Why install Telegram Messenger for iPhone from the App Store
Installing through the App Store gives you Apple's security guarantees: a sandboxed environment, code signing, and clear permission prompts for photos, contacts and the microphone. It also participates in App Store update batches, so you never miss a critical fix.
Device compatibility
- iPhone models running iOS 15 or later (iPhone 6s and newer)
- iPad models running iPadOS 15 or later
- iPod touch 7th generation
- Optimized layout on iPad with sidebar navigation and pinned chats
Install and sign in on iPhone
- Tap Open in App Store. The App Store opens with the Telegram listing.
- Tap Get, then authenticate with Face ID, Touch ID or your Apple ID password.
- Open Telegram, enter your phone number and the code you receive via SMS or your other Telegram sessions.
- Allow notifications so message previews reach the Lock Screen; you can fine-tune per-chat sounds later.
- Optionally set a Focus filter so Telegram only alerts you during work or personal hours.
iOS-specific features to enable
- Live Activities. Show ongoing voice chats and incoming call cards in the Dynamic Island.
- Focus filters. Route work channels to your Work Focus and hide personal chats when clocked in.
- Interactive widgets. Pin favorite chats or unread counts to the Home Screen and Lock Screen.
- App Shortcuts. Ask Siri to send messages to pinned contacts or start a voice chat.
- Handoff. Continue a message on your Mac that you started on iPhone.
Managing storage and iCloud
Telegram lets you set a cache size limit and clear cached media per chat from Settings → Data and Storage. Your messages and files are stored in Telegram's cloud rather than in iCloud Drive, so backing up the app to iCloud does not consume your storage — resigning in on a new device restores everything automatically.
Notifications, privacy and Focus
Fine-tune your alerts in Settings → Notifications and Sounds. Telegram supports rich, quoted notifications with reply-from-Lock-Screen and works with Focus modes so, for example, only starred contacts break through Do Not Disturb. Two-step verification, passcode lock and Face ID unlock are all available in Privacy and Security.
Troubleshooting on iPhone
If a message push fails to arrive, check that Background App Refresh is enabled for Telegram in Settings → General → Background App Refresh. Should the app misbehave, force quit it via the App Switcher and reopen — your local session re-establishes automatically. Reinstalling never loses data because chats live in the cloud.