Less popular than WhatsApp, the Telegram messaging application is nevertheless full of surprises and functions. Here’s everything you need to know to master it like the back of your hand.
Whether you are a new Telegram user or an older one, there are definitely some features of the app that you are unfamiliar with. And for good reason, Telegram is as complete as it is complex and contains many functions little known, even to the most seasoned users.
From activating end-to-end encryption to the possibility of deleting a message on your correspondent’s terminal, including self-destruction of your account, you will discover in the following lines about ten tips and functions for take full advantage of Telegram.
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1. Enable end-to-end encryption
Contrary to popular belief, Telegram doesn’t end-to-end encryption of your conversations by default. In fact, to benefit from it, the user must activate it manually, and for each of the conversations in which he participates.
To do this, enter a discussion and press the name of the group or the interlocutor to access the options of the conversation. Then press More or the three dots, choose to Start a secret exchange and validate your choice by pressing Start / Start.
Your conversation is now end-to-end encrypted. You can verify this by the appearance of an icon representing a padlock. Note that your contact will receive a notification as soon as you activate this mode.
2. Delete messages sent by others
If you have the possibility – as with most messaging services – to delete a message that you have sent for yourself and your interlocutors, Telegram goes even further. The application also allows you to delete the messages sent by your contacts, from your device, but also from their device.
To do this, on iOS as on Android, keep your finger pressed on the message of your correspondent and press the Delete button represented by a recycle bin. In the pop-up that appears, then choose to Delete also for your contact.
3. Quickly insert GIF or YouTube video
Telegram allows you to use “bots” in your conversations, robots which have certain specific functions within the messaging system. There are dozens of them that sometimes offer services bordering on legality, such as the ability to download songs from Spotify. But you can also use bots to insert certain content into a conversation more quickly.
Enter @vid in the text entry field, then enter a keyword to search for the Youtube video you want to share. Likewise, you can quickly insert a GIF by typing @gif followed by your keyword to open a GIF search window.
4. Send uncompressed photos and videos
If you used WhatsApp until now, chances are you’ve already used messaging to share photos and videos of your little one with your family. The only problem is that multimedia content is automatically compressed. On Telegram, you will be able to share photos and videos with your loved ones in original quality, without any compression.
To send an uncompressed photo or video to iOS, tap the paperclip icon and choose to share a File. You can then choose to share a Photo or Video from your device’s Camera Roll. The sent file will be in full format, without any compression being applied to it.
On Android, handling is easier. Tap the paperclip icon, select the photos / videos to share, and tap the three little dots at the top right of the content selector to choose to send them without compression.
5. Discover people and groups around your location
Telegram incorporates a feature that allows its users to search for contacts and newsgroups near their location. On Android, open the main menu and go to People nearby and allow access to your location. You will then see the list of contacts near your location appear. You can also access discussion groups nearby.
On iOS, go to the Contacts section where you will find a People Nearby option. After allowing access to your location, you will see Telegram users and newsgroups appear near your location.
Be careful, however, this function, which does not really contribute to Telegram’s good reputation, should be used with great caution. The discussion groups that can be found nearby are very often filled with “ole-ole” content, sometimes violent, and often prohibited. Not to mention the scams, which are also legion.
6. Correct a message already sent
This is undoubtedly a feature that Twitter users would love to have: being able to correct a post after posting it. With Telegram, you no longer have any excuse to correct your spelling, grammar, syntax and everything else after sending a message.
To correct an error in a message, long press it and tap the pencil icon to Edit it. You will only have to correct your mistake and validate your modification for the message to be corrected in the conversation.
7. Send silent messages
Telegram includes an option to send a message like a real ninja, without your interlocutor being disturbed by a notification.
To do this, make a long press on the button to send the message and choose Send silently.
8. Schedule a message to be sent
Likewise, Telegram provides users with a feature to schedule a message to be sent. As for sending a silent message, keep your finger pressed on the send button, and this time choose Scheduled sending. You will then only have to set the date and time for sending your message.
9. Send self-destructing content
On Telegram it is possible to send messages and content that self-destruct after a certain time. To do this, you will first need to enable end-to-end encryption (step 1), an option called Start Secret Exchange.
When entering a message in an end-to-end encrypted conversation, tap the stopwatch icon in the entry field, and choose a duration. Any messages you send now will self-destruct when the time is up.
10. Schedule the self-destruction of your account
Telegram offers for those who wish, to configure the self-destruction of their account, in the event that they do not connect to it for several months.
To do this, go to Telegram Settings. Then enter the Privacy and Security menu, then scroll down to the Remove my account automatically section.
You can then choose a period of inactivity (1, 3, 6 or 12 months) beyond which your account will be automatically deleted from Telegram’s servers.