Telegram Data Privacy Settings You Should Enable
Posted: Mon May 26, 2025 4:57 am
Telegram is praised for its robust privacy features, giving users more control over their data compared to many other messaging platforms. However, to truly maximize your privacy on Telegram, it’s important to understand and enable key privacy settings. By customizing these settings, you can safeguard your personal information, control who can contact you, and keep your chats more secure. Here’s a detailed guide on the essential Telegram data privacy settings you should enable to protect your information effectively.
1. Enable Two-Step Verification
One of the most important privacy steps you can take telegram data is enabling two-step verification (2FA). This adds an extra layer of security beyond your SMS code during login by requiring a password you set. It helps protect your account from unauthorized access, especially if someone tries to hack your phone number or SIM card.
To activate this, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Two-Step Verification, then set a strong password and an optional recovery email.
2. Control Who Can See Your Phone Number
By default, Telegram requires a phone number to register but you can restrict who sees it. You can choose to make your phone number visible to “Nobody,” “My Contacts,” or “Everybody.” For enhanced privacy, set this to “My Contacts” or “Nobody” to avoid strangers from obtaining your phone number.
Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number to customize visibility.
3. Adjust Last Seen & Online Status
Telegram allows you to control who can see your last seen and online status. You can limit this information to “Everybody,” “My Contacts,” or “Nobody.” Additionally, you can set exceptions for specific users.
Hiding your online status increases privacy by preventing others from knowing when you are active. This is especially useful if you want to avoid being monitored.
Find this setting under Settings > Privacy and Security > Last Seen & Online.
4. Manage Who Can Add You to Groups and Channels
Spam and unwanted group adds are common issues on messaging apps. Telegram lets you control who can add you to groups or channels: everyone, only your contacts, or nobody. Setting this to “My Contacts” or “Nobody” helps reduce spam and unwanted invitations.
Navigate to Settings > Privacy and Security > Groups & Channels to configure this.
5. Enable Secret Chats for End-to-End Encryption
Regular Telegram chats are encrypted but stored on Telegram’s servers. For maximum privacy, use Secret Chats, which are end-to-end encrypted and exist only on the devices involved. These chats support self-destruct timers for messages and prevent forwarding.
To start a secret chat, tap the contact’s name and choose Start Secret Chat.
6. Limit Who Can See Your Profile Photos
Profile photos can reveal personal identity, so restricting visibility can enhance your privacy. You can choose to show your photo to everyone, only contacts, or nobody, with exceptions for individual users.
Adjust this in Settings > Privacy and Security > Profile Photo.
7. Disable Link Previews and Save to Gallery
For better control over shared media, you can disable link previews in chats and stop Telegram from saving photos or videos automatically to your device gallery. This prevents unwanted media exposure and protects your device’s storage.
Find these options under Settings > Data and Storage.
Conclusion
Telegram offers powerful privacy features, but the real benefit comes when you actively customize these settings. Enabling two-step verification, controlling who sees your phone number and online status, managing group invites, and using secret chats are essential steps to secure your data. By adjusting these Telegram data privacy settings, you ensure a safer, more private messaging experience tailored to your needs.
1. Enable Two-Step Verification
One of the most important privacy steps you can take telegram data is enabling two-step verification (2FA). This adds an extra layer of security beyond your SMS code during login by requiring a password you set. It helps protect your account from unauthorized access, especially if someone tries to hack your phone number or SIM card.
To activate this, go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Two-Step Verification, then set a strong password and an optional recovery email.
2. Control Who Can See Your Phone Number
By default, Telegram requires a phone number to register but you can restrict who sees it. You can choose to make your phone number visible to “Nobody,” “My Contacts,” or “Everybody.” For enhanced privacy, set this to “My Contacts” or “Nobody” to avoid strangers from obtaining your phone number.
Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number to customize visibility.
3. Adjust Last Seen & Online Status
Telegram allows you to control who can see your last seen and online status. You can limit this information to “Everybody,” “My Contacts,” or “Nobody.” Additionally, you can set exceptions for specific users.
Hiding your online status increases privacy by preventing others from knowing when you are active. This is especially useful if you want to avoid being monitored.
Find this setting under Settings > Privacy and Security > Last Seen & Online.
4. Manage Who Can Add You to Groups and Channels
Spam and unwanted group adds are common issues on messaging apps. Telegram lets you control who can add you to groups or channels: everyone, only your contacts, or nobody. Setting this to “My Contacts” or “Nobody” helps reduce spam and unwanted invitations.
Navigate to Settings > Privacy and Security > Groups & Channels to configure this.
5. Enable Secret Chats for End-to-End Encryption
Regular Telegram chats are encrypted but stored on Telegram’s servers. For maximum privacy, use Secret Chats, which are end-to-end encrypted and exist only on the devices involved. These chats support self-destruct timers for messages and prevent forwarding.
To start a secret chat, tap the contact’s name and choose Start Secret Chat.
6. Limit Who Can See Your Profile Photos
Profile photos can reveal personal identity, so restricting visibility can enhance your privacy. You can choose to show your photo to everyone, only contacts, or nobody, with exceptions for individual users.
Adjust this in Settings > Privacy and Security > Profile Photo.
7. Disable Link Previews and Save to Gallery
For better control over shared media, you can disable link previews in chats and stop Telegram from saving photos or videos automatically to your device gallery. This prevents unwanted media exposure and protects your device’s storage.
Find these options under Settings > Data and Storage.
Conclusion
Telegram offers powerful privacy features, but the real benefit comes when you actively customize these settings. Enabling two-step verification, controlling who sees your phone number and online status, managing group invites, and using secret chats are essential steps to secure your data. By adjusting these Telegram data privacy settings, you ensure a safer, more private messaging experience tailored to your needs.