Telegram Privacy and Security Settings: Complete Guide (2026)

Telegram offers extensive privacy controls that go far beyond most messaging apps. This guide walks through every privacy and security setting you should configure to protect your account.

Phone Number Privacy

By default, your phone number may be visible to contacts. To change this:

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number
Set "Who can see my phone number" to Nobody
Set "Who can find me by my number" to My Contacts

This prevents strangers from discovering your phone number through Telegram.

Last Seen and Online Status

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Last Seen & Online
Options: Everybody, My Contacts, Nobody
You can add exceptions — always show to specific people, or always hide from others
Note: if you hide your last seen, you also cannot see other people's last seen

Profile Photo Privacy

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Profile Photos
Choose who can see your profile photo: Everybody, My Contacts, or Nobody
You can set a separate public photo for people who cannot see your main photo

Forwarded Messages

When someone forwards your message, your name is linked by default. To change this:

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Forwarded Messages
Set to Nobody to remove the link to your profile in forwarded messages
This also prevents bots from extracting your User ID from forwarded messages

Group and Channel Privacy

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Groups & Channels
Control who can add you to groups: Everybody, My Contacts, or Nobody
Set to My Contacts to prevent spam group additions

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

This is the single most important security setting. See our complete 2FA setup guide for step-by-step instructions.

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Two-Step Verification
Set a strong password and add a recovery email
Without 2FA, anyone with access to your SIM card can take over your account

Active Sessions

Regularly check and terminate sessions you do not recognize:

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Active Sessions
Review all logged-in devices and locations
Tap any suspicious session and select "Terminate"
Use "Terminate All Other Sessions" if you suspect a compromise

Passcode Lock

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Passcode Lock
Set a PIN or use biometric authentication (fingerprint/Face ID)
This locks the app itself — separate from your phone's lock screen

Auto-Delete Messages

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Auto-Delete Messages
Set a global timer: 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, or custom
This applies to all new chats — existing chats keep their own settings
You can also set per-chat timers by tapping the chat header

Sensitive Content

On iOS, some channels with sensitive content are hidden by default
On Android and Desktop, you can toggle "Disable filtering" in Privacy and Security

For maximum privacy, also consider using Secret Chats for sensitive conversations, which offer end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Telegram really private?

Telegram cloud chats are encrypted in transit and at rest, but Telegram holds the encryption keys. For true end-to-end encryption where only you and the recipient can read messages, use Secret Chats. Regular chats are secure against third parties but theoretically accessible to Telegram.

Can someone see my phone number on Telegram?

Only if you allow it. Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number and set it to Nobody. By default, your contacts who already have your number saved can see it.

What happens if I lose my phone?

If you have 2FA enabled, your account is protected even if someone has your SIM card. Immediately log in from another device and terminate the old session. Without 2FA, anyone with your SIM can log into your account.

Can Telegram be hacked?

Telegram accounts are most commonly compromised through SIM swapping (stealing your phone number) or phishing. Enable Two-Factor Authentication to prevent SIM swap attacks, and never enter your Telegram login code on any website or share it with anyone.