How To Change Privacy Settings on Telegram

Telegram is a popular messaging app that prides itself on its advanced privacy features. With end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages, it’s no wonder that Telegram is a top choice for users who value their privacy. However, even with such advanced security features in place, it’s still important to manage your privacy settings on messaging apps like Telegram.

In this post, we’ll cover everything you need to know about managing your privacy settings on Telegram. We’ll explain how to access the Privacy Settings menu, describe each privacy setting option in detail, and provide tips for maximizing privacy on Telegram.

Accessing Privacy Settings

The first step to managing your privacy settings on Telegram is to access the Privacy Settings menu. Here’s how:

Open the Telegram app on your device.
Tap on the three horizontal lines in the top left corner of the screen to open the menu.
Select “Settings” from the menu.
Tap on “Privacy and Security” to access the Privacy Settings menu.

Once you’re in the Privacy Settings menu, you’ll see several categories of privacy settings that you can adjust.

Privacy Settings Options

Here are the privacy setting options available in the Privacy Settings menu, and what they do:

Last seen and online status – This setting controls who can see when you were last online on Telegram. You can choose to show this information to everyone, only your contacts, or nobody.
Profile photo and phone number visibility – This setting controls who can see your profile photo and phone number. You can choose to show this information to everyone, only your contacts, or nobody.
Forwarded messages and calls – This setting controls whether or not forwarded messages and calls are marked as forwarded when they’re sent to you. You can choose to show the “Forwarded” label for everything, only for messages and calls from non-contacts, or never.
Groups and channels privacy – This setting controls who can add you to groups and channels, and who can see your group membership. You can choose to allow anyone to add you to groups, only your contacts, or nobody. You can also choose to show your group membership to everyone, only your contacts, or nobody.
Blocking users and reporting spam – This setting allows you to block users and report spam. You can block individual users, or use Telegram’s spam reporting system to report spam and other unwanted messages.

Let’s take a closer look at each of these settings, and how they can impact your privacy on Telegram.

Last Seen and Online Status

The “Last seen and online status” setting controls who can see when you were last online on Telegram. This information can be useful for staying in touch with friends and family, but it can also be a privacy concern if you don’t want others to know when you’re using the app.

By default, Telegram allows your contacts to see your last seen and online status. However, you can change this to “nobody” if you want to hide this information from everyone. Alternatively, you can choose to show this information to everyone, if you don’t mind others seeing when you’re online.

Profile Photo and Phone Number Visibility

The “Profile photo and phone number visibility” setting controls who can see your profile photo and phone number on Telegram. These pieces of information can be useful for identifying you to your contacts, but they can also be a privacy concern if you don’t want others to have access to them.

By default, Telegram allows your contacts to see your profile photo and phone number. However, you can change this to “nobody” if you want to hide this information from everyone. Alternatively, you can choose to show this information to everyone, if you don’t mind others having access to your profile photo and phone number.

Forwarded Messages and Calls

The “Forwarded messages and calls” setting controls whether or not forwarded messages and calls are marked as forwarded when they’re sent to you. Forwarded messages and calls can be useful for sharing information with others, but they can also be a privacy concern if you don’t want others to know that you received them.

By default, Telegram marks all forwarded messages and calls with a “Forwarded” label. However, you can change this to “Never” if you want to hide the fact that a message or call was forwarded. Alternatively, you can choose to show the “Forwarded” label only for messages and calls from non-contacts, if you don’t mind your contacts knowing when a message or call was forwarded.

Groups and Channels Privacy

The “Groups and channels privacy” setting controls who can add you to groups and channels, and who can see your group membership. Groups and channels can be useful for staying in touch with friends and family, but they can also be a privacy concern if you don’t want to be added to groups without your consent.

By default, Telegram allows anyone to add you to groups. However, you can change this to “Contacts” if you want to limit who can add you to groups. Alternatively, you can choose to allow nobody to add you to groups, if you want complete control over which groups you join.

You can also choose who can see your group membership. By default, Telegram allows anyone to see your group membership. However, you can change this to “Contacts” if you want to limit who can see your group membership. Alternatively, you can choose to hide your group membership from everyone, if you don’t want others to know which groups you belong to.

Blocking Users and Reporting Spam

The “Blocking users and reporting spam” setting allows you to block users and report spam. Blocking users can be useful for preventing unwanted contact from individuals, while reporting spam can be useful for preventing unwanted messages from groups and channels.

To block a user, simply select the user from your chats list, tap on their profile picture, and select “Block User”. To report spam, tap and hold on the message or channel you want to report, and select “Report Spam”. Telegram’s spam reporting system will then review the message or channel and take appropriate action.

Advanced Privacy Settings

In addition to the privacy settings we’ve already covered, Telegram also offers several advanced privacy settings that can further enhance your privacy and security on the app. Here are a few examples:

Two-step verification – Two-step verification is a security feature that requires you to enter a password in addition to your phone number when logging in to Telegram. This can help prevent unauthorized access to your account.
Passcode lock – Passcode lock is a feature that allows you to set a passcode for the Telegram app on your device. This can help prevent unauthorized access to your account if someone gains access to your device.
Secret chats – Secret chats are a type of chat on Telegram that offers end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages. This can help ensure that your conversations remain private and secure.

Best Privacy Practices on Telegram

Now that we’ve covered all of the privacy settings available on Telegram, let’s discuss some best privacy practices that you can follow to maximize your privacy on the app.

Regularly review and update your privacy settings – It’s important to regularly review and update your privacy settings on Telegram to ensure that you’re only sharing the information you want to share with others.
Be mindful of who can see your information – When adjusting your privacy settings, be mindful of who can see your information. Only share your information with those you trust.
Avoid public groups and channels – Public groups and channels can be a privacy concern because anyone can see your messages and profile information. Stick to private groups and channels with people you trust.
Use two-factor authentication – Two-factor authentication can add an extra layer of security to your account and prevent unauthorized access.
Use secret chats for sensitive information – If you need to share sensitive information, use secret chats to ensure that your messages are encrypted and self-destruct after a certain period of time.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links – Be careful when clicking on links in messages, especially from people you don’t know. Malicious links can lead to phishing scams and malware.
Keep your app up to date – Telegram regularly releases updates with security and privacy improvements. Make sure to keep your app up to date to stay protected.

Conclusion

Telegram offers a range of privacy settings and features that can help you control your privacy and security on the app. By taking the time to review and adjust your privacy settings, following best practices, and keeping your app up to date, you can ensure that your conversations and information remain private and secure. Remember to always be mindful of who can see your information and only share what you’re comfortable with. With these tips, you can enjoy the benefits of Telegram while protecting your privacy.