Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. Telegram is completely free to download and use on Windows, macOS, Android and iOS. There are no subscription fees or ads for the core messaging experience, and all downloads on this site are provided at no cost.

Telegram uses strong encryption to protect your messages and offers optional end-to-end encrypted secret chats. As long as you download the official installer, the app is safe to use. Always keep it updated to the latest version for the best security.

Download the Telegram Desktop installer from our Download page, open the .exe file and follow the setup wizard. Once installed, launch Telegram, enter your phone number and confirm the verification code to start chatting.

Telegram works on Windows 10 and 11, macOS 10.13 and later, Android 5.0 and later, and iOS 12 and later. You can also use Telegram Web directly in any modern browser without installing anything.

On Windows and macOS the desktop app usually updates itself automatically; you can also re-download the latest installer from our Download page. On Android and iOS, update through Google Play or the App Store, or install the newest APK.

Absolutely. Telegram is cloud-based, so you can be signed in on your phone, tablet and computer simultaneously. Your chats, media and files stay perfectly in sync across every device.

Yes, a phone number is required to create a Telegram account and verify your identity. Once registered you can set a public username so people can contact you without sharing your number.

The Telegram app itself is lightweight – around 48 MB on Windows. Because media is stored in the cloud, you can control local cache size in the settings and clear it any time to free up space.

The APK provided here is the official Telegram build. To install it you may need to allow installation from your browser or file manager in Android settings. Alternatively, you can install Telegram from Google Play.