Telegram Data Privacy Settings Explained
Posted: Thu May 29, 2025 7:04 am
Telegram’s approach to privacy is often lauded for its robust features, but it's important to understand the nuances, especially concerning the distinction between "Cloud Chats" (most regular chats) and "Secret Chats."
1. Account Information Visibility
These settings control who can see your basic profile details:
Phone Number: This is one of the most critical settings.
Nobody: Recommended for maximum privacy. No one, not even your contacts, will see your phone number. Users can only find you by your username if you have one.
My Contacts: Only people in your phone's contact list who telegram data are also on Telegram can see your number.
Everybody: Anyone on Telegram can see your phone number if they find your profile.
Last Seen & Online: This controls who can see when you were last active or if you are currently online.
Nobody: Hides your "last seen" timestamp and "online" status from everyone. You also won't see theirs.
My Contacts: Only your contacts can see your "last seen" and "online" status.
Everybody: Everyone can see your "last seen" and "online" status.
"Always share with..." / "Never share with...": You can add specific users to exceptions lists, overriding the general setting.
Profile Photo: Determines who can see your profile picture.
Nobody: No one can see your profile picture.
My Contacts: Only your contacts can see your profile picture.
Everybody: Everyone can see your profile picture.
"Always share with..." / "Never share with...": Similar to "Last Seen," you can add exceptions. This is useful if you want to show your profile picture to most people but hide it from a few.
Bio/About: The short description you can add to your profile is always public if you have a username.
2. Communication and Interaction Settings
These settings control who can initiate contact or add you to groups:
Forwarded Messages: This impacts whether a link to your profile is included when your messages are forwarded.
Nobody: Forwarded messages will not link back to your profile. Your identity remains anonymous when your messages are forwarded.
My Contacts: Only your contacts will see a link to your profile when they forward your messages.
Everybody: Anyone who forwards your messages will include a link to your profile.
Calls:
Nobody: No one can call you directly through Telegram.
My Contacts: Only your contacts can call you on Telegram.
Everybody: Anyone can call you on Telegram.
Peer-to-peer (P2P): You can also control P2P calls (direct connection between devices) or route all calls through Telegram's servers. P2P calls might reveal your IP address to the other party, so routing through servers offers more privacy.
Groups & Channels:
Nobody: Prevents anyone from adding you to groups or channels without your explicit consent.
My Contacts: Only your contacts can add you to groups or channels.
Everybody: Anyone can add you to groups or channels.
3. Data Settings and Account Security
These settings relate to how Telegram handles your data and secures your account:
Two-Step Verification (Cloud Password): This is highly recommended. It adds an extra layer of security beyond just your phone number. Even if someone gains access to your SIM card, they won't be able to log into your Telegram account without this password.
Passcode Lock: This allows you to set a local passcode (PIN or fingerprint/face ID) to unlock the Telegram app on your device. This protects your chats if someone gains physical access to your unlocked phone.
Active Sessions: Shows all devices where you are currently logged in. You can remotely terminate any session you don't recognize or no longer use, effectively logging out that device.
Auto-Delete My Account: This is a critical privacy feature. You can set a period of inactivity (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year) after which your entire account, along with all chats, media, and contacts, will be permanently deleted from Telegram's servers if you don't log in. This acts as a digital will.
Data Settings:
Storage Usage: Allows you to clear Telegram's cache on your device, which frees up local storage. You can also set an "Keep Media" period, after which downloaded media will be removed from your device's cache (but remains in the cloud).
Delete Synced Contacts: If you allowed Telegram to sync your phone's contacts, you can delete them from Telegram's servers. Telegram uses synced contacts to notify you when a contact joins and to display their names from your phone book.
Secret Chats: While not a "setting" per se, Secret Chats are a core privacy feature. They offer end-to-end encryption, meaning messages are only accessible on the participating devices and never stored on Telegram's servers. They also include self-destruct timers and screenshot prevention. This contrasts with regular "Cloud Chats," which are encrypted client-to-server and stored on Telegram's servers for multi-device synchronization (albeit with encryption at rest).
1. Account Information Visibility
These settings control who can see your basic profile details:
Phone Number: This is one of the most critical settings.
Nobody: Recommended for maximum privacy. No one, not even your contacts, will see your phone number. Users can only find you by your username if you have one.
My Contacts: Only people in your phone's contact list who telegram data are also on Telegram can see your number.
Everybody: Anyone on Telegram can see your phone number if they find your profile.
Last Seen & Online: This controls who can see when you were last active or if you are currently online.
Nobody: Hides your "last seen" timestamp and "online" status from everyone. You also won't see theirs.
My Contacts: Only your contacts can see your "last seen" and "online" status.
Everybody: Everyone can see your "last seen" and "online" status.
"Always share with..." / "Never share with...": You can add specific users to exceptions lists, overriding the general setting.
Profile Photo: Determines who can see your profile picture.
Nobody: No one can see your profile picture.
My Contacts: Only your contacts can see your profile picture.
Everybody: Everyone can see your profile picture.
"Always share with..." / "Never share with...": Similar to "Last Seen," you can add exceptions. This is useful if you want to show your profile picture to most people but hide it from a few.
Bio/About: The short description you can add to your profile is always public if you have a username.
2. Communication and Interaction Settings
These settings control who can initiate contact or add you to groups:
Forwarded Messages: This impacts whether a link to your profile is included when your messages are forwarded.
Nobody: Forwarded messages will not link back to your profile. Your identity remains anonymous when your messages are forwarded.
My Contacts: Only your contacts will see a link to your profile when they forward your messages.
Everybody: Anyone who forwards your messages will include a link to your profile.
Calls:
Nobody: No one can call you directly through Telegram.
My Contacts: Only your contacts can call you on Telegram.
Everybody: Anyone can call you on Telegram.
Peer-to-peer (P2P): You can also control P2P calls (direct connection between devices) or route all calls through Telegram's servers. P2P calls might reveal your IP address to the other party, so routing through servers offers more privacy.
Groups & Channels:
Nobody: Prevents anyone from adding you to groups or channels without your explicit consent.
My Contacts: Only your contacts can add you to groups or channels.
Everybody: Anyone can add you to groups or channels.
3. Data Settings and Account Security
These settings relate to how Telegram handles your data and secures your account:
Two-Step Verification (Cloud Password): This is highly recommended. It adds an extra layer of security beyond just your phone number. Even if someone gains access to your SIM card, they won't be able to log into your Telegram account without this password.
Passcode Lock: This allows you to set a local passcode (PIN or fingerprint/face ID) to unlock the Telegram app on your device. This protects your chats if someone gains physical access to your unlocked phone.
Active Sessions: Shows all devices where you are currently logged in. You can remotely terminate any session you don't recognize or no longer use, effectively logging out that device.
Auto-Delete My Account: This is a critical privacy feature. You can set a period of inactivity (1 month, 3 months, 6 months, or 1 year) after which your entire account, along with all chats, media, and contacts, will be permanently deleted from Telegram's servers if you don't log in. This acts as a digital will.
Data Settings:
Storage Usage: Allows you to clear Telegram's cache on your device, which frees up local storage. You can also set an "Keep Media" period, after which downloaded media will be removed from your device's cache (but remains in the cloud).
Delete Synced Contacts: If you allowed Telegram to sync your phone's contacts, you can delete them from Telegram's servers. Telegram uses synced contacts to notify you when a contact joins and to display their names from your phone book.
Secret Chats: While not a "setting" per se, Secret Chats are a core privacy feature. They offer end-to-end encryption, meaning messages are only accessible on the participating devices and never stored on Telegram's servers. They also include self-destruct timers and screenshot prevention. This contrasts with regular "Cloud Chats," which are encrypted client-to-server and stored on Telegram's servers for multi-device synchronization (albeit with encryption at rest).