How to Limit Telegram Data Collection on Your Account

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Telegram is widely regarded as a privacy-conscious messaging app, but like any platform, it still collects some user data to function effectively. If you want to take control and limit how much data Telegram collects from your account, there are several steps you can take. This guide walks you through practical ways to reduce Telegram’s data collection and enhance your privacy on the platform.

1. Adjust Privacy Settings
Telegram provides a comprehensive set of privacy telegram data controls that let you decide who can see your information and interact with you.

Hide Your Phone Number:
By default, Telegram uses your phone number as your primary identifier. You can restrict who sees it by going to Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number and selecting Nobody or My Contacts instead of everyone.

Control Last Seen & Online Status:
You can limit who sees when you were last active by visiting Privacy and Security > Last Seen & Online. Set it to My Contacts or Nobody to reduce data exposure.

Restrict Profile Photos:
Choose who can view your profile picture via Privacy and Security > Profile Photo, selecting either contacts only or nobody.

Limit Who Can Add You to Groups:
Spam and unwanted group invitations can expose your data unnecessarily. Restrict this setting in Privacy and Security > Groups & Channels to allow only your contacts to add you.

2. Disable Contact Syncing
Telegram encourages syncing your phone contacts to find friends already using the app. However, syncing contacts uploads your address book to Telegram’s servers, increasing data collection.

To prevent this, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Data Settings and turn off Sync Contacts. You can also delete previously synced contacts by selecting Delete Synced Contacts.

3. Use Secret Chats for Sensitive Conversations
Secret chats provide end-to-end encryption, meaning messages are only visible to you and the recipient. They are not stored on Telegram’s servers, limiting data Telegram can access.

To start a secret chat:

Open the contact’s profile, tap the menu (three dots), and select Start Secret Chat.

Secret chats also offer self-destruct timers, which automatically delete messages after a set time, further reducing data persistence.

4. Manage Active Sessions and Devices
Telegram lets you review all active sessions where your account is logged in. Keeping track of these helps you spot unauthorized access and limit data exposure.

Check this by going to Settings > Privacy and Security > Active Sessions. Terminate any session you don’t recognize or no longer use.

5. Limit Data Sharing in Bots and Public Channels
Be cautious when interacting with bots or joining public channels. Bots may request permissions to access some of your data, and public channels can expose your activity to a broader audience.

Only interact with trusted bots, and avoid sharing sensitive info.

Review your participation in public groups and channels regularly.

6. Disable Cloud Backup and Notifications on Lock Screen
Telegram chats stored in the cloud can be accessed by Telegram (except for secret chats). Avoid backing up your Telegram data to third-party cloud services such as Google Drive or iCloud.

Also, prevent message content from showing on your device’s lock screen by adjusting notification settings in your phone’s system settings.

Conclusion
While Telegram is designed with privacy in mind, users still have control over how much data the app collects. By tweaking privacy settings, disabling contact syncing, using secret chats, managing sessions, and being cautious with bots and channels, you can significantly reduce data collection on your account. Taking these steps helps ensure your Telegram experience is both private and secure.