How to Create a t.me Link to Your Profile or Business Chat

The simplest t.me link is your public username after t.me/, so if your username is example_shop, your link is t.me/example_shop and anyone who opens it lands in a chat with you. If you do not want a public username, Telegram also supports links based on your phone number, which respect your privacy settings, and Telegram Business accounts can create special chat links that open a chat with a message already typed in. This guide shows how to create each kind, when to use which, and how to share them safely.

If you want a link to a channel or group rather than to yourself, see our guide to Telegram invite links. For a button that puts your link on a website, see how to add a Telegram chat button.

The types of t.me link at a glance

Telegram's developer documentation describes several kinds of t.me link. The ones that open a chat with a person or business are:

• Username link: t.me followed by a slash and your username. Works for anyone with a public username.
• Username link with a pre-filled message: the same link with a text parameter added, which puts suggested text into the message box.
• Phone number link: t.me followed by a slash, a plus sign and your full international number. It only finds you if your privacy settings allow it.
• Business chat link: a link in the form t.me/m/ followed by a code, created from Telegram Business settings, which can include a ready-made message and shows how many times it was opened.
• QR code: not a different link, but a scannable picture of one of the links above, which Telegram can generate for you.

Each has a different balance of convenience and privacy, explained below.

Before you start

1. Update Telegram. Business links and QR codes are newer features, and old app versions may not show them.
2. Decide what you want people to see. A username makes you findable by anyone who knows or guesses it. A phone link shares your number. A business link points to your account but hides the details in a short code.
3. Check your privacy settings, especially who can see your phone number, who can find you by your number, and who can message you. Our privacy settings checklist walks through them.

Option 1: A link from your username

This is the standard way and works on every device.

Step 1: Set a username

1. Open Telegram and go to Settings.
2. Tap your profile, then Username (on Desktop, open Settings, then Edit Profile).
3. Type the username you want. Telegram tells you immediately whether it is available and valid.
4. Save.

Telegram's rules for usernames currently allow Latin letters, numbers and underscores, with a minimum length. If the name you want is taken, see Telegram username not available for why and what to try. For choosing a good one, see Telegram username tips; the advice there applies to personal and business usernames too.

Step 2: Build the link

Your link is t.me followed by a slash and your username, with no @ sign. For the username @example_shop, the link is t.me/example_shop. Adding https:// in front makes it clickable in more places, such as emails and some websites.

Telegram usually shows the link under the username field, and you can tap it to copy.

Step 3: Test it

1. Send the link to yourself in Saved Messages.
2. Tap it. It should open your own profile or chat.
3. Better, ask a friend to open it on a different device, or open it in a private browser window on a computer, which shows the web preview page with an "Open in Telegram" style button.

What a username link reveals

• Your display name, profile photo and bio, subject to your profile photo privacy settings.
• Your username itself.
• It does not reveal your phone number, unless your phone number privacy setting allows it.

Anyone with the link can message you unless you restrict who can send you messages. Our guide on hiding your phone number explains how a username lets people reach you without the number.

Changing or removing the username later

If you change your username, the old link stops working and may be claimed by someone else. Before changing a username you have printed on cards or posted widely, plan for the old link breaking. Our guide on changing your Telegram username covers what happens to the old one.

Option 2: A username link with a pre-filled message

Telegram's link documentation describes an optional text parameter on username links. When someone opens the link, Telegram puts that text into the message box, ready to send. The person can edit it or delete it; nothing is sent until they tap send.

Why use it

• A shop can pre-fill "Hi, I would like to order…" so customers know how to start.
• An event organiser can pre-fill "I would like to register for the workshop" to identify where the message came from.
• A freelancer can pre-fill "I found you through your website" to see which source works.

How to build it

1. Start with your username link, such as t.me/example_shop.
2. Add a question mark, then the word text, an equals sign, and your message.
3. Spaces and special characters must be URL-encoded, which turns them into codes that links can carry. Most link shorteners, website builders and online URL encoders do this for you; paste your message and copy the encoded result.
4. Test the finished link on a phone and a computer.

Example: the link t.me/example_shop with a text parameter saying "Hello, I would like to book a table" opens the chat with that sentence already typed.

Limits to know

• Support varies between Telegram apps and versions, so always test on Android, iPhone and Desktop.
• The text is visible in the link. Do not put anything private in it.
• People can change the text before sending, so do not rely on it for anything important, such as an order reference that must be exact.

For a business account, the business chat link in Option 4 is usually better, because the message is stored by Telegram rather than in the link itself.

Option 3: A link from your phone number

Telegram supports links in the form t.me followed by a slash, a plus sign and the full international phone number, with the country code and without spaces.

When it is useful

• You do not want a public username but want contacts to reach you quickly.
• You are adding a Telegram link next to a phone number that is already public, such as a business line.

The privacy rule that decides whether it works

A phone number link only opens your profile if your privacy settings allow people to find you by your number. If you set "who can find me by my number" to My Contacts, a stranger opening your phone link will not find you. This is deliberate: it means nobody can turn a phone number into a Telegram profile without your permission.

1. Open Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Phone Number.
2. Look at who can see your number and, where shown, who can find you by your number.
3. If you want the phone link to work for anyone, allow everybody to find you by your number. If you prefer privacy, use a username link instead.

Why many people should not use it

A phone link puts your number in every place you share the link. That number can then be used for calls, text messages, and contact on other apps. For most personal uses, a username link shares less. For businesses, a dedicated business number or a business chat link is a better choice.

Option 4: A business chat link

Telegram Business, a set of features for accounts with Telegram Premium, lets you create special links that open a chat with you and, optionally, place a prepared message in the message box. Telegram's documentation describes these as links in the form t.me/m/ followed by a short code. Telegram stores the message on its side and supplies it when the link is opened, so the link itself stays short.

What makes them better for business

• Several links for several purposes. You can create different links for different products, campaigns or places, each with its own message and title.
• View counts. Telegram shows how many times each link was opened, which tells you which campaign or poster works.
• Editable. You can change the prepared message without changing the link, so printed material stays valid.
• Deletable. You can remove a link that is no longer needed.
• QR codes. Each link can be shared as a QR code.
• No exposed details. The link does not contain your username or number, though the chat it opens is still your account.

How to create one

The exact menus vary by app and version. In general:

1. Make sure your account has Telegram Premium, which includes Telegram Business.
2. Open Settings, then the Telegram Business section.
3. Find the section for chat links.
4. Create a new link. Write the message you want pre-filled, and give the link a title so you can tell it apart from others.
5. Copy the link or open its QR code.
6. Test it from another account before you publish it.

Our guide to Telegram Business features covers the rest of the toolkit, including greeting messages, away messages, opening hours and location.

Pairing links with automatic replies

A business link becomes far more useful when the first reply is also ready. Telegram Business lets you set a greeting message for new chats and an away message outside working hours, and you can prepare quick replies for common questions. Someone who taps your link at night then gets an immediate answer instead of silence.

Option 5: A QR code

A QR code is your link as a picture that phones can scan. It is ideal for shop windows, menus, flyers, business cards and slides.

Telegram's own QR code

Telegram can generate a QR code for your username from your profile. Look for a QR code button on your profile or next to your username in the app; it lets you pick a style and share or save the image. Business chat links also offer a QR code.

Making your own

You can also turn any t.me link into a QR code with a QR generator. If you do:

1. Use the full link including https:// so every scanner treats it as a web address.
2. Test the printed code with several phones before printing many copies.
3. Leave white space around the code; cramped borders are the most common reason scans fail.
4. Avoid generators that route the code through their own short link unless you trust them to stay online, because if their service closes, every printed code breaks.

Our guide on Telegram channel QR codes has more on sizes and placement; the same advice applies to profile and business links.

Option 6: A link to your bot with a start parameter

If your business uses a bot for orders, bookings or support, you can link to the bot instead of to yourself. A bot link is t.me followed by the bot's username. Telegram's documentation also describes a start parameter: add a question mark, the word start, an equals sign and a short code, and when someone opens the link and taps Start, the bot receives that code.

Why the code matters

The code tells the bot where the person came from or what they want. For example, a link with the code "flyer" and another with "instagram" let the bot count each source, or show different welcome messages. Telegram limits the code to a short string of letters, numbers, underscores and hyphens, so keep it simple.

How to use it

1. Create the bot with @BotFather if you do not have one.
2. Decide a code for each place you will share the link.
3. Make the bot read the code when a user starts it and respond accordingly. Most bot builders have a setting for this.
4. Share each version of the link in its own place.

A bot link is useful when you want the first conversation handled automatically. If you want people to reach a person, use your own username or a business link. Our guide on chatbot use cases for business helps decide.

Share links: letting others pass your link on

Telegram also supports share links, which open a chat picker with a web address and optional text ready to send. A "Share on Telegram" button on your website can use one, so a visitor can send your page or your t.me link to a friend in a couple of taps. The visitor chooses who receives it and can edit the text, so it is a convenience, not a broadcast. If you add one, encode the address and text properly and test it on phones and computers.

How links behave on each platform

The same link can behave differently depending on where it is opened, which matters when you test.

Android and iPhone

Tapping a t.me link in a browser, email or message normally opens the Telegram app straight to the chat or profile. If the link is opened inside another app's built-in browser, such as a social app, it may show Telegram's web preview page instead, with a button to open the app. If that button does nothing, opening the page in the phone's main browser usually works.

Telegram Desktop

On a computer with Telegram Desktop installed, clicking a t.me link in a browser shows the web preview page, which offers to open the desktop app. Browsers may ask for permission the first time. Links clicked inside Telegram Desktop itself open directly.

Telegram Web and no app

Without an installed app, the preview page shows your name, picture and an option to continue in Telegram Web or to download Telegram. A person needs an account to send you a message.

Inside Telegram

When you send a t.me link inside Telegram, it becomes a tappable mention-like link that opens the chat directly, without any web page in between.

Measuring which links bring people

If you share your link in several places, it helps to know which ones work.

• Business chat links show a count of opens for each link. Create one per channel or campaign and compare.
• Bot links with start codes let your bot count each source exactly.
• Username links with a pre-filled message can include a short word that hints at the source, though people may delete it.
• Your website analytics can count clicks on a Telegram button, but not what happens after the app opens.

Counts tell you where interest comes from, not whether people became customers. Our guide on tracking clicks and sales from Telegram explains how to connect the two.

Collectible usernames

Short or memorable usernames can be bought and sold as collectibles on Fragment, Telegram's marketplace, and attached to an account or channel. A collectible username works in links exactly like any other. Telegram also lets accounts show more than one username in some cases, such as collectible ones alongside the original. If you are considering one for a brand, read our guide to Telegram usernames on Fragment first, and remember that buying a username does not make your account verified.

Where to put your link

Different places suit different link types.

• Email signature: username link, written as a full web address.
• Website contact page: a business chat link or a username link behind a clear button such as "Chat on Telegram".
• Instagram, X or other bios: username link. Some platforms only allow one link, so a link page that lists several may be needed.
• Printed flyers and menus: QR code of a business chat link, so you can see how many people scanned it.
• Online ads and campaigns: a separate business chat link per campaign, to compare results.
• Event badges and slides: a large QR code of your username link, shown long enough for people to scan, with the link written underneath for anyone whose camera struggles.
• Support pages and invoices: a link that opens a chat with your support account rather than your personal one, so customer conversations stay in one place and can be handed over if someone else takes the role.
• Your Telegram channel: a username link or a contact button in the channel description, so readers can reach you. Our guide on writing a channel description shows how to include it naturally.

Worked examples

Example: a freelance designer

Illustrative scenario. Maria wants clients to reach her on Telegram but not see her personal number. She sets the username maria_designs, hides her number from everyone, and uses t.me/maria_designs on her portfolio site and in her email signature. On her site's contact button she adds a pre-filled message, "Hi Maria, I found you on your website", so she knows where enquiries came from.

Example: a small bakery

Illustrative scenario. A bakery has Telegram Premium and uses Business features. It creates three business chat links: one for cake orders, with the message "I would like to order a cake for", one printed as a QR code on the counter, and one for its Instagram bio. The view counts show which source brings the most chats. An away message tells customers at night when the bakery will reply.

Example: a tutor who does not want a public username

Illustrative scenario. A tutor only wants existing students' parents to reach him. He keeps no username and leaves "find me by my number" open to his contacts only. Parents who have saved his number can reach him; strangers with the number cannot match it to his account. He does not publish a link at all, which is the right choice for his situation.

Troubleshooting

The link opens a web page instead of Telegram

On a computer without Telegram installed, or in some in-app browsers, t.me links open Telegram's web preview page. The person can tap the button there to open the app, or use Telegram Web. On phones, an in-app browser inside another app may not hand the link over to Telegram; opening it in the phone's main browser usually fixes this. Our guide on Telegram links not opening covers more cases.

"Username not found" or the link opens nothing

1. Check the spelling, and remember there is no @ in the link.
2. Check that the username is still set on your account.
3. If you changed your username recently, the old link no longer works.

The phone number link does not find me

Your privacy settings probably stop people from finding you by your number. Change who can find you by your number, or use a username link.

People open the link but cannot message me

Your privacy settings may limit who can send you messages, for example to contacts or to Premium users only, or the person may be restricted from messaging non-contacts. Check your messaging privacy settings.

The pre-filled text does not appear

Support for pre-filled text can vary between apps and versions. Check that the text is properly encoded and test on each platform. For businesses, a business chat link stores the message on Telegram's side and is more dependable.

Safety and privacy

• Every public link invites strangers. Expect some spam. Use privacy settings to control who can message and call you, and block anyone who abuses the link.
• Watch for impersonation. Scammers create usernames that look like yours, with an extra letter or underscore. Tell customers your exact username and link only from your own website or channel. Our guide on spotting Telegram scams explains common patterns.
• Never put login codes or passwords in links or messages. Nobody legitimate asks for them.
• Think before publishing your phone number. A username link avoids exposing it.
• Separate personal and business. If the link is for a business, consider a separate account or Telegram Business features, so customers do not see your personal profile details.

What to do next

Once your link works, a few small steps make it more useful.

1. Complete your profile. People who open your link see your name, photo and bio first. A clear photo and a one-line bio that says who you are, or what your business does, make strangers more likely to write.
2. Decide your reply routine. A link that leads to an unanswered chat does more harm than no link. Set expectations in your bio or with an away message.
3. Put the link everywhere your audience already is, using the placement list above, and keep the wording the same so people recognise it.
4. Review your privacy settings after a few weeks. If spam arrives, tighten who can message or call you rather than removing the link.
5. If you run a channel too, link your personal or business contact from it, and list the channel where new readers look for channels, for example by submitting it to TGDirectory.

Common mistakes

• Putting @ in the link. The link is t.me followed by the username without @.
• Changing the username after printing it. Every old link and QR code breaks.
• Using a phone link without checking privacy settings, so it either does not work or shares more than intended.
• Forgetting https:// in emails and documents, so the link is not clickable.
• Not testing on another device. Your own account always opens; a stranger's may not.
• Putting private details in a pre-filled message, which is visible in the link itself.
• Printing QR codes from a short-link service that later shuts down.

FAQ

Do I need Telegram Premium to have a t.me link?

No. Any account with a public username has a t.me link. Business chat links with stored messages and view counts are part of Telegram Business, which comes with Premium.

Can I have a link without showing my phone number?

Yes. Set a username, then hide your phone number from everybody in privacy settings. The username link reaches you without revealing the number.

Can I see who opened my link?

Business chat links show how many times they were opened, not who opened them. Ordinary username links do not show any count.

Is a t.me link the same as an invite link?

No. A username link opens a chat with a person, or a public channel or group. Invite links, with a plus sign and a code, let people join private channels and groups.

Can I make a link for a channel's direct messages?

Channels can enable direct messages so subscribers can write to the channel.

Will my link work for people who do not have Telegram?

They see Telegram's web preview page with your name and photo, and a prompt to open or install Telegram. They need a Telegram account to message you.

Summary

For most people, the best t.me link is your username: set it in your profile and share t.me followed by the username, without the @. Add a pre-filled message if you want people to know how to start. Use a phone number link only if you are comfortable sharing the number and your privacy settings allow it. Businesses with Telegram Premium get the most from business chat links, which carry a stored message, show open counts and can be edited without changing the link. Turn any of them into a QR code for print, test on another device before sharing, and keep your privacy settings matched to how public you want to be.