<p>We launched Telegram <strong>6 years</strong> ago, on <strong>August 14, 2013</strong>– and immediately set to work on the next update. That‘s how it’s been ever since.</p>
<p>After a little while we noticed that our work not only brings progress to Telegram – but also results in the <strong>evolution of messaging</strong> as a whole. It is heartwarming to see our solutions and design decisions adopted as de facto standards across the board.</p>
<p>To keep you entertained while we‘re working on this month’s second update, we've compiled a <ahref="#a-not-so-brief-history-of-telegram"><strong>brief history of Telegram</strong></a>. It ended up rather on the ‘humongous’ side of ‘brief’– but it's not like the next update is tomorrow either. So read on.</p>
<p>Oh, and if you want to give us a gift, bring two of your best friends to Telegram today.</p>
<divclass="blog_wide_image">
<br>
<ahref="/file/464001940/1/Y8d197zZenI.3545951/b4d50a1a83a187f453"target="_blank"><imgsrc="/file/464001931/1/M2GM0ZmGoOI.64529/e35868dc5d67626613"srcset="/file/464001371/2/XnajOnGd0dw.171967/0e8044f8569b0c056b, 1200w"title="Click for hi-res print version"alt="A poster celebrating 6 years of Telegram"/></a>
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<h2><aclass="anchor"name="a-not-so-brief-history-of-telegram"href="#a-not-so-brief-history-of-telegram"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>A (Not So) Brief History of Telegram</h2>
<p>For some reason, we started writing this backwards – from the latest update to the primordial summer of <strong>2013</strong>. And then it was too late to change the order because the guy who compiled the post said he would go on a hunger strike if we tried.</p>
<p>So if you're a fan of chronology, please <ahref="#august-14-2013">jump to the end</a> and scroll up from there. (By the way, we decided we're going to keep this post up to date as new updates arrive.)</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/scheduled-reminders-themes">Scheduled Messages, Reminders, Custom Cloud Themes and More Privacy</a></p>
<p>The end of summer brought <strong>scheduled messages</strong> and <strong>reminders</strong> to better keep track of important tasks and appointments. On the visual side, shareable <strong>Custom Cloud Themes</strong> came to all platforms, along with more animated emoji.</p>
<p>An important privacy option was added for those who need it most –<strong>Who Can Find Me By My Phone Number</strong>. This new setting can prevent random users (or government organizations) from being able to match a number from their device's contacts to your Telegram account.</p>
<p><strong>On Telegram since September 2019:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/scheduled-reminders-themes">Scheduled Messages and Reminders</a></li>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/silent-messages-slow-mode"><strong>Silent Messages, Slow Mode, Admin Titles and More</strong></a></p>
<p>The August update brought a way to send <strong>silent messages</strong>– which result in a notification <strong>without sound</strong>. We also added <strong>custom titles</strong> and a <strong>slow mode</strong> for group admins. But you probably remember this, it's only been a week.</p>
<p>Following the success of <ahref="#july-2019">animated stickers</a>, this update also introduced <strong>animated emoji</strong> for <imgclass="emoji"src="//telegram.org/img/emoji/40/E29DA4.png"width="20"height="20"alt="❤️"/>, <imgclass="emoji"src="//telegram.org/img/emoji/40/F09F918D.png"width="20"height="20"alt="👍"/>, <imgclass="emoji"src="//telegram.org/img/emoji/40/F09F9892.png"width="20"height="20"alt="😒"/>, <imgclass="emoji"src="//telegram.org/img/emoji/40/F09F98B3.png"width="20"height="20"alt="😳"/> and <imgclass="emoji"src="//telegram.org/img/emoji/40/F09FA5B3.png"width="20"height="20"alt="🥳"/>. More followed.</p>
<ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/silent-messages-slow-mode"target="_blank"><imgsrc="/file/464001744/1/2Ne2jbY6S_w.35735/ee3f3a3d3077201054"title="Sorry, the alt texts went on strike today. You won't get any on this page until they are back. Too bad, they were pretty fun in fact."alt="TITLE"srcset="/file/464001833/1/Xj6yA-qtAqU.76084/fabedc2508a8a082ae , 2x"/></a>
</div>
<p><strong>On Telegram since August 2019:</strong></p>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/silent-messages-slow-mode#timestamps-and-improved-scrubbing"><strong>Timestamp links for videos</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/silent-messages-slow-mode#timestamps-and-improved-scrubbing"><strong>Improved video scrubbing</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/silent-messages-slow-mode#android-39s-new-attachment-menu"><strong>New attachment menu on Android</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/silent-messages-slow-mode#accent-colors-for-night-mode-on-ios"><strong>Accent colors for night mode on iOS</strong></a></li>
<p>The July update introduced <strong>animated stickers</strong>. We managed to achieve a smooth <strong>60 FPS</strong> at just <strong>20-30 KB</strong> per sticker. Animated stickers consume less bandwith than static ones and less battery than GIFs, while commanding more attention than the two combined.</p>
<p>Here are some sample animated sets in case you missed them: <ahref="https://t.me/addstickers/HotCherry">Hot Cherry</a>, <ahref="https://t.me/addstickers/TidyTieTom">Tidy Tie Tom</a>, <ahref="https://t.me/addstickers/ResistanceDog">Resistance Dog</a>, <ahref="https://t.me/addstickers/FredThePug">Fred the Pug</a>, <ahref="https://t.me/addstickers/MelieTheCavy">Melie the Cavy</a>, <ahref="https://t.me/addstickers/EarlWoolf">Earl the Wolf</a>, <ahref="https://t.me/addstickers/EggYolk">Egg Yolk</a></p>
<p>These stickers are powered with uranium and dreams and are guaranteed to keep going forever.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/contacts-local-groups"><strong>Location-Based Chats, Adding Contacts Without Phone Numbers and More</strong></a></p>
<p>The June update focused on making it easier to <strong>add people to contacts</strong>. A universal <strong>Add</strong> button was introduced to all new chats, making it possible to add users to contacts even if you don't know their number yet.</p>
<p>A new <strong>Add People Nearby</strong> section was created to quickly exchange numbers with people close to you. The new section also allows creating <strong>location-based public chats</strong>.</p>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/contacts-local-groups#theme-picker-and-icon-style"><strong>New theme picker on iOS</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/contacts-local-groups#theme-picker-and-icon-style"><strong>Change your app icon on iOS</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="may-2019-second-update"href="#may-2019-second-update"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>May 2019, Second Update</h3>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/privacy-discussions-web-bots"><strong>Focused Privacy, Discussion Groups, Seamless Web Bots and More</strong></a></p>
<p>The second May update made Telegram Privacy Settings even more <strong>flexible</strong>. You can add whole <strong>groups</strong> to <em>‘Never Share’</em> or <em>‘Always Share’</em> exceptions. Settings will adjust automatically as people join and leave the groups.</p>
<p>On Telegram, your <strong>phone number</strong> was never visible to random people in groups, the default being <em>‘My Contacts’</em>. This update offered even more control via <em>Settings > Privacy & Security > Phone Number</em>.</p>
<p>The update also introduced an easier way to integrate <strong>web services</strong> with Telegram, adding one-tap authorization via bots. Last but not least, it offered <strong>two</strong> new ways of <strong>adding comments to channels</strong>– via <ahref="https://comments.app">Comments.app</a> and connected <strong>discussion groups</strong>. (We didn't start the flame war.)</p>
<p><strong>On Telegram since May 31, 2019:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/privacy-discussions-web-bots"><strong>Use groups as exceptions for Privacy Settings</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/privacy-discussions-web-bots#who-can-see-my-phone-number"><strong>‘Who can see my phone number’ setting</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/privacy-discussions-web-bots#meet-seamless-web-bots"><strong>Seamless authorization for Web services via bots</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/privacy-discussions-web-bots#broadcasts-meet-group-chats"><strong>Discussion groups for Channels</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/privacy-discussions-web-bots#view-public-channels"><strong>View public channels without logging in</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/privacy-discussions-web-bots#ios-goodies"><strong>Add text URLs to messages on iOS</strong></a> (Android since <ahref="#june-2018">June 2018</a>)</li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/privacy-discussions-web-bots#android-delights"><strong>New theme switcher for Android</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="may-2019-first-update"href="#may-2019-first-update"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>May 2019, First Update</h3>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/archive-and-new-design"><strong>Archived Chats, a New Design on Android and More</strong></a></p>
<p>The first May update introduced <strong>Archived Chats</strong>. Unmuted chats pop out of the archive with the next incoming message – but muted chats stay archived forever (or until they generate a notification via a <ahref="#march-2015-first-update">mention</a> or <ahref="#march-2015-first-update">reply</a>). An <strong>unlimited</strong> number of chats can be <ahref="#december-2016-first-update">pinned</a> in the archive.</p>
<p><strong>Android design</strong> got a <strong>major overhaul</strong>. Aside from the visual improvements, this update added a <strong>three-lines-per-chat</strong> view option for the Android chat list (similar to the iOS default), as well as <strong>bulk actions</strong> in the chats list to easily delete, archive or mute multiple chats at once.</p>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/archive-and-new-design#android-39s-new-clothes"><strong>New design on Android</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/archive-and-new-design#bulk-actions-for-a-busy-chat-list"><strong>Bulk actions in the chat list on Android</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/archive-and-new-design#more-info-at-a-glance"><strong>Expanded view for chat list on Android</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/archive-and-new-design#you-shall-not-pass"><strong>Improved passcodes on iOS</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/archive-and-new-design#easier-forwarding-links-to-messages-online-badges"><strong>Message links in groups</strong></a></li>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/unsend-privacy-emoji"><strong>Taking Back Our Right to Privacy</strong></a></p>
<p>Before the March update, you could <ahref="#january-2017">delete</a> your messages within 48 hours of sending them. As of this update, you can <strong>delete any message</strong> you've ever sent or received in <strong>any</strong> private chat, there's <strong>no time limit</strong>. This also applies to clearing entire chats. The deleted messages don't leave a mark in the chat.</p>
<p>This update also introduced a setting for <strong>Anonymous Forwards</strong>, allowing you to control when messages forwarded from your account link back to it. This way people you chat with have no verifiable proof you ever sent them anything. </p>
<p><strong>On Telegram since March 2019:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/unsend-privacy-emoji#unsend-anything"><strong>Delete any private message for both parties, anytime</strong></a></li>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/autoplay"><strong>Autoplaying Videos, Automatic Downloads and Multiple Accounts</strong></a></p>
<p>Following the February update, smaller videos <strong>start playing</strong> without sound when they reach your screen. Pressing the volume buttons on your device unmutes them.</p>
<p>This update also introduced <strong>presets</strong> for <ahref="#february-2014">autodownload settings</a> to switch between <strong>Low</strong>, <strong>Medium</strong>, <strong>High</strong> and <strong>Custom</strong> data consumption in a few taps. Default settings for data usage have become more generous but depend on the affordability of mobile data in each particular country.</p>
<p>As of this update, iOS users can also log in to Telegram with <strong>multiple accounts</strong> from one app, easily switch between them and get notifications. Support for multiple accounts was added to Android in <ahref="#december-2017">December 2017</a>.</p>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/autoplay#multiple-account-support"><strong>Multiple account support on iOS</strong></a> (on Android since <ahref="#december-2017">December '17</a>)</li>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="january-2019-second-update"href="#january-2019-second-update"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>January 2019, Second Update</h3>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/backgrounds-2-0"><strong>Chat Backgrounds 2.0: Make Your Own</strong></a></p>
<p>The second update in January brought <strong>chat wallpapers</strong> to version <strong>2.0</strong>, adding support for <strong>motion</strong> and <strong>blur</strong> effects, <strong>plain color</strong> backgrounds and <strong>patterns</strong>, as well as an option to <strong>share</strong> backgrounds via links and find new ones in <strong>search</strong>.</p>
<p>For those who appreciate art history, the classical Telegram backgrounds which were used at launch can be found <ahref="https://t.me/classical_wallpapers">here</a>.</p>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="january-2019-first-update"href="#january-2019-first-update"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>January 2019, First Update</h3>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/permissions-groups-undo"><strong>Group Permissions, Undo Delete and More</strong></a></p>
<p>The first January update brought <strong>group permissions</strong>, allowing admins to restrict all members from posting specific kinds of content or even from messaging altogether. The maximum size for groups was doubled to <strong>200,000 members</strong>.</p>
<p>The update also added an <strong>‘Undo’</strong> option after <strong>deleting chats</strong> or clearing history. It's like a time machine, but with fewer paradoxes.</p>
<p><strong>On Telegram since January 21, 2019</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/permissions-groups-undo"><strong>Default permissions for groups</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/permissions-groups-undo"><strong>Up to 200,000 members in each group</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/permissions-groups-undo#undo-clearing-history-and-deleting-chats"><strong>‘Undo’ deleting chats or clearing history</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/permissions-groups-undo#sort-your-contacts"><strong>Sort contacts by name or ‘Last seen’</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/permissions-groups-undo#thumbnails-and-download-animations"><strong>Better thumbnails and new download animations</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/permissions-groups-undo#meanwhile-on-desktop"><strong>Choose emoji sets on Telegram Desktop</strong></a></li>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="december-2018-second-update"href="#december-2018-second-update"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>December 2018, Second Update</h3>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/polls">Polls: Bringing Choice to Communities</a></strong></p>
<p>As of the second update from December '18, Telegram users can create <strong>polls</strong> in groups and channels, letting group members vote anonymously.</p>
<p><ahref="https://t.me/vote">Poll bots</a> have been available since the dawn of the <ahref="#june-2015">Bot Platform</a>.</p>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/telegram-5-ios">Introducing Telegram 5.0 for iOS</a></strong></p>
<p>Telegram for iOS was <strong>rebuilt from scratch</strong> for this update – using the <strong>Swift</strong> programming language. The new client is slicker, faster and more battery-friendly. If the old Telegram was a race car, this one is a race car with jet engines and a well-caffeinated driver.</p>
<p>New <strong>badge counter</strong> settings were added on iOS, allowing users to exclude messages from muted chats or count <strong>unread chats</strong> instead of messages.</p>
<p>The <ahref="https://macos.telegram.org">native macOS client</a> added <strong>swipe gestures</strong> to navigate interfaces. MacBook Pro owners got <strong>touch bar support</strong>. </p>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/export-and-more">Chat Export Tool, Better Notifications and More</a></strong></p>
<p>This update brought an easy way to <strong>download</strong> copies of <strong>your chats</strong>, including <strong>photos and other media</strong> using <ahref="https://desktop.telegram.org">Telegram Desktop</a>. August '18 also saw the birth of <strong>Notification Exceptions</strong>– a way to customize notification settings for particular users. </p>
<p><strong>On Telegram since August 2018</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/export-and-more"><strong>Export chat history and account information</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/export-and-more#exceptions-in-notifications"><strong>Customized notifications for individual users</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/export-and-more#improved-telegram-passport"><strong>Support for new document types in Telegram Passport</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/export-and-more#improved-telegram-passport"><strong>Support for names in original language in Telegram Passport</strong></a></li>
<p>Telegram Passport was launched as a <strong>unified authorization service</strong> for ICOs, financial services and other platforms based on <strong>real-life ID</strong>. You no longer have to upload scans of your ID each time a different service requires it.</p>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/unread-replace-2x">Replace Media, Share vCards, Mark as Unread, 2X Voice Messages, and More</a></strong></p>
<p>The June '18 update brought the ability to <strong>replace</strong> photos and videos when <ahref="#may-2016">editing</a> messages – in case you accidentally sent a picture of your lunch instead of the company's new logo.</p>
<p>As of this update, voice and video messages can be played at <strong>2x speed</strong> and users can <strong>mark chats as read or unread</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>On Telegram since June 2018:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/unread-replace-2x#replace-media-and-add-captions"><strong>Replace sent media</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/unread-replace-2x#double-time-playback-for-voice-and-video-messages"><strong>2x speed toggle for voice and video messages</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/unread-replace-2x#mark-as-read-or-unread"><strong>Mark chats as read or unread</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/unread-replace-2x#and-three-more-on-android"><strong>Chat previews, text URLs and cancel sending messages on Android</strong></a></li>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/discover-stickers-and-more">Sticker Search, Multiple Photos and More</a></strong></p>
<p>Since they were introduced, <ahref="#january-2015">stickers</a> have become a key method of communication for many Telegram users. As of this update, users can <strong>search</strong> for new <strong>sticker packs</strong>.</p>
<p>I'm not addicted to sending stickers. I can stop any time.</p>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/200-million">200,000,000 Monthly Active Users</a></strong></p>
<p>Telegram has never been promoted with ads, so every user joined because they were <strong>invited by others</strong>. Telegram is more than a messaging app, it's the idea that everyone on the planet has a right to be <strong>free</strong>. </p>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/discover-stickers-and-more#auto-night-mode-and-connected-websites"><strong>Auto-night mode on iOS</strong></a> (Android since <ahref="#february-2018">February '18</a>)</li>
<p>Two updates were launched on February 6, 2018.</p>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/android-streaming">Streaming and Auto-Night Mode on Android</a></strong></p>
<p>This was when the apps got <strong>streaming support</strong>, allowing you to <strong>view videos</strong> without waiting for them to fully download. This update also introduced <strong>auto-night mode</strong> for Android users, shielding weary eyes from bright light when browsing memes in bed. </p>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/login">Telegram Login for Websites</a></strong></p>
<p>Another update introduced the <strong>Telegram Login Widget</strong> for external websites, empowering businesses to use Telegram bots to automate anything from customer support to accepting payments or tracking shipments.</p>
<p>Two updates were launched on January 31, 2018.</p>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/telegram-x">Telegram X: Progress through Competition</a></strong></p>
<p>Two <strong>Telegram X</strong> clients were unveiled as alternatives to the main iOS and Android apps – built from the ground up to be faster and easier to use, while featuring <strong>smooth animations</strong> and a <strong>sleek design</strong>. Telegram X for iOS has since <ahref="#october-2018">become</a> the native client on iPhones around the world.</p>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/tdlib">TDLib - Build Your Own Telegram</a></strong></p>
<p>The <strong>Telegram Database Library</strong> helps developers make their own versions of Telegram – and was used to create Telegram X for Android. TDLib handles network implementation, encryption, and local storage, giving third-party developers more time to focus on the fun parts of app design. All the API methods are fully documented and the code is available on <strong>GitHub</strong>. </p>
<p>Both <ahref="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.thunderdog.challegram&hl=en">Telegram X</a> and the <ahref="https://core.telegram.org/bots">Telegram Bot API</a> are an example of what can be done with this library. </p>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/themes-accounts">Themes, Multiple Accounts and More</a></strong></p>
<p><strong>Themes</strong> came to <strong>iOS</strong>, with simple <em>‘Day’</em> and <em>‘Night’</em> options. We considered adding a <em>‘Twilight’</em> option but it got sabotaged by lovesick vampires and werewolves.</p>
<p>Android added support for <strong>multiple accounts</strong>, to quickly switch between up to three profiles (or personalities) without logging out.</p>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/themes-accounts#in-case-you-missed-it"><strong>Web embeds for public messages</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/themes-accounts"><strong>Night theme on iOS</strong></a> (on Android since <ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/android-themes">February '17</a>)</li>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/albums-saved-messages">Albums, Saved Messages and Better Search</a></strong></p>
<p>Albums and Saved Messages came to Telegram in November as a way to cut down on clutter and keep things organized. Multiple media items could be <strong>sent as one message</strong>, neatly arranged instead of filling up the chat with individual messages and multiple notifications.</p>
<p><strong>Saved Messages</strong> brought bookmarks and personal storage, giving users the ability to forward messages there for later reference.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/live-locations"><strong>Live Locations, Media Player and Languages</strong></a></p>
<p>October '17 expanded <strong>location sharing</strong> to include a <strong>live feed</strong>, useful for finding your friends or seeing how far they are from a destination. The interactive maps support multiple users, so your entire group can share their locations and see each other in one place.</p>
<p>Telegram also expanded its localization, launching the <strong>Translations Platform</strong> for users to refine the currently-available translations.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/replies-mentions-stickers"><strong>Better Replies, Stickers & Invitations</strong></a></p>
<p>Keeping track of replies and mentions was streamlined in August’s update, adding the new <strong>‘@’ badge</strong> to the chat list, and <strong>‘@’ button</strong> inside chats to jump from mention to mention.</p>
<p>The option to set <strong>favorite stickers</strong> was added, while groups got the ability to choose <strong>official sticker sets</strong>.</p>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/now-you-see-me">Disappearing Media, Your Bio & More Speed</a></strong></p>
<p>July’s update added a self-destruct timer for photos and videos to give users the option to send <strong>disappearing media</strong> in Private Chats.</p>
<p>To help say a little more about themselves, user profiles were given a <strong>bio section</strong>.</p>
<p><strong><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/admin-revolution">Supergroups 10,000: Admin Tools & More</a></strong></p>
<p>Groups leveled up in June '17, increasing the maximum members to 10,000 and introducing a suite of <strong>new tools</strong> to manage the masses. </p>
<p>Admin permissions became individual, allowing for <strong>specific privileges</strong>. So did members’, meaning people could be put under <strong>custom restrictions</strong> for acting up. </p>
<p>The <strong>Recent Actions</strong> page was added for admins, showing a summary of all notable group activity within the past 48 hours.</p>
<p>Three updates were released on May 18, 2017.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/video-messages-and-telescope"><strong>Video Messages and Telescope</strong></a><br>Just in time for Summer, <strong>video messages</strong> were introduced to add another dimension to chats and channels. </p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/instant-view-contest-200K"><strong>Instant Views for Everyone & a $200K Contest</strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Instant View</strong> grew into a <strong>platform</strong> for reformatting articles from the Web into lightweight, uniform pages which instantly open in Telegram, rather than a browser. A contest to create new templates was launched.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/payments"><strong>Payments for Bots</strong></a><br><strong>Bot payments</strong> joined the pool party as well, so users could pay for goods and services right in the app.</p>
<p>March '17 brought <strong>voice calls</strong> to Telegram, featuring end-to-end encryption, crisp sound and incredible speed.</p>
<p>The <ahref="#march-2015-second-update">video editor</a> received a <strong>compression slider</strong> to change the quality at which a video is sent.</p>
<p><strong>Custom themes</strong> first came to the Android phone app, along with a <strong>theme editor</strong>, giving users the ability to recolor individual elements and share their creations with others.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/desktop-1-0"><strong>Telegram Desktop reaches version 1.0 – and it's BEAUTIFUL</strong></a></p>
<p>Telegram Desktop, first launched in <ahref="#january-2014">January '14</a>, reached version <strong>1.0</strong>, with a <strong>new design</strong>, <strong>refined animations</strong> and <strong>custom theme support</strong>, in addition to all its earlier features. </p>
<p>The <strong>GMail bot</strong> made its debut as well, allowing users to condense all their communications into one platform.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/android-wear-2-0"><strong>Telegram for Android Wear 2.0</strong></a></p>
<p>Telegram came to wrists with its <strong>Android Wear 2.0</strong> version, featuring <strong>fully-functional messaging</strong> capability, plus added <strong>themes</strong> to keep things chic.</p>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/unsend-and-usage#t-me-links"><strong>Short t.me links instead of telegram.me</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/unsend-and-usage#android-developers-never-sleep"><strong>Saved scroll position when re-entering chats</strong></a></li>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="december-2016-second-update"href="#december-2016-second-update"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>December 2016, Second Update</h3>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/telegraph"><strong>Meet the Telegraph API for Logins and Stats</strong></a></p>
<p>The <strong>Telegraph API</strong> opened to the public in the final update of 2016. Publishing and organizing articles gained automated support with the new <strong><ahref="https://telegram.me/telegraph">@Telegraph</a> bot</strong>.</p>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="december-2016-first-update"href="#december-2016-first-update"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>December 2016, First Update</h3>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/pin-and-ifttt"><strong>Pinned Chats and IFTTT Integrations</strong></a></p>
<p>Conversation management became easier with the option to <strong>pin chats</strong> to the top of the chat list.</p>
<p><strong>IFTTT integration</strong> was introduced to help link Telegram to over 360 services at launch. This gives users control over their accounts on other services straight from the Telegram app – including social media, mail clients and even things like smart appliances or other devices.</p>
<p><strong>Instant View</strong> came in November 2016, instantly loading articles and web pages all inside the Telegram app. Added in the same update, the <strong><ahref="https://telegra.ph/">Telegraph</a></strong> platform is a minimalist word processor compatible with Instant View, designed for quickly publishing documents and articles.</p>
<p><strong>On Telegram since November 2016</strong></p>
<p><em>This is where wide <strong>full-color illustrations</strong> for our blog posts end – or begin, depending on which direction you just came from.</em></p>
<p>With winter not far off, Telegram introduced a <strong>Games</strong> platform that allows users to play games through bots. Players get the chance to challenge friends, while creators have an easy and accessible way to bring their game ideas to life. </p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/masks"><strong>Photo Editor 2.0, Masks and Homemade GIFs</strong></a></p>
<p>In September ‘16, the time came to improve Telegram’s <ahref="#february-2015-second-update"><strong>Photo Editor</strong></a> with fun new decorations like masks, text, stickers and drawings. Additionally, the video editor added the ability to <strong>make GIFs</strong> out of videos by tapping its new <em>‘Mute’</em> button.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/trending-stickers"><strong>Trending Stickers, Storage and More</strong></a></p>
<p>A <strong>Trending Stickers</strong> option was added so popular sticker packs can be easily found and added to one's collection. Groups received <strong>previews</strong> so prospective members can see what they‘re about and who’s in them before joining the party.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/drafts"><strong>Drafts, Picture-in-Picture, and More</strong></a></p>
<p>June '16 brought cross-platform <strong>cloud drafts</strong>, syncing your unfinished messages across devices. Since then, users have been able to start typing on one device and finish on another. For more multitasking, <strong>Picture-in-Picture</strong> support was added to let users work and watch simultaneously.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/edit"><strong>Edit Messages, New Mentions and More</strong></a></p>
<p>Fast typers rejoiced as the ability to <strong>edit</strong> sent messages was introduced in all chats. Mentions were expanded to include users <strong>without usernames</strong>, and <strong>Bots</strong> were given their own space in the attachment menu for easy access.</p>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/edit#new-mentions"><strong>Mention users without usernames</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/edit#bot-attachments"><strong>Bots in attachment menu</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="april-2016-second-update"href="#april-2016-second-update"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>April 2016, Second Update</h3>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/instant-camera"><strong>Instant Camera and More 3D Touch</strong></a></p>
<p><strong>Instant camera</strong> was added so users could snap and send photos faster, saving the extra thumb-work to make sure the moment is captured.</p>
<p>Starting in April 2016, inline bots no longer require you to use a keyboard. These software-controlled friends now immediately present <strong>clickable options</strong> to get results with no typing required. They were also <strong>integrated with services</strong> like YouTube and Foursquare for easy video and location sharing.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/share-preview"><strong>Sharing and Previews</strong></a></p>
<p>This update gave users a new way of <strong>sharing</strong> media between chats, introducing <strong>GIF and sticker previews</strong> to make the selection process more straightforward.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/supergroups5k"><strong>Supergroups 5000: Public Groups, Pinned Posts</strong></a></p>
<p>To keep order as <ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/6-years#november-2015">supergroups</a> grew from 1,000 members to <strong>5,000</strong>, important announcements could be placed at the top of the screen as <strong>pinned messages</strong>. Additional <strong>moderation tools</strong> were introduced that helped prevent spam in <strong>public</strong> supergroups. This included the ability to report spam, ban a user outright, or simply erase all of their posts from the group.</p>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="february-2016-second-update"href="#february-2016-second-update"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>February 2016, Second Update</h3>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/channels-2-0"><strong>Channels 2.0 and More</strong></a></p>
<p>Channels got plenty of new features including admin <strong>signatures</strong> and <strong>silent broadcasts</strong>. It became possible to <strong>edit</strong> your messages in channels and supergroups.</p>
<p>Chatting got easier with <strong>raise-to-speak</strong> and <strong>raise-to-listen</strong> functionality, streamlining voice messages by giving a no-tap way to play and record. On the privacy end, users got the ability to <strong>restrict</strong> who can invite them to groups and channels. </p>
<p><strong>Inline bots</strong> make it possible to use bot services in any chat without adding those bots as members – you just start any message with their username and everything that comes after becomes a query for the bot. These utilities can link <ahref="https://t.me/wiki">Wikipedia articles</a>, post <ahref="https://t.me/vid">YouTube videos</a> or search for <ahref="https://t.me/gif">GIFs</a> to entertain friends. Unfortunately, while being very good at fetch, they still can't pull a sled – even after all these years.</p>
<p>GIF file size was reduced by <strong>95%</strong>, making them load <strong>20x</strong> faster. Autoplay for all GIFs was enabled to show off their new-found speed.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/cache-and-stickers"><strong>Clearing Cache and Reordering Stickers</strong></a></p>
<p>The space-saving option of <strong>clearing cache</strong> was introduced, including chat-by-chat specificity. This was coupled with a setting to choose how long to <strong>keep media</strong> before it gets deleted from the cache (to be re-downloaded from the cloud should you need it again).</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/supergroups"><strong>Admins, Supergroups and More</strong></a></p>
<p>This update added the <strong>admin</strong> role. Admins have the power to manage group chats and enforce rules. Just in time, as the maximum number of users for group chats grew to <strong>1,000 people</strong> with the addition of <strong>supergroups</strong>.</p>
<p>September '15 brought <strong>channels</strong>, the perfect tool for <strong>broadcasting messages</strong> to the masses. Channels can have unlimited followers, offer view counters for each post and only let the admins post. These one-way chats give updates the spotlight by moving the discussion elsewhere. Channels were quickly adopted in regions where freedom of speech falls short.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/shared-links"><strong>Shared Links and Recent Searches</strong></a></p>
<p>Telegram delivered quality of life updates in August '15, showing <strong>shared links</strong> on chat info pages as well as a list of <strong>recent searches</strong> when beginning a new one.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/search-and-media"><strong>In-App Media Playback and Search in Chats</strong></a></p>
<p>This update added the ability to view media, enjoy music and watch videos from external sources <strong>directly in the app</strong>. <strong>Chat-specific search</strong> was implemented as well, making it easier to find messages from a particular conversation.</p>
<p>In June of 2015, Telegram released the <strong>Bot API</strong> and created a platform for users to create and publish their own bots. Bots exist to add features to Telegram and make user's lives easier - bots can handle payments, moderate groups, fetch emails and much more.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/apple-watch"><strong>Telegram on Apple Watch</strong></a></p>
<p>Telegram also received <strong>Apple Watch support</strong>. With a flick of the wrist, users can view recent chats, reply with stickers, dictate messages and more. Anything that can't fit on the watch display gets a shortcut to open on your phone instead.</p>
<p>Since May '15, stickers can be uploaded and shared as <strong>sticker sets</strong>. All apps got a dedicated <strong>sticker panel</strong>. Tapping on any sticker shows its set and lets you <strong>add</strong> the lot.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/sessions-and-2-step-verification"><strong>Active Sessions and Two-Step Verification</strong></a></p>
<p>Telegram rolled out an essential privacy feature in April 2015 - <strong>Two-step Verification</strong>– adding an extra layer of protection by requiring a <strong>password</strong> when logging into a new device.</p>
<p><strong>Link previews</strong> were introduced to help users see where a <ahref="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ">link</a> leads without having to click on it and find out for themselves.</p>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/files-on-steroids#share-multiple-files-and-trim-videos"><strong>Trim videos before sending</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="march-2015-first-update"href="#march-2015-first-update"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>March 2015, First Update</h3>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/replies-mentions-hashtags"><strong>Reinventing Group Chats: Replies, Mentions, Hashtags and More</strong></a></p>
<p>March '15 made messaging more convenient – Telegram added <strong>replies</strong>, <strong>mentions</strong> and <strong>hashtags</strong>. Replies make it easier to keep continuity in group chats, while mentions help get someone's attention and hashtags allow users to label messages for future use.</p>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="february-2015-second-update"href="#february-2015-second-update"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>February 2015, Second Update</h3>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/photo-editor-and-passcodes"><strong>Photo Editor and Passcode Lock</strong></a></p>
<p>February '15 delivered the most powerful <strong>photo editor</strong> among messaging apps – featuring auto-enhance, crop and rotate functions in its initial version. To keep those photos and chats secure, users were given the option to lock their app with a <strong>passcode</strong>.</p>
<li><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/photo-editor-and-passcodes#passcode-lock"><strong>Local passcode lock for apps</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="february-2015-first-update"href="#february-2015-first-update"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>February 2015, First Update</h3>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/shared-files"><strong>Shared Files and Fast Mute</strong></a></p>
<p>This update introduced the <strong>Files tab</strong> to better view all documents shared in a particular chat (some media outlets mistakenly thought this was when we introduced <ahref="#january-2014">sending files</a>). Additionally, the update brought in <strong>Mute</strong> shortcuts, helping users disable notifications more quickly.</p>
<p>January '15 saw the first <strong>sticker</strong> on Telegram. Since then, starting a message with a <strong>single emoji</strong> brings up a list of emotionally corresponding <strong>sticker suggestions</strong>.</p>
<p>The first official stickers from Telegram formed the classic <ahref="http://t.me/addstickers/GreatMindsClassic">Great Minds</a> set. Artists were invited to publish their work on the <strong>free</strong> and <strong>open platform</strong>.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/telegram-me-change-number-and-pfs"><strong>Telegram.me, Changing Numbers, PFS and more</strong></a></p>
<p>Users with usernames were offered <strong>Telegram.me/username</strong> links, which open their profile page in Telegram. This update also enabled <strong>changing</strong> the <strong>phone number</strong> of a Telegram account. <strong>Single-column mode</strong> was added for Telegram Desktop, making multitasking easier on smaller screens.</p>
<p><em>Fun fact: In 2016, Instagram will <ahref="https://www.theverge.com/2016/3/3/11157124/instagram-blocks-snapchat-telegram-links">restrict</a> users from adding Telegram.me (and Snapchat) links to their bios.</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p><strong>On Telegram since December 2014</strong></p>
<p>There were two Telegram updates on November 19, 2014.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/privacy-revolution"><strong>Hiding Last Seen Time - Done Right</strong></a></p>
<p>This update expanded <strong>Privacy Settings</strong> to cover <strong>Last Seen</strong> status, allowing unprecedented flexibility with <em>‘Always Share With’</em> and <em>‘Never Share With’</em> exceptions for individual users.</p>
<p>This was also when <strong>account self-destruction</strong> was introduced. Telegram doesn‘t aim to accumulate and store your data when you don’t need it anymore. So if you throw away your SIM card and it gets a new owner in 6 months, they won't access your chats.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/android-2-0"><strong>Material Design on Android, Instant Search for Messages and more</strong></a></p>
<p>November '14 also delivered <strong>Instant Full-Text Search</strong> to iOS and Android. Since then you can quickly find any message you ever sent or received on Telegram.</p>
<p><strong>GIF search</strong> was first supported on iOS. The Android app got a massive redesign, consistent with <strong>material guidelines</strong>.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/usernames-and-secret-chats-v2"><strong>Public usernames, smaller timers for Secret Chats, and more</strong></a></p>
<p>October '14 marks the beginning of properly recorded history on Telegram. The first update ever to be described in a <strong>blog post</strong> brought <strong>public usernames</strong>, adding the ability to share your Telegram contact without disclosing your <strong>phone number</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>Secret Chats</strong> got a major upgrade, with self-destructing media showing <strong>blurred thumbnails</strong> and starting the countdown only after they are first opened. This prevented them from disappearing before actually being viewed. This was also when <strong>screenshot notifications</strong> were first introduced.</p>
<p>Telegram for Android received several updates, adding support for <strong>Android Wear</strong> and <strong>tablets</strong>, as well as <strong>video compression</strong>.</p>
<li><ahref="https://twitter.com/telegram/status/519177251964059648"><strong>Support for Android Wear</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://twitter.com/telegram/status/517282782423547904"><strong>Support for Android tablets</strong></a></li>
<li><ahref="https://twitter.com/telegram/status/517282782423547904"><strong>Video compression on Android</strong></a></li>
</ul>
<hr>
<div>
<!--*This is where **small pictures** from our blog begin – or end, depending on the direction you are reading this in. Some episodic images existed before October '14, most notably, the [two](https://telegram.org/#why-switch-to-Telegram) [sets](https://telegram.org/what-can-you-do-with-Telegram) adorning our home page.*
<p><ahref="https://twitter.com/telegram/status/512680823464935424"><strong>GIFs, iPad support and broadcast lists on iOS</strong></a></p>
<p>Telegram has supported <strong>iPads</strong> since September '14. In this update, the iOS app learned to play <strong>GIF animations</strong> and added <strong>cloud search</strong> for messages, as well as adding <strong>search by file name</strong> to the Shared Documents section. iOS also caught up with Android, adding support for <ahref="#august-2014">broadcast lists</a>.</p>
<p><ahref="https://twitter.com/telegram/status/497797051842052098"><strong>Broadcast lists</strong></a> were first introduced to Android in August '14, only to be replaced with <ahref="#september-2015">channels</a> a little over a year later.</p>
<p><ahref="https://twitter.com/telegram/status/478494060387516416"><strong>Multiple photo upload and more</strong></a></p>
<p>Telegram for Android caught up with iOS, allowing users to <strong>preview photos</strong> before sending — as well as select and send many photos at once. Notifications were improved to be more reliable.</p>
<p><ahref="https://twitter.com/telegram/status/447092910261948416"><strong>Voice Messages, Delete Messages for both sides in Secret Chats, Language Settings on Android</strong></a></p>
<p>The March '14 update introduced <strong>voice messages</strong> to Telegram. Messages deleted in Secret Chats began disappearing for <strong>both sides</strong>.</p>
<p>Telegram for Android added the option to change the <strong>app language</strong> in Settings. The first languages to be added were German and Italian. </p>
<p><ahref="https://twitter.com/telegram/status/433554638986428417"><strong>New apps, autodownload settings and contact management tools for Android</strong></a></p>
<p>More Telegram apps entered the fray. An unofficial Telegram app for <strong>Web</strong> was introduced and later <ahref="https://twitter.com/telegram/status/522481392190779392">moved</a> to <ahref="https://web.telegram.org">web.telegram.org</a> to become the <strong>official web version</strong>. Telegram for <strong>Windows Phone</strong> was created in a contest for app developers.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, an update introduced <strong>autodownload settings</strong> and new tools to manage contacts on Android.</p>
<p><ahref="https://twitter.com/telegram/status/419410226748456960"><strong>Send documents and files</strong></a></p>
<p>First thing in 2014, Telegram allowed <strong>documents of any type</strong> to be sent, including <strong>.pdf</strong>, <strong>.doc</strong>, <strong>.png</strong>, <strong>.mp3</strong>, etc. The size limit is <strong>1,5 GB</strong> per file.</p>
<p>An unofficial Telegram app for PC was announced, which would later become the official <strong>Telegram Desktop</strong>.</p>
<p><ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/crowdsourcing-a-more-secure-future"><strong>Crowdsourcing a more secure future</strong></a></p>
<p>The only significant vulnerability to ever be discovered in the MTProto protocol was <strong>fixed</strong> during the <ahref="https://telegram.org/crypto_contest">First Telegram Crypto Contest</a>. The researcher who discovered it was awarded a bounty of <strong>$100,000</strong>.</p>
<p>After a contest for Android developers, the alpha version of <strong>Telegram for Android</strong> was officially launched. Telegram apps got <strong>Secret Chats</strong> with <strong>self-destruct timers</strong>.</p>
<p>The MTProto Protocol specification and Telegram API were <strong>fully documented</strong> and the code of the apps became <strong>open source</strong>.</p>
<p><strong>Telegram for iOS was launched.</strong></p>
<hr>
<p>Congratulations on completing this (not very) brief course on the history of Telegram. You just got an honorary PhD in Instant Messaging – unless you simply jumped down here, in which case you still have a long way <imgclass="emoji"src="//telegram.org/img/emoji/40/F09F9186.png"width="20"height="20"alt="👆"/>to go to get <ahref="#a-not-so-brief-history-of-telegram">back to the top</a>.</p>
<p>Armed with this much knowledge, you should probably join our <ahref="https://tsf.telegram.org">Volunteer Support Force</a>. And if that‘s not your cup of tea – just tell us in the comments which feature you didn’t know existed.</p>
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<h4class="dev_blog_card_title">Similar Channels, Reposting Stories, and 9 More Features</h4>
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<h4class="dev_blog_card_title">Replies 2.0, Adjustable Link Previews, Name Colors and More</h4>
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