Telegram is one of the best-known alternatives to WhatsApp. But how does it work, and what can you do with it? Read everything you need to know about the Telegram app in this article.
This way you get everything out of Telegram
The Telegram chat app has been a popular WhatsApp counterpart for years. Despite the smaller number of users, this app has a lot of nice functions that you will not find in WhatsApp. In addition, the app continues to renew itself regularly. Curious about what you can do with it? These tips will help you get the most out of Telegram.
1. Chat without a phone number
With Telegram it is possible to add people without a phone number, by means of a username. You can add these in your settings. After that, anyone can find you with this username. Anyone who seeks contact in this way can also easily block you, so that it cannot be misused.
It is mandatory to link your phone number to the app, but you can set it so that no one sees it. It is also possible to add people in the area. To do this, tap ‘Add people nearby’ in the Contacts tab. Here you immediately see an overview of everyone with the Telegram app who has made themselves visible to others. Here you can also make yourself visible, so that others can add you too.
2. Silent messages and scheduling
Do you want to send someone a message without disturbing them? It is possible to send a silent message. Handy if you don’t need a (quick) answer and don’t want to distract the recipient. The recipient will receive a notification, but no sound will be played. To do this, you type a message and you have to press and hold the arrow to send it.
You will then be given two options: ‘Send without sound’ and ‘Schedule message’. Tap the first option to send a message without sound. With the second option you schedule the message so that Telegram sends it at the specified time.
3. Set a limit for groups
Do you disturb all the messages that are constantly flying around your ears in the group conversation? If you manage a group conversation, you can set a limit: this allows group members to wait a certain amount of time before they can speak again.
For example, if you choose one minute, you can only send one message every minute. You set a time limit by opening the group and tapping the name of the group at the top. Tap Edit, then tap Permissions. Scroll down and set the limit.
4. Animated pictures: stickers, gifs and video messages
A great feature of Telegram that you will not find on WhatsApp is the sending of moving stickers. These moving images have a small size, so that they are sent faster than a photo and move smoothly.
Another way to send moving pictures is of course to send gifs. The search function for GIFs is very easy: in the send field, type ‘@gif’ with your keyword after it. Then you get a pop-up menu of all kinds of relevant GIFs.
Be careful, because as soon as you click on one you will have sent it right away. Video messages are also an option in Telegram. You can send this by tapping the microphone. Then a camera icon appears, which you long press, just like with audio messages, to record a video message.
Secret chat and disappearing photos
Another interesting feature is Secret Chat. Normally, your messages are sent through a server. Although these are kept encrypted, it is also possible to send a message from user to user, without an intermediate server.
To do this, open a new message, choose ‘New Secret Chat’ and then select the recipient. Tap the clock next to your send field to set a time limit, after which your message will self-destruct. In this way it is also possible to exchange photos that also self-destruct after a few seconds. When you send a photo, tap the clock icon to set a limit of up to one minute.
Knowing more?
Do you want to know more? In your settings you will see ‘Frequently asked questions’ at the bottom. If your question is not listed, you can also ask the developers a question. This will redirect you to a bot that will either send you to the answer or have a Telegram volunteer answer your question.
Curious about other tips? On iPhone we regularly share practical tips about apps. For example, we do not have tips for the navigation app Flitsmeister and we explain how to get everything out of the Weeronline app.