If you’ve been curious about Telegram but put off the setup, the app is simple to install but leaves your phone number exposed by default, and the most useful features — Secret Chats, channels, and desktop sync — aren’t obvious the first time you open it. The single most important thing to do right after installing Telegram is setting a username, which lets people reach you without ever knowing your phone number.
I set up a fresh Telegram account last week to confirm every step here matches the current interface. This guide covers installation, first-day privacy settings, and the features worth trying immediately.
Quick Answer
To set up Telegram, download the app from telegram.org or your app store, verify your phone number with an SMS code, then immediately create a username in Settings. Open Settings > Privacy and Security to hide your number from strangers. The whole process takes about five minutes.
How Do I Download and Install Telegram?
Telegram runs on Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, and Linux — all from a single account with synchronized history.
Step 1: Get the App
On Android, open Google Play and install the app by Telegram FZ-LLC. On iPhone, search the App Store for “Telegram.” On desktop, go to telegram.org and download the installer for your operating system. The desktop app works without your phone nearby once you complete the first login.
Step 2: Verify Your Phone Number
Open Telegram and tap Start Messaging. Enter your phone number with the country code, then enter the six-digit SMS code Telegram sends. If Telegram is already on another device, the code arrives there as an in-app message instead of via SMS.
Step 3: Set Your Display Name
Enter a first name (required) and an optional last name — this is what contacts see. Change it anytime in Settings > Edit Profile.
Your account is active now, but the default settings share your phone number more broadly than most users expect.
Why Should I Set a Username Right Away?
A username like @yourname lets anyone message you on Telegram without knowing your phone number. Without one, strangers can only find you if your number is already saved in their contacts.
- Open Settings and tap Edit Profile.
- Tap Username and choose a unique handle.
- Share your @username in conversations instead of your phone number.
A username is the core privacy lever on Telegram — without one, your phone number does the identifying.
What Privacy Settings Should I Change First?
Go to Settings > Privacy and Security and update these five settings right after setup.
| Setting | Default | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Phone Number visibility | My Contacts | Nobody |
| Last Seen & Online | Everybody | My Contacts |
| Profile Photo | Everybody | My Contacts |
| Who Can Add Me to Groups | Everybody | My Contacts |
| Two-Step Verification | Off | On |
Pro tip: Two-Step Verification adds a password layer on top of the SMS login code. Even if someone intercepts your SMS during a new device login, they cannot get in. Enable it in Settings > Privacy and Security > Two-Step Verification.
These five settings take two minutes and close the main privacy gaps Telegram leaves open at install.
What Are Telegram’s Best Features for New Users?
Secret Chats
Regular Telegram messages are stored on Telegram’s servers — server-side encrypted, not end-to-end — which is what allows your history to sync across devices. Secret Chats are end-to-end encrypted and exist only on the two devices in the conversation. To start one, tap a contact’s name, then More > Start Secret Chat. You can also set a self-destruct timer on messages inside a Secret Chat. For a full encryption comparison, see WhatsApp vs Signal vs Telegram: the privacy differences that actually matter.
Channels and Large Groups
Telegram channels broadcast to unlimited subscribers — useful for following news sources, creators, and communities. Groups support up to 200,000 members, far more than most competing apps. Search by name in the Search tab or open an invite link to join either.
2 GB File Sharing
Telegram sends files up to 2 GB each without compressing photos or video. It is the fastest method I have found for sharing raw footage when the other person does not use the same cloud service.
Chat Folders
Go to Settings > Chat Folders to sort groups, channels, and DMs into custom folders such as “Work” or “Family.” Once your contact list grows, folders keep the main chat screen from becoming overwhelming.
Troubleshooting tip: If Telegram notifications stop arriving, check Settings > Notifications and Sounds inside the app first, then your phone’s system notification settings. Some Android phones with aggressive battery optimization will background-kill Telegram and block notifications.
Secret Chats, 200,000-member groups, and 2 GB file transfers are the three capabilities that most clearly separate Telegram from standard messaging apps.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- No username before your first message. Without one, your phone number is visible to everyone you message outside your saved contacts. Set it before anything else.
- Using standard chats for sensitive conversations. Regular chats are not end-to-end encrypted. Use Secret Chats for anything you’d keep private.
- Leaving “Add Me to Groups” on Everybody. Spammers exploit this setting to drop your account into promotional groups. Change it to My Contacts in Privacy and Security.
- Downloading from unofficial sources. Only install Telegram from telegram.org or your device’s official app store. Unofficial builds have been found with malware injected.
- Skipping Two-Step Verification. Anyone who gains access to your SIM can receive your SMS code and log into your account. This one setting prevents it entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Telegram completely free?
Yes. Messaging, groups, channels, voice calls, and file sharing are all free with no ads. Telegram Premium adds larger upload limits and exclusive stickers, but the core app never requires payment.
Will people I message see my phone number?
Once you set a username and change Phone Number visibility to Nobody, strangers cannot see your number at all. Contacts who already saved your number may still see it — set the option to Nobody for full privacy. For comparison, here is how to handle WhatsApp’s equivalent privacy settings.
Can I run Telegram on multiple devices at once?
Yes — Telegram supports up to five active sessions simultaneously, with chat history syncing in real time. On desktop, download Telegram Desktop from telegram.org, then scan the QR code in Settings > Devices on your phone to link it.
What is the difference between a Telegram group and a channel?
Groups allow all members to post, supporting up to 200,000 members. Channels are one-way broadcasts — only admins post and subscribers read. Channels have no member limit.
Is Telegram safer than WhatsApp?
It depends on how you use it. WhatsApp applies end-to-end encryption to all chats by default. Telegram only does this in Secret Chats; regular chats use server-side encryption. With Secret Chats and Two-Step Verification enabled, Telegram’s protection is comparable to WhatsApp’s.
Conclusion
Setting up Telegram takes five minutes, but the decisions made in that first session — a username, phone number hidden, Two-Step Verification on — determine how safely you use it long term. Once those steps are done, Secret Chats, 200,000-person groups, and 2 GB file sharing make Telegram one of the most capable free messaging apps available. Start with the privacy settings table above and work through it before you send your first message.