How to Recover Lost Data from Telegram
Posted: Mon May 26, 2025 5:38 am
Losing important data on Telegram can be frustrating, especially if it involves crucial messages, media, or files. However, depending on how the data was lost and your usage habits, there are several effective ways to recover it. This guide outlines various methods to help you recover lost data from Telegram.
1. Check Telegram Cloud Storage
Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app, meaning telegram data most of your data is stored on Telegram’s servers rather than locally on your device. If you have accidentally deleted the app or switched to a new device, simply reinstall Telegram and log in with the same phone number. All your messages, media, and files stored in the cloud will be restored automatically.
Note: Telegram does not store deleted messages once you remove them manually, especially in private chats. So if you deleted a message yourself, it may be unrecoverable.
2. Recover Media from the Telegram Folder
If you downloaded media (photos, videos, documents) and they are no longer visible in the app, check your device’s file manager:
For Android: Go to File Manager > Telegram > Telegram Images or Telegram Documents.
For iOS: Telegram media is usually stored within the app’s sandboxed storage and might not be directly accessible without a file explorer or third-party app.
Sometimes files remain in your phone’s storage even after being deleted from the chat, unless you cleared cache or reset the device.
3. Use Telegram Desktop or Web
If you were using Telegram Desktop or Telegram Web, you might still be able to access messages or files you previously viewed. Open Telegram on your desktop or browser and log in. The data may still be available there if it hasn’t been cleared or if the session remains active.
4. Restore from Backups
While Telegram doesn’t offer a manual backup option like WhatsApp, some users create backups using third-party tools. If you’ve used software to export your Telegram chat history (such as using Telegram's “Export Chat History” on desktop), you can restore your data from the exported files.
Also, if your phone is set to back up app data (using Google Drive or iCloud), and Telegram was included, you might be able to restore data by resetting your phone and recovering from a previous backup.
5. Ask the Other Party
If the data lost involved conversations or media shared in chats with others, one simple method is to ask the other person to resend the data. Since Telegram allows users to delete messages for both sides, this only works if the other party hasn’t also deleted the content.
Final Thoughts
Recovering lost data from Telegram depends heavily on how it was lost and whether you’ve taken preventive steps like enabling cloud sync, saving media, or exporting chats. While Telegram doesn’t offer an official data recovery tool, using these methods gives you the best chance of retrieving your valuable information. To avoid future data loss, consider saving important messages, exporting chats regularly, and backing up your phone’s data.
1. Check Telegram Cloud Storage
Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app, meaning telegram data most of your data is stored on Telegram’s servers rather than locally on your device. If you have accidentally deleted the app or switched to a new device, simply reinstall Telegram and log in with the same phone number. All your messages, media, and files stored in the cloud will be restored automatically.
Note: Telegram does not store deleted messages once you remove them manually, especially in private chats. So if you deleted a message yourself, it may be unrecoverable.
2. Recover Media from the Telegram Folder
If you downloaded media (photos, videos, documents) and they are no longer visible in the app, check your device’s file manager:
For Android: Go to File Manager > Telegram > Telegram Images or Telegram Documents.
For iOS: Telegram media is usually stored within the app’s sandboxed storage and might not be directly accessible without a file explorer or third-party app.
Sometimes files remain in your phone’s storage even after being deleted from the chat, unless you cleared cache or reset the device.
3. Use Telegram Desktop or Web
If you were using Telegram Desktop or Telegram Web, you might still be able to access messages or files you previously viewed. Open Telegram on your desktop or browser and log in. The data may still be available there if it hasn’t been cleared or if the session remains active.
4. Restore from Backups
While Telegram doesn’t offer a manual backup option like WhatsApp, some users create backups using third-party tools. If you’ve used software to export your Telegram chat history (such as using Telegram's “Export Chat History” on desktop), you can restore your data from the exported files.
Also, if your phone is set to back up app data (using Google Drive or iCloud), and Telegram was included, you might be able to restore data by resetting your phone and recovering from a previous backup.
5. Ask the Other Party
If the data lost involved conversations or media shared in chats with others, one simple method is to ask the other person to resend the data. Since Telegram allows users to delete messages for both sides, this only works if the other party hasn’t also deleted the content.
Final Thoughts
Recovering lost data from Telegram depends heavily on how it was lost and whether you’ve taken preventive steps like enabling cloud sync, saving media, or exporting chats. While Telegram doesn’t offer an official data recovery tool, using these methods gives you the best chance of retrieving your valuable information. To avoid future data loss, consider saving important messages, exporting chats regularly, and backing up your phone’s data.