registration and verification.

Enter Phone Number: Select your country and enter your phone number. Telegram will send you an SMS verification code.
Verify Account: Enter the SMS code you received.
Fill in Personal Information: Enter your first and last name, and choose whether to add a profile picture.
Sync Contacts: It’s recommended to allow Telegram access to your contacts so you can quickly find which of your contacts are already using Telegram.

Once these steps are complete, you’ll be in the main Telegram interface!

Telegram’s Core Features: Chats, Groups, and Channels

Telegram’s interface is intuitive and simple, with three main options at the bottom: “Contacts,” “Chats,” and “Settings.”

1. Starting a Chat

To start a new chat, tap the chat icon (usually a pencil or message bubble icon) in the top right corner of the main interface. You’ll see your contact list.

Search for Contacts: Type a contact’s name in the search bar at the top.
New Contact: If a contact isn’t in your phonebook, tap “New Contact” and enter their phone number and name to add them.
Invite to Join: If the person doesn’t have Telegram yet, you can choose “Invite to Telegram,” and the system will automatically generate an invitation message that you can send via SMS.

2. One-on-One Chat Features

Once in the chat interface, you can perform various actions:

Send Text Messages: Type your message in the input box at the bottom and tap the send button (paper airplane icon).
Send Media Files: Tap the “paperclip” icon to choose from:
- Photos and videos (can be cropped, rotated, flipped, and edited)
- Files (any type of file)
- Location information
- Other contact information
Send Emojis and GIFs: Tap the smiley face icon to send various emojis, stickers, and GIF animations.
Send Voice/Video Messages: Tap the microphone icon and hold to record a voice message; tap again to switch to recording a video message.
Voice and Video Calls: In the chat interface, tap the contact’s profile picture to go to their profile page, where you can initiate a “Voice Call” or “Video Call.” During calls, you can switch cameras, mute, etc.
Manage Media Files: On the contact’s profile page, you can view all photos, videos, and files shared with that contact. Long-press to delete or view them in chat.

3. Groups

Groups are ideal for multi-person chats with family, friends, and small teams.

Create Group: Tap the new chat icon in the top right corner of the main interface, then select “New Group.”
Add Members: Select friends from your contact list that you want to add to the group.
Group Capacity: Telegram groups can hold up to 200,000 members.
Functionality: Chat features within groups work similarly to one-on-one chats but are more focused on multi-person interaction and management.

4. Channels

Channels are a unique Telegram feature, primarily used for broadcasting messages to an unlimited audience, making it more akin to a “social media platform” than a traditional messaging platform.

Create Channel: Tap the new chat icon in the top right corner of the main interface, then select “New Channel.”
Channel Types:
- Public Channel: Anyone can search for and join it within Telegram, and it has a public link.
- Private Channel: Can only be joined via an invite link.
Usage: Commonly used for news announcements, content sharing, community announcements, and other one-way information dissemination. Channel members cannot directly speak within the channel; they can only passively receive messages.
Notification Settings: You can choose whether to send notifications to subscribers whenever new content is posted.
Invite Members: You can invite users to subscribe by sharing the channel link.

Telegram’s Unique Features and Settings

1. Secret Chats

Secret Chats are one of Telegram’s most acclaimed privacy features:

End-to-End Encryption: Only participants can read messages; no traces are left on the server.
Self-Destructing Messages: You can set a “self-destruct timer” for messages, which automatically disappear within a set time after being read by the recipient.
No Forwarding or Screenshots: To prevent information leakage, secret chats do not support message forwarding or screenshots.
How to Enable: Go to a chat with a contact, tap their profile picture to enter their profile page, then select “More” > “Start Secret Chat.”

2. Username

You can create a username for yourself in the settings.

Path: Settings > Username.
Discovery: Others can find you by searching for your username without needing your phone number, which is very useful for privacy protection.

3. Appearance Customization

Telegram offers extensive customization options to make your app interface unique:

Chat Background: Choose from preset backgrounds or upload your own images.
Theme Colors: Change the app’s theme colors.
Message Bubble Style: Adjust the shape and color of chat bubbles.
App Icon: You can even change Telegram’s app icon.

Telegram vs. Other Messaging Apps

Compared to apps like WhatsApp, Signal, or Messenger, Telegram offers unique advantages in terms of privacy, security, and features. While WhatsApp provides end-to-end encryption, Telegram excels in cloud syncing, large groups, and channel functionality. For a more detailed comparison of privacy and security, you can find professional analyses on tech media outlets like Mashable.

Telegram is a powerful, privacy-focused, and free instant messaging app. Whether you want to chat one-on-one, create large groups with family and friends, or broadcast messages to the public, Telegram can meet your needs. By mastering the features above, you’ll be able to fully utilize the convenience and security this app provides.

Complete Guide to Using Telegram: From Beginner to Pro