Telegram is one of the most versatile messaging apps available today. Beyond basic messaging, it offers a host of hidden features and productivity tools that most users don’t even realize exist. Whether you’re a casual user, a group admin, or a creator managing a channel, these tricks will make your Telegram experience smarter, faster, and more enjoyable.
Here are 15 Telegram tricks and hidden features you should start using today — backed with practical tips and examples.
1. Edit Messages Even After Sending
Telegram stands out from most messaging apps by letting you edit messages at any time. This means you can fix typos, update links, or clarify your point without sending a separate follow-up message. For example, if you shared a news article and later realize it’s outdated, you can simply edit the message to include the correct link. Recipients will notice it’s “edited,” but their notifications won’t be flooded with multiple updates.
How to use: Long-press the message → Tap Edit → Make changes → Tap Save.
2. Delete Messages for Everyone
Telegram lets you delete messages from both sides — for yourself and the recipient — with no time restrictions. Unlike WhatsApp or Messenger, you aren’t limited by a timer, giving you complete control over your conversations. For instance, if you accidentally send sensitive information to the wrong chat, you can delete it right away to protect your privacy.
How to use: Long-press the message → Tap Delete → Select Delete for Everyone.
3. Organize Chats with Chat Folders
If you’re part of multiple groups and channels, your chats can quickly become overwhelming. Telegram helps you stay organized by letting you create folders to categorize conversations — such as work, friends, family, or hobbies. For example, you could have a “Work” folder containing team chats and project channels, while a “Fun” folder holds memes, hobby groups, and casual chats, keeping your messaging experience neat and stress-free.
How to use: Settings → Folders → Create New Folder → Add chats.
4. Schedule and Send Silent Messages
Telegram lets you schedule messages to be sent at a specific time or send them silently so the recipient isn’t disturbed. This is perfect for planning ahead — for example, you can schedule a birthday wish to go out at midnight or send a reminder to a colleague without triggering a notification, ensuring your messages are timely and considerate.
How to use: Tap the send button → Select Schedule Message or Send Without Sound.
5. Secret Chats for Maximum Privacy
Telegram’s Secret Chats offer enhanced privacy with end-to-end encryption, ensuring only you and the recipient can read the messages. These chats cannot be forwarded, and you can set self-destruct timers to automatically delete messages after a set time. This makes them ideal for sharing sensitive documents with a client or having personal conversations with friends without leaving a trace.
How to use: Open chat → Tap profile → Start Secret Chat → Set timer.
6. Customizable Chat Themes and Backgrounds
Telegram lets you fully customize your chat interface, from changing chat bubble colors to setting unique background images. Beyond aesthetics, custom themes enhance usability and can reduce eye strain during long conversations, making your messaging experience both personalized and comfortable.
How to use: Settings → Chat Settings → Change Chat Background → Select or upload image.
7. Animated Stickers and Emoji
Telegram supports animated stickers and custom emojis, making conversations more lively and expressive. Pro tip: use stickers to respond quickly instead of typing long messages, or create your own sticker pack for fun or personal branding to add a unique touch to your chats.
How to create: Stickers → Add Sticker Pack → Upload images.
8. Pin Messages in Groups
In busy group chats, important information can easily get lost. Telegram lets admins pin messages so everyone can access them quickly. For example, you can pin community rules, project deadlines, or essential resource links, ensuring that key information is always visible to members.
How to use: Long-press message → Pin → Decide if all members see the notification.
9. Powerful Search Features
Telegram offers an advanced search feature that lets you look for messages by keyword, media type, files, links, and even specific dates. This is especially useful when you need to locate something quickly — for instance, finding a document shared six months ago without endlessly scrolling through your chats.
How to use: Open chat → Tap Search → Enter keywords → Use filters.
10. Use Telegram Across Multiple Devices
Unlike many messaging apps, Telegram lets you stay logged in on multiple devices at the same time — phones, tablets, and PCs. Your chats sync instantly across all devices, ensuring you can continue conversations seamlessly no matter which device you’re using.
Pro Tip: Ideal for remote workers or people who switch between phone and desktop frequently.
11. Voice Chats and Live Streams
Telegram groups and channels support voice chats and live streams with unlimited listeners, effectively turning the platform into a mini broadcasting tool. For example, teachers can host virtual classes, and content creators can run live Q&A sessions, engaging audiences in real time without limits.
Pro Tip: Admins can control participants, mute/unmute, and manage discussions effectively.
12. Auto-Delete Chats
For enhanced privacy, Telegram allows you to enable auto-delete timers in chats, making messages disappear automatically after a set period, such as 24 hours or 7 days. This is ideal for temporary project discussions or sharing sensitive information, keeping your conversations clutter-free and secure.
How to use: Open chat → Tap profile → Auto-Delete Messages → Set timer.
13. File Sharing Without Limits
Telegram lets you send files up to 2 GB each and supports all file types, including videos, PDFs, ZIPs, and presentations. Pro tip: teams can use Telegram to share large project files seamlessly, bypassing email size limits and keeping collaboration smooth.
How to use: Open chat → Tap Attach File → Select file → Send.
14. Bots to Boost Productivity
Telegram supports bots, which are automated accounts designed to perform tasks and simplify your messaging experience. They can handle everything from sending reminders and creating polls to delivering news updates. Popular examples include PollBot for creating polls in chats, Skeddy for personal reminders, and IFTTT Bot to automate actions and connect Telegram with other apps. Using bots can make your chats more interactive, efficient, and organized.
Pro Tip: Bots can turn Telegram into a productivity hub for work or personal use.
15. Custom Notification Settings
Telegram gives you granular control over notifications, letting you mute specific chats, assign custom sounds, or enable priority alerts. This way, you can silence noisy groups while still receiving important messages from your boss, family, or close friends, ensuring you stay informed without unnecessary distractions.
How to use: Open chat → Tap Notifications → Customize as needed.
Bonus Tips
Telegram offers several simple yet powerful features to enhance your experience. Dark Mode reduces eye strain during long chats (Settings → Appearance → Dark Mode). You can pin multiple chats to keep your most-used conversations easily accessible at the top. Additionally, Saved Messages acts as a personal cloud, letting you store links, files, and notes for quick access anytime.
Conclusion
Telegram is more than just a messaging app — it’s a versatile platform for communication, organization, and productivity. By leveraging these 15 hidden features and tricks, you can chat smarter, safeguard your privacy, and customize the app to fit your needs. Start exploring today, and you’ll quickly discover why Telegram remains one of the most powerful messaging platforms in 2025.