Telegram Web: Telegram in the Browser on Windows

Telegram Web is the browser version of the Telegram messenger, available at web.telegram.org and used on Windows without installing anything. Instead of a download, you open the page, confirm the login from your phone and get your chats, groups and channels in a browser tab.

What exactly is Telegram Web?

It is a web client for the same Telegram account you use on your phone. Telegram is a cloud-based messenger, so your messages are stored on its servers and sync across devices: what you read or send in the browser appears on your phone, and the other way round. That is the main difference from messengers that keep the history on a single phone and only mirror it to a computer. Because everything runs in the browser, Telegram Web is handy on a work PC where you cannot install programs, on a borrowed laptop, or when you just want to answer a few messages without setting up a desktop application. The original open-source web client, Webogram, is published on GitHub by its author; the current service is maintained by Telegram, which lists the address web.telegram.org as its official web entry point.

How do I log in?

1. Open web.telegram.org in Chrome, Edge, Firefox or another up-to-date browser.
2. On your phone, open Telegram, go to Settings, then Devices, and choose to link a desktop device.
3. Scan the QR code shown in the browser. Alternatively, log in with your phone number and the code Telegram sends to the app.
4. If you use two-step verification, enter your cloud password.

On a shared or public computer, log out when you finish. You can also end the session from your phone in the same Devices section.

What can I do in the browser?

• Read and write in private chats, groups and channels.
• Send photos, videos and documents such as doc, zip or mp3 files; Telegram's FAQ says a single file can be up to 2 GB.
• Search your history, which lives in the cloud rather than on one device.
• Use stickers, reactions and replies, and receive browser notifications while the tab is open.

Do I need to download anything?

No. Telegram Web runs entirely in the browser, and there is nothing to install on Windows. If you want a separate window, notifications without an open tab and better handling of large file transfers, the desktop application Telegram Desktop is the better fit. On the phone side, Telegram's FAQ notes that the app needs less than 100 MB, as media can stay in the cloud.

Is Telegram Web safe to use?

Use only the official address web.telegram.org and check it in the address bar: fake pages that copy the login screen exist to steal accounts. Turn on two-step verification in the phone app, never share the login code, and look through the list of active sessions from time to time. Regular chats are stored in the cloud; end-to-end encrypted secret chats are a feature of the mobile apps and are not available in the browser.

How much does it cost?

Nothing. Telegram Web is free, like the messenger itself. Paid extras exist inside Telegram, but you do not need them to chat.

Pros and cons

• Pro: nothing to install, works on any PC with a modern browser.
• Pro: full chat history thanks to cloud sync.
• Pro: quick login by QR code.
• Con: notifications depend on the open tab and browser settings.
• Con: no secret chats in the browser.
• Con: a desktop app is more comfortable for heavy daily use.

What are the alternatives?

On Windows you can use Telegram Desktop as a full program, or pick another messenger: WhatsApp Desktop or WhatsApp Web for WhatsApp contacts, Signal for private conversations, Discord for communities and voice channels, and Viber for calls and chats tied to a phone number.