How to Use Telegram on Desktop and Web

You can use Telegram on a computer in two ways: install the official desktop app, or open Telegram's official web version in a browser. Either way, you log in by scanning a QR code with the Telegram app on your phone, or by entering a code Telegram sends you. Your chats appear on the computer straight away because they are stored in Telegram's cloud.

This guide explains how to set up each option safely, what differs from the phone app, and how to manage the devices logged in to your account.

Desktop app or web version?

Both give you your chats, channels and groups on a bigger screen. They suit slightly different needs.

The desktop app

• You install it on Windows, macOS or Linux.
• It runs in its own window and can start with your computer.
• It handles files, drag and drop and keyboard shortcuts well.
• It keeps working in the background and shows notifications.

The web version

• You open it in a browser, with nothing to install.
• It is handy on a shared or work computer where you cannot install apps.
• You should log out when you finish on a computer you do not own.

Get Telegram only from official sources

This is the most important step. Fake Telegram apps and fake login pages exist. They look real and are built to steal your account.

• Download the desktop app from Telegram's official website or your computer's official app store.
• Open the web version only from Telegram's official website. Check the address in your browser bar carefully.
• Do not log in through links sent to you in messages, emails or ads.
• Be wary of "Telegram mods" or unofficial clients offering extra features.

If something asks for your login code outside the official app, stop. Read why you should never share your Telegram login code.

How to log in on desktop or web

You need your phone with Telegram already set up.

Log in with a QR code

1. Open the desktop app or the web version. It will show a QR code.
2. On your phone, open Telegram and go to Settings.
3. Open Devices.
4. Choose the option to link a desktop device. Your camera opens.
5. Point your phone at the QR code on the computer screen.
6. Your chats load on the computer.

The QR code method is quick and avoids typing codes.

Log in with your phone number

1. On the login screen, choose to log in with a phone number instead.
2. Enter your number with the country code.
3. Telegram sends a login code, usually as a message in your Telegram app on your phone.
4. Enter the code on the computer.
5. If you set up two-step verification, enter your password too.

The login code is only for you to type into the login screen yourself. Telegram will never ask you to send it to anyone. Two-step verification adds a password on top of the code. Set it up with our two-step verification guide.

What works the same

Most things behave exactly as on your phone:

• Your cloud chats, channels, groups and bots.
• Sending messages, photos, videos, files and voice messages.
• Folders, which sync from your account.
• Scheduled messages.
• Searching chats and channels.
• Managing your own channels and groups as an admin.

Everything you do syncs. Read a message on desktop and it shows as read on your phone.

What works differently

A few things depend on the device or the app.

Secret chats

Normal Telegram chats are cloud chats, which is why they appear on every device. Secret chats are end-to-end encrypted and tied to the device where they were started. They do not appear on your other devices, and not every desktop or web app supports them. Learn more in Telegram secret chats explained.

Some newer features

Telegram often releases features on mobile first. Stories, some payment screens or settings may look different or be missing in a desktop or web app for a while. If a feature seems absent, update the app or try your phone.

Calls and voice chats

Calls and voice chats may work on desktop, but behaviour depends on the app and your microphone and camera permissions. Test before an important call.

Useful desktop habits

1. Pin the app. Keep it in your taskbar or dock so you do not reach for your phone.
2. Use folders. On desktop, folders often appear as a sidebar, which makes switching fast.
3. Drag files in. Drag a file into a chat window to send it.
4. Learn a few shortcuts. The app's settings or help section lists them.
5. Adjust notifications. Turn off sounds for busy groups so the computer is not distracting.

For channel owners

Desktop is often easier for writing long posts, preparing media and checking statistics. Many owners write on desktop and use their phone for quick replies. If you are just starting, read how to create a Telegram channel.

How to see and remove logged-in devices

Check your active sessions now and then. It is the fastest way to spot a login you do not recognise.

1. On your phone, open Settings.
2. Go to Devices.
3. Look at the list of active sessions. Each shows a device, app and approximate location.
4. Tap any session you do not recognise and end it.
5. If you see a session you do not know, also change your two-step verification password.

You can also end all other sessions at once from the same screen. Do this if you lost a laptop or used a shared computer. If you think someone has taken over your account, follow how to recover a hacked Telegram account.

Common mistakes

• Logging in through a link someone sent you. Always open the app or website yourself.
• Staying logged in on a shared computer. Log out when you finish, and check Devices later.
• Sharing the login code. Nobody legitimate needs it. Not friends, not support, not a "verification bot".
• Expecting secret chats on desktop. They stay on the device where they started.
• Ignoring unknown sessions. End them straight away and secure your account.

FAQ

Do I need my phone to use Telegram on a computer?

You need your phone, or access to your account, to log in the first time. After that, the desktop and web apps work on their own.

Is the web version as safe as the desktop app?

Both are official, as long as you use Telegram's real website or app. The main risk is fake pages that copy the login screen. Check the address and log out on shared computers.

Why can't I see my secret chats on desktop?

Secret chats are tied to the device where you started them and are not stored in the cloud. That is part of how they protect your messages.

Can I use Telegram on several computers at once?

Yes. You can be logged in on several devices at the same time. Each one appears in the Devices list in Settings.

How do I log out of Telegram on a computer I no longer have?

On your phone, open Settings, then Devices, and end that session. The computer is logged out remotely.

Summary

Telegram works well on a computer through the official desktop app or the official web version. Log in with a QR code from your phone's Devices screen, or with a code Telegram sends you, and never share that code. Cloud chats sync everywhere, while secret chats stay on their own device. Check your active sessions regularly, and end any you do not recognise.