How to Use Telegram Secret Chats (End-to-End Encrypted)

Telegram Secret Chats use end-to-end encryption (E2E), meaning only you and the recipient can read the messages. Not even Telegram can access them.

Starting a Secret Chat

Open a regular chat with the person.
Tap their name at the top to open their profile.
Tap the three-dot menu and select "Start Secret Chat".
A new Secret Chat window opens. Messages here are encrypted and device-specific.

Secret Chat Features

End-to-end encryption: Messages are encrypted on your device and decrypted only on the recipient's device.
Self-destructing messages: Set a timer (1 second to 1 week) after which messages auto-delete.
Screenshot alerts: On some platforms, Telegram notifies you if the other person takes a screenshot.
No forwarding: Messages cannot be forwarded out of a Secret Chat.
No cloud storage: Messages are NOT stored on Telegram servers; they exist only on the two devices.

Limitations

Secret Chats are device-specific. They only work on the device where you started them. You cannot access them from another phone or Telegram Web.
Secret Chats are only available for one-on-one conversations, not groups.
If you log out of Telegram, all Secret Chats are deleted.

Verifying Encryption

Tap the lock icon in a Secret Chat to see the encryption key visualization. Compare it with your contact's visualization (in person or via a secure channel). If they match, the connection is secure and not intercepted.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are regular Telegram chats encrypted?

Regular chats use client-server encryption (encrypted between your device and Telegram servers) but are NOT end-to-end encrypted. This means Telegram can technically access them. Only Secret Chats use full end-to-end encryption.

Why does Telegram not make all chats end-to-end encrypted?

Telegram prioritizes cloud sync and multi-device access for regular chats, which requires server-side storage. End-to-end encryption makes cloud sync impossible because the server cannot read the messages. Secret Chats trade convenience for maximum privacy.

Can I have a Secret Chat on Telegram Desktop or Web?

Secret Chats are available on Telegram Desktop (macOS and Linux, with limitations on Windows). They are NOT available on Telegram Web because the browser environment cannot securely store encryption keys.