Setup guides

From installer to first message

Four walkthroughs, one per platform, followed by the six settings worth changing in the first five minutes and the fixes for the problems that come up most often.

Telegram installation guide visual for Windows macOS Android and iPhone setup — Follow the walkthrough that matches your device, then finish with the day-one settings below.

Install on Windows

Desktop 6.2.3 · .exe installer

1
Open the download page and use the Windows button at the top; wait for the spinner to finish resolving the mirror.
2
When the browser finishes, open the .exe from your Downloads folder. If a security prompt appears because the file is an executable, choose to keep and run it.
3
Accept the default install path, or pick a folder inside your user profile if your account has no administrator rights.
4
Launch Telegram, choose your country code, type your phone number and enter the code that arrives by SMS or in an existing session.
5
Optional: choose Log in by QR code instead, and scan it from Settings → Devices → Link Desktop Device on your phone.

Full Windows page with requirements and fixes

Telegram Desktop for Windows after install showing chat list media and files — After the Windows installer finishes you land in the full desktop client.

Install on macOS

Universal build · .dmg package

1
Use the macOS entry on the download page; the package opens as a mounted disk image.
2
Drag the Telegram icon into your Applications folder, then eject the image.
3
Open the app from Applications. If Gatekeeper hesitates on the first launch, right-click the icon and choose Open once.
4
Sign in with your phone number, or scan the QR code from the mobile app to authorise the session.
5
Grant notification permission when prompted so message alerts reach Notification Center.

Full macOS page with requirements and fixes

Telegram for macOS desktop client after dragging the app into Applications — On Mac, drag Telegram into Applications, then sign in with a phone number or QR code.

Install on Android

Mobile 10.14.2 · .apk package

1
Tap the Android button on the download page and confirm the download when your browser asks.
2
Android will say that installing unknown apps is blocked for the browser. Open the prompt, allow it for that browser only, then return.
3
Tap the downloaded .apk, review the permission summary and confirm the install.
4
Open Telegram, enter your phone number and the confirmation code, then allow notifications and contact access if you want contact matching.
5
Go to Settings → Data and Storage and switch off automatic media download on mobile data to protect your allowance.

Full Android page with requirements and fixes

Telegram Android app after APK install ready for first sign in — After the APK installs, open the app, sign in, then turn off auto-download on mobile data.

Install on iPhone and iPad

App Store release

1
Open the iPhone entry on the download page; it takes you to the official App Store listing.
2
Tap Get and confirm with Face ID, Touch ID or your Apple Account password.
3
Open Telegram, enter your phone number and the code you receive.
4
Allow notifications so calls and messages reach the lock screen.
5
If you already use Telegram elsewhere, your cloud chats appear within seconds — nothing needs importing.

Full iPhone and iPad page with requirements and fixes

Telegram conversation on iPhone after signing in with cloud chat history restored — After sign-in the full cloud history is already there — nothing needs importing.

All installers live on the download page, with sizes and system requirements next to each build.

Day one

Six settings worth changing straight away

Set a username

A public username lets people reach you without knowing your phone number. Settings → Edit profile → Username.

Turn on two-step verification

Adds a password on top of the login code, and a recovery email so you are not locked out. Privacy and Security → Two-Step Verification.

Limit who sees your number

Privacy and Security → Phone Number → Nobody, with exceptions for the contacts who should see it.

Create two folders

One for work, one for everything else. Chat folders turn a single overwhelming list into readable tabs.

Cap the media cache

Advanced or Data and Storage → Storage Usage, then set a clear-cache interval so old video does not fill the disk.

Review active sessions

Devices → Active Sessions shows every signed-in client. End anything you do not recognise or no longer use.

If something goes wrong

Four problems and their usual cause

Symptom	What to try
The installer will not open	The file may still be partially downloaded. Check its size against the figure listed on the download page, delete it and download again.
The login code never arrives	If you are already signed in on another device, the code is delivered inside Telegram rather than by SMS. Check that app first, then request an SMS as a fallback.
Connecting… forever	A proxy, VPN or restrictive firewall is usually in the way. Disable it briefly, or set a proxy explicitly in Settings → Advanced → Connection type.
Notifications are silent	Check the operating system permission first, then per-chat mute settings inside Telegram — a muted chat stays muted even with system notifications enabled.

More edge cases are answered on the FAQ page, and longer write-ups appear in the blog.