How to Create a Telegram Account (Phone, Desktop, Web)

To create a Telegram account, install the official app on your phone, enter your phone number, type the code Telegram sends you, and add your name. That is the whole sign-up; it is free and takes a few minutes. Once your account exists on your phone, you can log in to it on a computer or in a web browser.

This guide covers sign-up on each platform, what to do when the code does not arrive, the choices you make on the first screens and why they matter, and the privacy and security settings worth changing on day one.

What you need before you start

• A phone number you control. Telegram accounts are tied to a phone number. You need to be able to receive a code on it, at least for the first login. Telegram also supports anonymous numbers bought on Fragment, its blockchain-based marketplace, as an alternative to a SIM card; see using Telegram without a phone number.
• A smartphone, ideally. Signing up on a phone is the most reliable route. Some desktop apps send new users to their phone to finish sign-up.
• An internet connection. Wi-Fi or mobile data both work.
• The official app. Download Telegram from your phone's official app store or from Telegram's own website. Copies from other sources may be modified. Unofficial apps are a particular risk for a new account, because they handle your login code and session from the very first screen.

You do not need an email address to sign up in most cases. Telegram may ask some new users to add one for receiving login codes, which is covered below.

Telegram's terms set a minimum age, and local rules can raise it. Check the terms that apply in your country before creating an account for a younger person.

Choosing which number to use

The number matters more than it seems, because it is how you log in for as long as you keep the account.

• Use a number you will keep. If you lose access to the number and are logged out of every device, getting back in becomes difficult. A work number you might hand back when you change jobs is a poor choice for a personal account.
• Think about who already has it. People who have your number saved in their contacts may see that you joined Telegram, depending on their settings and yours. If that matters to you, read the privacy section below before you finish.
• One number, one account. Each number can hold one Telegram account at a time. If the number already has an account, entering it logs you in to that account instead of creating a new one.

A recycled number is worth a special mention. Mobile carriers reuse numbers, so a number you just got may already belong to someone else's Telegram account. If you enter it and see a request for a two-step verification password you never set, the previous owner's account still uses it. Do not try to guess the password. Contact your carrier if you need a fresh number, or see the reset options covered in Telegram's own help.

Create an account on Android

1. Install Telegram from Google Play or from Telegram's website.
2. Open the app and tap Start Messaging.
3. Check the country code and enter your phone number. Tap the arrow or Next.
4. The app may ask for permission to manage calls or read call logs so it can confirm the code automatically. You can decline and type the code yourself.
5. Enter the code you receive. If you are already logged in to Telegram on another device, the code arrives there as a message from Telegram, not by SMS.
6. Type your first name and, optionally, a last name. You can add a photo now or later.
7. Accept the terms if asked, and you are in.

Telegram may then ask for permission to access your contacts and to send notifications. Each is your choice; the section below explains what contact access does.

Create an account on iPhone and iPad

1. Install Telegram from the App Store.
2. Open it and tap Start Messaging.
3. Choose your country and enter your number.
4. Enter the code from SMS, a call, or another device where you are already logged in.
5. Enter your name and, if you like, a profile photo.
6. Decide on contact access and notifications when prompted.

On an iPad, Telegram works in the same way, but if the iPad has no SIM, the code still needs to reach your phone number by SMS, call, or another logged-in device.

Create an account on a computer (Telegram Desktop)

Telegram Desktop for Windows, macOS and Linux is mainly designed for logging in to an account that already exists.

1. Download Telegram Desktop from Telegram's website (or the Microsoft Store or Mac App Store).
2. Open it and choose to start messaging.
3. You will usually see two options: log in by scanning a QR code with your phone, or log in with a phone number.
4. If you have no account yet, choose the phone number route and enter your number. Depending on the version, the app either lets you complete sign-up by entering the code and your name, or tells you to sign up on a mobile device first.

If the desktop app asks you to sign up on your phone, do that and then come back. Once the account exists, scanning the QR code from the phone app is the quickest way to log in.

Create an account on Telegram Web

Telegram Web runs in a browser and needs nothing installed.

1. Open the official Telegram Web address in your browser. Check the address carefully: fake login pages are a common way to steal accounts.
2. Choose to log in by phone number rather than by QR code.
3. Enter your number, then the code.
4. If the number has no account yet, the web version may let you enter a name and finish sign-up there, or ask you to use a mobile app first.

Web is handy for a quick start, but a phone app gives you the most reliable code delivery and the full set of settings.

Signing up on a device without a SIM

A tablet, an old phone on Wi-Fi only, or a second phone without a SIM can all run Telegram. The device does not need a SIM; the phone number does need to receive the code somewhere.

1. Install Telegram on the device without a SIM.
2. Enter the phone number you want to use.
3. Keep the phone that holds that SIM nearby, switched on and with signal.
4. Read the SMS or answer the call on that phone, then type the code on the new device.

After that, the device without a SIM stays logged in on its own and works over Wi-Fi. You only need the SIM phone again for future logins on new devices, and only if no other logged-in device can receive the code. Keeping two devices logged in, for example a phone and a computer, is a simple safeguard: if one is lost, the other can still receive login codes as Telegram messages.

Getting the code: SMS, call, app or email

The code is where most sign-ups get stuck, so it helps to know where it can come from.

• Telegram message on another device. If the number already has an account logged in somewhere, the code is sent there as a chat from Telegram. That only applies when logging in to an existing account.
• SMS. The usual route for a brand new account.
• A phone call. If the SMS does not arrive within a short wait, the app may offer to call you and read the code aloud.
• Email. Telegram may ask some users to add an email address that receives login codes instead of SMS. If asked, use an address you can open reliably, because you may need it for future logins.

Telegram's privacy policy also mentions signing in with an Apple or Google account as a way to receive codes for some users. You will only see these options if Telegram offers them for your situation.

If the code does not arrive

1. Wait the full countdown shown in the app before asking again. Repeated requests can trigger a temporary block.
2. Confirm the country code and number. A missing digit sends the code somewhere else.
3. Check that the phone has signal and can receive SMS from short codes. Some carriers or plans block them.
4. Try the call option if it appears.
5. Turn off any VPN or proxy during sign-up.

If it still fails, the dedicated guides go further: Telegram not sending a login code covers each cause, and repeated requests lead to a waiting period that only time fixes.

Never give the code to anyone. Telegram will never ask for it in a chat, and nobody helping you sign up needs it. Anyone with the code can log in as you. Read never share your Telegram login code before you do anything else with the account.

The first screens: name, photo, contacts and notifications

Your name

Your name is what people see in chats. It does not need to be your real name, though people who know you will find you more easily if it is. You can change it at any time in Settings.

Profile photo

Optional. A photo helps contacts recognise you. You can control who sees it later in privacy settings. A clear, square image works best, because Telegram shows it as a circle.

Contact access

When Telegram asks to access your contacts, it is asking to upload your address book so it can show you which of your contacts already use Telegram, and so their names appear the way you saved them.

• If you allow it, your chat list fills with people you know, and they may be told that you joined.
• If you decline, you can still use Telegram fully. You add people by their username or by entering their number manually.

You can change your mind later and delete synced contacts from Telegram's servers.

Notifications

Allowing notifications lets you hear about messages when the app is closed. You can fine-tune them per chat later. If you decline and change your mind, turn them on in your phone's settings for Telegram.

Day one: secure the account

A new account is most vulnerable right at the start, before any protection is in place. These steps take a few minutes.

Turn on two-step verification

Two-step verification adds a password that is needed, on top of the SMS code, whenever you log in on a new device. If someone ever intercepts your code, they still cannot get in without the password.

1. Open Settings > Privacy and Security.
2. Tap Two-Step Verification and follow the prompts.
3. Choose a password you do not use anywhere else.
4. Add a recovery email when asked, and confirm it with the code sent there.

The full walkthrough is in how to set up Telegram two-step verification.

Check active sessions

In Settings > Devices (sometimes called Active Sessions), you see every device logged in to your account. On a new account there should be only the one you are using. Get into the habit of checking this list now and then.

Decide who can see your number

By default, your phone number may be visible to your contacts. In privacy settings, you can set who can see it and who can find you by it. If you want to stay reachable without sharing your number, set a username. See how to hide your phone number.

Troubleshooting sign-up problems

Most sign-ups go through first time. When they do not, the message on screen usually tells you which of these situations you are in.

"Invalid phone number"

How to recognise it: the app refuses the number before sending any code.

Fix:

1. Check the country code is set separately from the number, and that it matches the country of the SIM, not the country you are in.
2. Remove any leading zero that your country uses only for domestic dialling. With the country code in place, many numbers drop the first zero.
3. Remove spaces, dashes or brackets if the field did not format them itself.

If it still fails: try entering the number in full international format, starting from the country code, and check with your carrier that the number is active and can receive SMS.

You are asked for a password you never set

How to recognise it: after the code, the app asks for a two-step verification password.

What it means: the number already has an account protected by two-step verification. Either it is your own old account and you forgot you set a password, or the number was recycled and belongs to someone else's account.

Fix: if it is your account, use the forgotten password option. If you set a recovery email, a reset code goes there. Without a recovery email, Telegram may offer to reset the account after a waiting period, which removes its chats and contacts. If it is not your account, do not try to get into it. Use a number you control.

The code goes to an app you do not recognise

How to recognise it: the app says the code was sent to your other Telegram device, but you have no other device.

What it means: the number already has an active account logged in somewhere, perhaps an old phone you forgot about, or a previous owner of the number.

Fix: look for an option such as sending the code by SMS instead, which usually appears after a short wait. If the account is an old one of yours, the code also arrives on the old device if you still have it.

If it does not help: a recycled number may simply not be usable for a new account until the previous owner's account is deleted or moved. Using another number is the practical solution.

"This phone number is banned"

How to recognise it: the app says the number cannot be used.

What it means: Telegram has blocked the number, often because it was previously used for spam, sometimes by a previous owner.

Fix: follow the in-app option to contact Telegram about the ban if one is offered, explaining calmly that you are a new user of the number. Then wait for a reply; sending the same appeal many times does not speed it up.

"Please sign up on your mobile device"

How to recognise it: you started on a computer or tablet app and it will not create the account.

Fix: install Telegram on a phone, sign up there, then log in on the computer with the QR code. There is no setting that overrides this message.

You are asked to add an email address

How to recognise it: during sign-up, a screen asks for an email to receive login codes.

What it means: for some users, Telegram sends future codes by email instead of SMS. It is separate from the recovery email used by two-step verification.

Fix: enter an address you control and can access long term, then type the code sent there. Avoid temporary or throwaway email services, because losing access to that address can make future logins much harder.

An account deletes itself if you stop using it

New users rarely notice this setting, but it matters for accounts you open on a second number or for a family member. Telegram deletes an account automatically after a period of inactivity, and you choose the period in privacy settings, usually under an option about deleting your account if you are away.

• If you are setting up an account you will use only occasionally, choose the longest period offered.
• If you want an account to clean itself up when you stop using it, choose a shorter one.

Being online on any device counts as activity. Automatic deletion removes your messages and contacts permanently, so pick a period that suits how you use the account.

What your new account stores, and where

It helps to understand from the start where your messages live, because it explains why you can log in anywhere and why a lost phone is not a lost account.

• Normal chats, groups and channels are cloud chats. They are stored on Telegram's servers and appear on every device you log in to.
• Secret chats are different. They are end-to-end encrypted, work between two devices only, and do not appear on your other devices. If you lose the device, those chats are gone.

So a fresh login on a new phone brings back your normal chats but never your secret chats. For the details, see Telegram secret chats explained.

Set a username (optional but useful)

A username is a public handle that lets people find and message you without your phone number. It also gives you a link others can open.

1. Go to Settings and tap the username field, or edit your profile.
2. Type a username. Telegram tells you whether it is available and valid.
3. Save.

You can leave it empty if you only want to talk to people who already have your number. If the name you want is taken, try a variation. You can change your username later as often as you like, though a freed name can be claimed by someone else.

Creating an account for a business or project

A Telegram account is a personal account tied to one person's number. Businesses often ask whether they need a separate account, and the answer depends on what they want to do.

• To publish updates to an audience, you do not need a second account. Create a channel from your personal account and add colleagues as admins. Subscribers see the channel's name and photo, not your personal profile. Our guide on how to create a Telegram channel covers the steps.
• To answer customers one to one, a dedicated account on a business number keeps customer chats away from your personal ones and survives staff changes. Telegram Business adds tools for this, such as opening hours and quick replies, as part of Premium.
• To automate replies, a bot is usually the better tool, and bots are created from your existing account with @BotFather rather than with a new number.

One warning applies to all of these. Creating many accounts on fresh numbers and using them to message strangers is the pattern Telegram's anti-spam systems look for. New accounts that send lots of unsolicited messages are frequently limited or banned. Grow through a channel and genuine invitations instead.

Checklist before you close the app

Go through these once the account is created:

1. Name set, and a photo if you want one.
2. Contact access chosen deliberately, allowed or declined.
3. Two-step verification turned on, with a recovery email confirmed.
4. Phone number visibility set in privacy settings.
5. Username set, or left empty on purpose.
6. Inactivity period for automatic deletion chosen.
7. Active devices list checked, showing only your own device.
8. Login code not shared with anyone, and the chat with Telegram's official notifications left in place so you can spot unexpected login codes later.

Your first week: what to do next

With the basics done, a few steps make the account useful.

1. Message Saved Messages. It is your private cloud notepad and a safe place to try formatting, links and files.
2. Find a few channels. Channels are one-way feeds from news sites, creators and communities. Browse by topic on our categories page or look through the most-subscribed channels in our best Telegram channels ranking.
3. Organise with folders once your chat list grows. Folders let you group chats, for example work, family and channels, into separate tabs.
4. Review privacy settings, especially who can see your number, profile photo and last seen time.
5. Log in on your computer if you want a bigger screen. The account and chats sync automatically across devices.

Worked examples

Example: a new phone owner with no other device. Maria installs Telegram on her phone, enters her number and gets the code by SMS. She declines contact access because she wants to choose who she talks to, sets a username, and shares it with friends. Before closing the app, she turns on two-step verification with a recovery email.

Example: someone who prefers the computer. Ahmed works on a laptop all day and wants Telegram there. He installs Telegram Desktop, but the app suggests completing sign-up on a phone. He installs the app on his phone, signs up, then scans the QR code shown by Telegram Desktop. From then on he mostly uses the laptop, and the phone stays logged in as a backup for codes.

Example: a recycled number. Jun gets a new SIM and tries to sign up. Telegram asks for a two-step verification password he never set, which means the number still belongs to the previous owner's account. He does not try to guess. He uses a different number he controls, and keeps the new SIM for calls only.

Example: a parent setting up a teenager. A parent helps a teenager create an account on the teen's phone. They check the minimum age that applies in their country first, then go through privacy settings together: phone number hidden from everyone, who can add them to groups limited to contacts, and two-step verification turned on with a password the teen chooses.

Common mistakes

• Downloading from an unofficial source. Modified apps can steal accounts at sign-up. Use the official stores or Telegram's own website.
• Sharing the code with a "helper". Nobody legitimate needs it. This is the most common way new accounts are taken over.
• Requesting the code again and again. Each request resets the wait and can lead to a temporary block. Wait for the countdown.
• Using a number you will lose. Prepaid numbers that lapse and work numbers are risky for a long-term account.
• Skipping two-step verification. It costs a minute and protects against the most common takeover.
• Uploading contacts without thinking. It is optional, and it affects who learns that you joined.
• Logging out of the only device. If you sign out everywhere and then lose the number, recovery is hard. Keep at least one device logged in, and keep your recovery email current.

FAQ

Is a Telegram account free?

Yes. Creating and using a Telegram account is free. Telegram Premium is an optional paid subscription that adds extra features; you never need it to use the app.

Can I create a Telegram account without a phone number?

Telegram accounts need a number, but it does not have to be a SIM card. Telegram supports anonymous numbers bought on Fragment. They are covered in the guide on using Telegram without a phone number linked above.

Can I have two accounts?

Yes, with two different numbers. Telegram's apps let you add more than one account and switch between them.

Will my contacts know I joined Telegram?

They may, if they have your number saved and you or they synced contacts. Each person can turn off these notices in their own notification settings.

Can I sign up on a computer only?

Sometimes, depending on the app and version, but a phone is the dependable route. Many desktop apps ask new users to finish sign-up on a mobile device.

What if I lose my phone after signing up?

Your chats are stored in Telegram's cloud, so you can log in on a new device with the same number. Two-step verification protects you while the old phone is lost. If someone else got in, end their session from your devices list and change your two-step verification password.

Summary

Install the official app on your phone, enter your number, type the code and add a name. Desktop and Web are best used to log in to the account afterwards, usually by scanning a QR code. On day one, turn on two-step verification with a recovery email, decide who can see your number, and consider a username. Never share the login code with anyone.