Telegram is one of the best messaging apps for Android. It packs many unique features that make the messaging experience better than other chat apps. You can use Telegram on all kinds of devices, including budget Android phones. But you don’t always need an app to use the service. You can use Telegram from any web browser. In this guide, we show you how to set up and use Telegram on the web.

You need a Telegram login created in the Android or iOS app

You can only use Telegram on the web if you are an existing user. You can’t create a new Telegram account from within your web browser. You must use Telegram’s desktop or mobile app to sign up for the service.

How to use the Telegram web app

You can access the Telegram web app from a computer browser. This is a handy option for using the messaging service when you are on a public PC or using a friend’s laptop or a family’s computer for work.

Telegram Web works across all major browsers like Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Safari, and Mozilla Firefox. It is platform-centric, and you can access it on any modern operating system, including your mobile phone, iPad, or Android tablet.

1. Open Telegram Web on your PC. A QR code appears on the screen.
2. Launch the Telegram app on your phone.
3. Open the Settings menu.
4. Tap Devices.

5. Select the Link Desktop Device option.

6. Scan the QR code displayed on Telegram’s web app.
7. If you don’t have access to the Telegram app on your phone, use the Log In by Phone Number option.
8. Enter your number.
9. You’ll receive a five-digit code in the Telegram app on your phone. Enter it to log in to Telegram Web.
10. If you turned on two-step verification, enter the password.

Telegram web app features

Aside from a few absent features, which we’ll get to later, Telegram Web provides essentially the same experience as the desktop and mobile apps. You can schedule messages, delete or edit them after sending, browse channels, create new group conversations, use different sticker packs, and more. To ensure you are notified of incoming messages, grant the web app notification access.

The best part is that you can use Telegram Web to make voice calls from your browser, though the device must have a built-in microphone.

By default, Telegram on the web uses a light theme, but you can activate dark mode. For dark mode, click the three-dot menu button in the upper-left corner near the search bar and turn on the Night Mode option.

You can bookmark the Telegram web app link to access it on your work computer. Then, you can access your chats and continue conversations without installing the desktop app on your PC.

Is Telegram Web different from the desktop app?

The Telegram web app is limited in features compared to the desktop app. You can’t set auto-deletion for messages, block users, or export chat history. Plus, you can only log in to one account at a time.

Compared to the mobile app, both the desktop and web versions of the messenger do not allow the creation of secret chats. This means your messages won’t have end-to-end encryption when sent through your computer. Also, the secret chats you previously created on your smartphone are stored locally and cannot be exported to the web or desktop versions.

Telegram Web K vs. Telegram Web Z

Telegram has two versions of its web app: Web K and Web Z. There isn’t a default version. The web app you are served with varies depending on your region. There are minor UI differences between the two, but they are identical in terms of features.

If you are wondering why Telegram’s web app has two variants, the company says it “believes in internal competition,” which will eventually benefit end users.

You can find the link to the different Telegram web apps below:

If you use Telegram on the web on your PC or mobile, you can switch between versions K and Z from the Settings menu. If you’re unhappy with Telegram’s performance on the web on your device, switch to the other build to see if that helps. The two versions could have stability differences depending on the platform or browser you use.

Telegram Web is an excellent alternative to the PC and mobile apps

If you are a heavy Telegram user but can’t install the app on your office-provided PC, use the web version of the messaging service. Your chat data is not stored locally and is deleted when you close the browser tab. Overall, Telegram on the web provides an experience similar to the desktop and mobile apps.

If you use Telegram for important conversations, check out our top tips for using Telegram safely and securely for a better experience.