Why choose Telegram Desktop over the Store version
The classic Telegram Desktop build is what most Windows power users install. It offers a slightly newer update cadence than the Microsoft Store edition, opens external links exactly the way your default browser expects, and preserves every hotkey shortcut you configure. If you already run Telegram on other devices, the desktop app pulls your entire chat history from the cloud within seconds of the first sign-in.
System requirements for the Windows installer
- Windows 10 (x64) or Windows 11 with the latest updates
- At least 200 MB of free space (plus room for downloads)
- 2 GB RAM or more for smooth animations and media preview
- Broadband internet for cloud chat sync
Install Telegram Desktop on Windows step by step
- Click the download button above to fetch the .exe file.
- Double-click the installer. If Windows asks for permission, choose Yes.
- Pick an install directory, then hit Install. The whole process takes about 30 seconds on an SSD.
- Launch Telegram Desktop, enter your phone number and confirm the 5-digit code sent to your existing session.
- Import your chat folders — they arrive automatically from the cloud, no export required.
Power-user features you get on Windows
- Multi-account sign-in. Add up to three phone numbers and switch between them from the sidebar.
- Global hotkeys. Send with
Ctrl+Enter, mark chat as read withCtrl+Shift+Rand jump to the search box withCtrl+K. - Chat folders and archive. Organize personal, work and channel chats into tabs that sync across devices.
- Native notifications. Full support for the Windows Action Center, quiet hours and per-chat sounds.
- Compact tray mode. Keep Telegram running in the system tray without occupying the taskbar.
Keeping Telegram Desktop up to date
By default, Telegram Desktop for Windows checks for updates on launch and installs them silently in the background. You can trigger a manual check from Settings → Advanced → Check for updates. If you need to install a specific version for a corporate rollout, keep a copy of the .exe you downloaded here — the installer is a single file with no external dependencies.
Safety and integrity of the download
Every request from this page is routed through our content-delivery layer, which serves a byte-for-byte copy of the upstream file. After downloading, you can right-click the installer, choose Properties → Digital Signatures and verify that the certificate belongs to the publisher.
Frequently asked Windows questions
Do I need to uninstall the Store version first? No — the classic desktop client installs in its own folder and doesn't clash with the Microsoft Store build.
Can I run Telegram on Windows on ARM? Yes, Windows 11 on ARM emulates x64 apps well, and the installer works without changes.
How do I sign out remotely? Open Settings → Devices and terminate any session you no longer recognise. The desktop app can be signed out from any other Telegram device.