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April 24, 2025 23:42
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Telegram Cheatsheet

A quick reference guide for Telegram, covering essential keyboard shortcuts, chat features, formatting, privacy settings, and useful tips for desktop and mobile.

Desktop Shortcuts (Windows/Linux)

General Navigation

Ctrl + N

Start a new chat.

Ctrl + Shift + N

Start a new secret chat.

Ctrl + T

Start a new group.

Ctrl + K

Search chats and messages.

Ctrl + PageUp / PageDown

Navigate between chats.

Ctrl + W

Close current chat.

Ctrl + M

Minimize Telegram window.

Ctrl + ,

Open Settings.

Ctrl + Q

Quit Telegram.

Chat & Message Actions

Enter

Send message (default).

Shift + Enter

Add a new line (when Enter sends).

Ctrl + Enter

Send message (when Shift+Enter sends).

Up Arrow (in empty message box)

Edit your last message.

Ctrl + Backspace

Delete current message draft.

Ctrl + P

Pin message in current chat.

Ctrl + S

Open Saved Messages.

@username

Mention a user in a group.

@gif searchterm

Search and send a GIF (inline bot).

Chat Features & Formatting

Message Formatting (Markdown)

**text**

Bold text. Example: Hello

__text__

Underline text. Example: World

*text*

Italic text. Example: Telegram

~~text~~

Strikethrough text. Example: wrong

`code`

Inline code. Example: print("hi")

```code block```

Preformatted code block. Example:

def greet():
  print("Hey")

||spoiler||

Spoiler text (hidden until clicked). Example: secret message

[Text](URL)

Hyperlink. Example: Visit Telegram

Message Actions

Reply: Swipe a message right (mobile) or click the reply arrow/right-click (desktop).

Forward: Select messages and click the forward arrow. You can forward to multiple chats.

Pin Message: Click on a message and select ‘Pin’. Useful for important announcements in groups/channels.

Edit Message: Double-tap/click the message and select ‘Edit’. Only possible for your own messages, within a time limit.

Delete Message: Double-tap/click the message and select ‘Delete’. You can delete for just yourself or for everyone in a private chat/small group.

React to Message: Double-tap a message (mobile, quick react) or hover/right-click (desktop) to choose an emoji reaction.

Schedule Messages: Long-press the send button (mobile) or right-click the send button (desktop) to schedule a message for later.

Silent Messages: Long-press the send button (mobile) or right-click the send button (desktop) and select ‘Send without sound’. Useful for late-night messages.

Sending Media & Files

Photos/Videos: Use the paperclip icon. You can send as ‘Compressed’ (faster, smaller) or ‘Uncompressed’ (original quality). Add captions or send as albums.

Files: Use the paperclip icon and select ‘File’. Telegram supports sending files up to 2GB.

Voice Messages: Tap/click the microphone icon. Hold to record, release to send. Swipe left to cancel or lock recording.

Video Messages (Circled): Tap the microphone icon once to switch to video message mode (camera icon). Hold to record, release to send.

Share Location: Use the paperclip icon and select ‘Location’. You can share your static location or ‘Live Location’ for a set period.

Send Contact: Use the paperclip icon and select ‘Contact’.

Polls: Use the paperclip icon and select ‘Poll’. Create anonymous or visible polls with multiple answers.

GIFs & Stickers: Use the emoji icon next to the message bar to access GIF and Sticker tabs. Search or browse popular packs.

Music: Send audio files. Use @soundcloud or @spotify inline bots to share music links with previews.

Tips & Advanced Features

Group & Channel Management

Groups:

  • Max members: 200,000 (Supergroups)
  • History: Visible by default in Supergroups
  • Admins: Granular permissions
  • Public/Private: Supergroups can be public with a t.me link

Channels:

  • Max members: Unlimited
  • History: Always visible to new members
  • Admins: Post messages, edit, delete others’ posts, add/remove members
  • Public/Private: Public channels have a t.me link, private ones use invite links

Converting to Supergroup: Groups automatically convert when they grow large.

Admin Rights: Edit admin permissions carefully. Admins can add new admins.

Restrict Users: Admins can restrict users (e.g., mute, ban) in groups.

Channel Signatures: Option for channel posts to show the admin’s name (or channel name).

Linked Group: Link a group to a channel for discussions.

Reactions & Comments: Enable/disable reactions and link a discussion group for comments in channels.

Invite Links: Create primary or additional invite links, manage expiry dates and limits.

Slow Mode: In groups, limit how often members can send messages.

Topics: In large groups, enable Topics to organize discussions.

Scheduled Voice Chats/Video Chats: Plan calls in groups/channels.

Using Bots & Inline Bots

Bots: Interactive accounts run by programs. Find them via search or links. Interact via chat commands (start with /). Examples: @PollBot, @QuizBot.

Inline Bots: Use directly in any chat by typing @botname followed by your query in the message field. Results appear above the text bar. Examples: @gif, @pic, @wiki, @youtube.

BotFather (@BotFather): The official bot to create and manage your own bots.

Bot Commands: Most bots respond to /start and /help to show available commands.

Privacy Mode: Bots in groups might need admin permission to read all messages (if Privacy Mode is off) or only messages directed at them (if Privacy Mode is on).

Inline Suggestions: Once you’ve used an inline bot, typing @ might show suggestions for recently used inline bots.

Privacy & Security

Key Privacy Settings

Phone Number: Control who can see your number (Everybody, My Contacts, Nobody). You can be found by number even if it’s hidden.

Last Seen & Online: Control who sees your online status. Add exceptions for specific users.

Profile Photo: Control who sees your profile picture. Add exceptions.

Forwarded Messages: Control whether a link back to your profile is added when your messages are forwarded.

Calls: Control who can call you. Use Peer-to-Peer (P2P) for better quality or Relay calls via Telegram server for privacy (hides IP).

Groups & Channels: Control who can add you to groups and channels.

Secret Chats: End-to-end encrypted chats with self-destruct timers. Device-specific (not in cloud).

Delete My Account: Set Telegram to automatically delete your account after a period of inactivity (e.g., 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 1 year).

Security Measures

Two-Step Verification (2FA): Set up an extra password that is required when logging in on a new device, in addition to the code sent to your phone. Highly Recommended.

Active Sessions: See where your account is logged in and terminate individual sessions remotely.

Passcode Lock: Set a local passcode to lock the Telegram app on your device.

Self-Destruct Timer: Available in Secret Chats for messages and media.

Account Auto-Deletion: (See Privacy Settings section) Set inactive period for account self-destruction.

Cloud Security: Regular chats use client-server encryption and are stored encrypted in Telegram’s cloud for access from multiple devices. This is different from end-to-end encryption.

End-to-End Encryption: Used in Secret Chats and Voice/Video Calls. Only the participants can read the messages/hear the call.