How Telegram works

You are looking for a new messaging application because the one you are currently using doesn’t satisfy you anymore. Therefore, some of your friends have suggested that you try Telegram, as they claim it is very good. Well I can’t help but agree with him. As I explained to you in my guide dedicated to messaging apps, Telegram is a noteworthy application, like the more famous WhatsApp.

The purpose of this guide will be to explain in detail how Telegram works and how you can use it on Android, iOS and on PC. Also keep in mind that you can also use the Web version of Telegram, taking advantage of the chat of the application even through the browser you use most frequently to surf the Internet. In addition, I will also tell you about the features present on Telegram that may certainly be of interest to you.

Are you ready to discover in detail the main features of this messaging application? Well! Then take a few minutes of free time to read this tutorial with peace of mind, I’m sure you will be very satisfied. As always, I just have to wish you a good read!

Index

• Features of Telegram
• How to download and configure Telegram
  • How to download Telegram on Android
  • How to download Telegram on iOS / iPadOS
  • How to download Telegram on PC
  • How to configure Telegram
• How to send messages on Telegram
  • How Telegram works on Android
  • How Telegram works on iOS
  • How Telegram works on PC
  • How Telegram Web works
• How Telegram works: groups
• How Telegram works: channels
• How Telegram works: contacts
• How Telegram works: bot

Features of Telegram

The operation of the Telegram application is essentially the same on all mobile devices and in the web and desktop version of the service. Telegram is based on the cloud with encrypted chats thanks to a system that makes it impossible to intercept messages.

The cloud integration just mentioned is a noteworthy feature of this service, as it has the advantage that all multimedia attachments and conversations will be saved online and, therefore, will be accessible from any device you are logged in to. .

Similar to other messaging applications, Telegram has several useful features for messaging: the ability to send emojis, GIFs, voice messages, photos, videos and much more. What differentiates Telegram, however, are its additional tools: the ability to create channels (conversations in which a single person posts messages and is followed by other users), groups (conversations between groups of people) and secret chats  (conversations with messages that self-destruct), but I’ll tell you about it in the next chapters.

Telegram also offers advanced features as it is an open-source application that can be customized thanks to the APIs. Telegram’s purpose is to become a very complete tool and not just a simple messaging application.

How to download and configure Telegram

If you want to know how to download and configure Telegram on your mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets, or on a PC, what you need to do is carefully read all the information you will find in the next chapters.

How to download Telegram on Android

Do you have an Android device and would like to find out how to download Telegram? In this case, I can explain in detail how to download the application on devices equipped with the famous green robot operating system.

First, open the Google Play Store (the icon with an inverted colored triangle ). The Play Store app is located on the main screen of your device, which is the one where all the icons of the installed applications are located (home screen or drawer).

Once the application has started, tap on the search bar at the top right and type ” telegram “, then pressing the magnifying glass icon on your device keyboard to confirm. Now you have to locate the messaging application among the search results: the application has the symbol of a paper airplane on a blue background and is developed by Telegram FZ-LLC.

After identifying the application, tap on its icon and wait for its preview to be shown. To download it you will then have to press the Install button and wait for it to be downloaded correctly on your smartphone or tablet. If you want to simplify this procedure, tap on this link which refers directly to the Telegram card on the Play Store.

How to download Telegram on iOS / iPadOS

Is your device an iPhone or an iPad? Don’t worry, Telegram is also available for iOS and iPadOS operating systems. I’ll explain immediately how to download it on your Apple mobile device.

Open the Apple App Store (The icon of a stylized A ) and tap the Search button below. Then type ” telegram ” in the search engine that will appear at the top and press the Search button on the keyboard. Once you have located the app, download and install it by pressing the Get button.

At this point, unlock the download and installation via Face ID, Touch ID or Apple ID password. If you want to facilitate this procedure, tap on this link which refers to the Telegram tab of the App Store and follow the instructions I have given you.

How to download Telegram on PC

If you want to download Telegram on your PC you need to know that you have several options. First of all, you can take advantage of Telegram Web, which allows you to access the service of this messaging application directly from your browser, without having to install any software. All you have to do is reach the official website.

As for Telegram on Windows 10, from the Microsoft Store at this link you can easily get the app of this service, by pressing the Get button. Regardless of the Windows version, however, you can install Telegram via .exe file, which can be downloaded from the official website.

Click the Download Telegram for Windows 64-bit button to get the version of Telegram compatible with 64-bit processors, otherwise click Download Telegram for Windows. After downloading the file, on the installation screen, press OK, Next (three consecutive times), Install and finally on Finish.

On the official website of Telegram are also available portable versions of Telegram that do not require software installation. To download them, simply click on the word Portable version, corresponding to the version for Windows.

Telegram can also be downloaded for Linux and macOS. As for the latter operating system, you can install Telegram directly from the Mac App Store, by pressing the Get button. Alternatively, you can download Telegram from the official website by pressing the Download Telegram for macOS button. With the .dmg file obtained, double click on it and drag the Telegram icon to the Applications folder.

If you want to know more about how to install Telegram on your computer or how to use Telegram Web, my advice is to consult this tutorial dedicated to the subject.

How to configure Telegram

Once the application is launched on your Android and iOS / iPadOS device, the first thing you will need to do is to log in, using your phone number. To configure Telegram with your mobile number, then press the Start Messaging / Start Messaging button that you see on the screen.

Subsequently, in the main screen you will have to indicate the country using the appropriate drop-down menu and also your mobile number (make sure the correct prefix) and then press the confirm button or Next. Telegram will send you an SMS with the confirmation code that you will need to enter in the appropriate text field.

Once you have performed this procedure correctly, you will have full access to Telegram and can use it to exchange messages with your contacts in the application. If you are asked to activate notifications on your smartphone you can consent; this option will be used to notify you of the arrival of new messages.

On PC you can log in to Telegram in the same way as I indicated in the previous paragraphs. However, you can also make use of access via QR Code: on Telegram Web it is the default access option, while on the desktop client you have to press the word Quick login using QR code on the login screen.

The QR Code that is shown to you on the PC screen must be viewed from your smartphone or tablet where you have already logged in to this messaging service. So open the Telegram app on your mobile device and select Settings> Devices> Scan QR code> Scan QR code to enable the camera and frame the QR Code on the PC screen.

How to send messages on Telegram

Now that you have installed and configured the first access to Telegram, let’s see together how to use it to be able to send messages to your contacts.

How Telegram works on Android

When you log in to Telegram on Android you will find yourself in the main screen where all the open conversations with your contacts are present. If this is your first time using this service, it will be blank instead.

To send a message, click on the pencil icon at the bottom and select the person to contact by tapping on it. The panel dedicated to the conversation will open and you can send a text message via the text field at the bottom, corresponding to the wording Message.

To send multimedia content (photos, videos, music, files and much more) press on the paper clip icon. To send a voice message, press on the microphone icon instead.

When you have a private conversation with a contact, you can also decide to call or video call them. To do this, press the icon (…) at the top and select the Call or Video call items respectively.

If, on the other hand, you want to open a secret chat with a contact, which allows the conversation to be encrypted end-to-end, press on the pencil icon, select the New secret chat item and then press the name of the contact you want to chat with.

How Telegram works on iOS

On iOS and iPadOS, when the application is started, you will be able to navigate between the main application screens using the menu below. The Contacts item (symbol of a little man ), allows you to view the complete list of your contacts in the application, the Chat item (symbol of a cartoon ), allows you to access the list of recent conversations.

To send a message to a person in the Contacts list you must select the person to contact by tapping on it. The dedicated chat will open through which you can send a text message by typing it in the text field below, in correspondence with the wording Message. To send multimedia files click on the paperclip icon. To send a voice message, tap on the camera icon.

To start a new conversation with a person not previously contacted, press the pencil icon with the sheet of paper at the top right. To start a call or a video call, instead, press on the name of your interlocutor (at the top) and tap on the handset (voice call) or video camera (video call) icon.

How Telegram works on PC

As for the operation of Telegram on PC, you must know that its interface is intuitive in a way similar to what has already been seen on Android and iPhone / iPad. In the left bar you will find all the conversations that have occurred so far with your contacts, unless it is your first use and therefore it will be empty.

When you click on a conversation, it is shown to you in the area on the right and you can type a message using the text field below. You can also add attachments using the paperclip icon or send a voice message by pressing the microphone icon .

To start the conversation with a new contact, instead, press on the menu icon at the top left and select the Contacts item. Then click on the contact you want to chat with to open the chat screen. If you want to make a call or video call instead, simply press on the handset icon at the top.

How Telegram Webworks

If you want to use Telegram Web, know that its interface is very similar to that of the desktop client, which I have already told you about in detail in this chapter. Therefore, refer to what I have already illustrated to you, to untangle your messaging features.

The only function not available on Telegram Web are the call and video call: in fact, there is no handset icon to start a conversation other than the textual one.

How Telegram Groups works

On Telegram there are groups: this is a feature that allows multiple users to talk together in the same chat. Telegram groups can be private or public and can contain up to 200,000 members. They are managed by one or more administrators who can moderate the chat.

If you want to know how to create a new group on Telegram, I recommend reading this tutorial of mine. If you want to look for a group to join it, you can refer to this guide of mine. After you have found the group, you can decide to join it and, in case you want to leave it, you can read the instructions I gave you in my guide on how to leave a Telegram group.

How Telegram Canali works

Unlike groups, Telegram channels instead allow you to have an unlimited audience. Furthermore, the only ones authorized to post messages in the chat are the administrators, while the rest of the users can only read the messages sent by them. Channels can also be public or private.

It is actually possible to allow users who follow a channel to interact with published messages. This can happen if the administrator has enabled the Discussion feature in the channel settings: this feature adds a comment field that allows you to keep the discussion alive between users with each new message posted.

If you want to know how to create a channel, I recommend reading this tutorial of mine. If, on the other hand, you want to be part of a Telegram channel, you must first locate it (I told you about it in this guide of mine ) and then join it.

How Telegram Contacts works

Telegram automatically accesses the contacts saved in the address book (with prior consent) to verify that any of your friends use this service. To access the Contacts tab, on iOS / iPadOS you will find the homonymous tab at the bottom, while on Android and PC, press on the menu icon and then select the Contacts item.

In case you want to add a new contact to Telegram, you can then add the number in the address book. Alternatively, in the Contacts section, click on Add contacts and fill in the required fields, also indicating the telephone number. To learn more about this topic, I recommend reading this tutorial of mine.

If you don’t have a phone number, you can still search for users, add them to your contacts so as to text them: you can find all the information in this guide of mine. If you want, you can also delete a contact from Telegram, in case you no longer want to talk to him.

How Telegram Bot works

The bot Telegram are small programs generally developed by third parties that take advantage of this API messaging service to extend the features offered.

If you want to know more about how Telegram bots work, I recommend reading this tutorial of mine. If you want to know how to create one, you can read this guide of mine. You can also decide to add a bot already created by others on Telegram or in a group.