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    Telegram for Beginners: Messages, Groups, and Channels

    Learn how to use Telegram to message friends, join topic groups, and follow channels — all for free with no phone ads.

    3 min read 5 stepsApril 19, 2026Verified April 2026
    1

    Download and Sign Up

    ~15s
    Search for Telegram in the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) and install it. Open the app and enter your phone number. Telegram will send you a code by text message — enter that code to verify your number and create your account.
    2

    Send a Message to a Contact

    ~21s
    Tap the pencil icon (or the compose button) to start a new chat. Telegram will show you which people in your contacts are already using the app. Tap a name and type your message at the bottom, then tap the send button (a paper airplane icon).

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: You can send voice messages by holding down the microphone icon instead of typing.

    3

    Join a Group or Channel

    ~19s
    Tap the search bar at the top of the app and type a topic you are interested in, such as "gardening" or "local news." Telegram will show public groups and channels. Tap one to preview it, then tap Join to become a member. You can leave at any time by tapping the group name and selecting Leave.
    4

    Start a Secret Chat

    ~23s
    Open a conversation with a contact. Tap their name at the top of the screen, then look for the option that says More or the three-dot menu. Choose Start Secret Chat. A new secret conversation will open — messages here are end-to-end encrypted and can be set to self-destruct.

    Quick Tip

    Quick Tip: Secret chats are device-specific, meaning they only appear on the phone where you started them, not on your other devices.

    5

    Set Disappearing Messages

    ~18s
    Inside any chat (regular or secret), tap the contact's name or photo at the top. Look for the option called Set Time Limit, Auto-Delete, or Disappearing Messages (the exact label depends on your app version). Choose a time — 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month — and messages will automatically delete after that period.

    You Did It!

    You've completed: Telegram for Beginners: Messages, Groups, and Channels

    Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

    Telegram is a free messaging app that works on iPhones, Android phones, computers, and tablets. You can send text messages, photos, videos, documents, and voice messages. Unlike some other apps, Telegram does not show you advertisements in your personal chats and it works smoothly even on older phones with slow internet connections.

    Telegram has three main ways to communicate. Regular chats are private conversations between you and one other person. Group chats let up to 200,000 people talk together — these are great for families, clubs, or hobby communities. Channels are more like newsletters: the owner publishes messages and everyone else reads them, similar to following a page on social media.

    One feature that makes Telegram stand out is Secret Chats. When you start a secret chat, the messages are encrypted end-to-end, meaning only you and the other person can read them. Secret chats also support disappearing messages that delete themselves after a set amount of time.

    Telegram is available as a free download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. You sign up using your phone number, and then you can find contacts who are also on Telegram by syncing your address book. You can also find public groups and channels by searching for topics you enjoy, like cooking, gardening, or local community news.

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    Telegram for Beginners: Messages, Groups, and Channels — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure