<metaproperty="og:description"content="In addition to Group Video Calls, this update adds animated backgrounds and message sending animations, as well as a new menu button for bots, new ways to import stickers, reminders to help keep your account safe, and more.">
<ahref="/file/464001871/4/7u0NxpdnH5o.185980/5122199e6534c7be30"target="_blank"><imgsrc="/file/464001689/5/LAdUj8JXG_c.61616/b196801953bc54ecd5"srcset="/file/464001871/4/7u0NxpdnH5o.185980/5122199e6534c7be30, 1200w"title="It is not the spoon that swirls."alt="Introducing animated backgrounds and more"/></a>
</div>
<p>In addition to <ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/group-video-calls">Group Video Calls</a>, this update adds <strong>animated backgrounds</strong> and <strong>message sending animations</strong>, as well as a new <strong>menu button for bots</strong>, new ways to <strong>import stickers</strong>, reminders to help keep your account safe, and more.</p>
<p>Meet <strong>animated backgrounds</strong> for chats – first time in a messaging app! These multi-color gradient wallpapers are generated <strong>algorithmically</strong> and move beautifully every time you send a message.</p>
<divclass="blog_video_player_wrap"style="max-width: 400px; margin: 20px auto 20px;">
<videoclass="blog_video_player tl_blog_vid_autoplay"onclick="videoTogglePlay(this)"autoplayloopcontrolsmutedposter="/file/464001418/5/7BRPli9E-I8.163174/b4aab36dc2b864914d"style="max-width: 400px;"title="Gradients as in GRAND."alt="Several examples of animated backgrounds">
<p>Our designers added these smooth, energy-efficient animations to all <strong>default themes</strong>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>You can find more animated backgrounds in Settings. <strong>Android:</strong><em>Chat Settings > Change Chat Background</em>. <strong>iOS:</strong><em>Appearance > Chat Background</em>.</p>
</blockquote>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="creating-amp-sharing-backgrounds"href="#creating-amp-sharing-backgrounds"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>Creating & Sharing Backgrounds</h3>
<p>In case the default options are not enough, it's super-easy to create your own animated backgrounds. Choose <strong>three</strong> or <strong>four colors</strong> to unlock the animation, then add an optional <strong>pattern</strong> for extra style.</p>
<divclass="blog_video_player_wrap"style="max-width: 400px; margin: 20px auto 20px;">
<videoclass="blog_video_player tl_blog_vid_autoplay"onclick="videoTogglePlay(this)"autoplayloopcontrolsmutedposter="/file/464001500/3/0BsYrZvg1uM.296162/b9b049adbd5b2b1414"style="max-width: 400px;"title="Swirling colors proudly brought to you by the Hypnotoad!"alt="Updated theme editor">
<p><strong>Stickers and emoji</strong> now seamlessly hop from your keyboard into the chat – with lightweight <strong>animations</strong> that won’t affect your battery.</p>
<p>On iOS, this also applies to <strong>media</strong> you send from the attachment panel, and even <strong>text messages</strong>. Your input text smoothly transforms into the message bubble as it flies into the chat.</p>
<divclass="blog_video_player_wrap"style="max-width: 400px; margin: 20px auto 20px;">
<videoclass="blog_video_player tl_blog_vid_autoplay"onclick="videoTogglePlay(this)"autoplayloopcontrolsmutedposter="/file/464001610/1/r8FLrKjHzUI.58945/59f9de158be4e9fca7"style="max-width: 400px;"title="Find a typo in this video to receive an angry look from the designer who won't re-make the whole thing AGAIN."alt="New message sending animations on iOS">
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="ios-semi-transparency-amp-new-app-icons"href="#ios-semi-transparency-amp-new-app-icons"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>iOS: Semi-Transparency & New App Icons</h3>
<p>On iOS, backgrounds are now <strong>partially visible</strong> through the header and the footer in chats, giving the interface a classy new look.</p>
<p>Two new gradient <strong>app icons</strong> are available in <em>Settings > Appearance</em> in addition to the classic blue and black versions:</p>
<ahref="/file/464001538/1/CQLVwNFon-A.41944/dd78b583b41efb9064"target="_blank"><imgsrc="/file/464001538/1/CQLVwNFon-A.41944/dd78b583b41efb9064"title="Isn't that what they call an 'iconic' update?"alt="Two new app icons on iOS"srcset="/file/464001538/1/CQLVwNFon-A.41944/dd78b583b41efb9064 , 2x"/></a>
</div>
<p>We also added a <strong>Telegram Features</strong> button at the bottom of the Settings menu on iOS, which opens the <ahref="https://t.me/TelegramTips/233">Telegram Tips</a> channel. Tips are available in <ahref="https://t.me/TelegramTips/266">10 languages</a>, including the newly added <ahref="https://t.me/TelegramTips/266">Turkish version</a>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>The same button was already on Android, you can find it in the <ahref="https://telegram.org/blog/payments-2-0-scheduled-voice-chats#tips-and-new-android-animations">side menu</a>.</p>
</blockquote>
<h3><aclass="anchor"name="login-info-reminders"href="#login-info-reminders"><iclass="anchor-icon"></i></a>Login Info Reminders</h3>
<p>It is essential to keep your Telegram <strong>phone number</strong> up to date to ensure you can always log in to your account. If your phone number has changed, you can quickly update it right from the new <strong>reminder</strong> in Settings on iOS.</p>
<ahref="/file/464001302/2/lWCyANgnMiw.85187/c7d5b7cd3f93aafff4"target="_blank"><imgsrc="/file/464001302/2/lWCyANgnMiw.85187/c7d5b7cd3f93aafff4"title="Three things to remember: 1. Think big thoughts 2. Laugh a lot 3. Always keep your Telegram phone number up to date. "alt="Reminder about keeping your phone number up to date"srcset="/file/464001302/2/lWCyANgnMiw.85187/c7d5b7cd3f93aafff4 , 2x"/></a>
</div>
<p>Android users will get these reminders in the next update, for now they can simply update their phone number by <strong>tapping</strong> on it in Settings.</p>
<!--Another reminder will help you practice your **Two-Step Verification password**.-->
<p>Users on all platforms will receive a <strong>notification</strong> from Telegram each time their Two-Step Verification settings are <strong>changed</strong>.</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Two-Step Verification on Telegram lets you set up an <strong>additional password</strong>, which you will need to enter every time you log in to your account.</p>
<p>We made it easier to communicate with bots, adding a special menu button that lets you browse and send commands. Bots can also change the <strong>placeholder</strong> in the input field to give you a better idea of what kind of message they are expecting.</p>
<divclass="blog_video_player_wrap"style="max-width: 400px; margin: 20px auto 20px;">
<videoclass="blog_video_player tl_blog_vid_autoplay"onclick="videoTogglePlay(this)"autoplayloopcontrolsmutedposter="/file/464001419/2/XyMVWySgacc.86708/744e19403bd2f3428b"style="max-width: 400px;"title="Who'll be the first to say 'but dolphins are not fish'?"alt="New bot menu button">
<p>Bot developers can now create commands that <strong>change</strong> based on a user’s <strong>interface language</strong> and <strong>chat type</strong>, as well as special commands that only appear in specific chats or for <strong>admins</strong>.</p>
<p>More info is available in the <ahref="https://core.telegram.org/bots/api">Bot API documentation</a>.</p>
<p>The <ahref="https://t.me/stickers">@stickers</a> bot can help you <strong>create new sticker packs</strong> as well as get <strong>usage stats</strong> for your stickers.</p>
<p>Today we're giving third-party developers the tools to make apps that help people generate <strong>new custom unique stickers</strong> and <strong>import</strong> their creations to Telegram <strong>in one tap</strong>.</p>
<divclass="blog_video_player_wrap"style="max-width: 400px; margin: 20px auto 20px;">
<videoclass="blog_video_player tl_blog_vid_autoplay"onclick="videoTogglePlay(this)"autoplayloopcontrolsmutedposter="/file/464001267/2/U7MtqT21q4E.76558/a7a73d214c36478ed3"style="max-width: 400px;"title="Think outside the fox."alt="Importing stickers to Telegram">
<p>If you are a developer interested in making apps that help users create stickers and publish them on Telegram, check out the new <ahref="https://core.telegram.org/import-stickers">Sticker Importing Manual</a>.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Remember, if you simply want Telegram users to install the stickers <em>you</em> made, you don't need any apps! Just upload your stickers using our <ahref="https://t.me/stickers">bot</a>, then <strong>share the link</strong> to your pack with others.</p>
<p>This update is all about motion, so we couldn't go without new animated emoji. As always, simply send a message with a <strong>single emoji</strong> to get one of these in a chat:</p>
<divclass="blog_video_player_wrap"style="max-width: 400px; margin: 20px auto 20px;">
<videoclass="blog_video_player tl_blog_vid_autoplay"onclick="videoTogglePlay(this)"autoplayloopcontrolsmutedposter="/file/464001522/2/S41EPr1jjfo.63301/7287d01dd9ce6c2504"style="max-width: 400px;"title="Should have picked a stickier nose."alt="New animated emoji">
<ahref="https://t.me/share/url?url=https%3A%2F%2Ftelegram.org%2Fblog%2Fanimated-backgrounds&text=Introducing%20animated%20backgrounds%2C%20message%20sending%20animations%2C%20group%20video%20calls%2C%20and%20more."class="tl_telegram_share_btn"id="tl_telegram_share_btn"data-text="Introducing animated backgrounds, message sending animations, group video calls, and more."data-url="https://telegram.org/blog/animated-backgrounds"><iclass="tl_telegram_share_icon"></i><spanclass="tl_telegram_share_label"target="_blank">Forward</span></a>
<ahref="https://twitter.com/share"class="tl_twitter_share_btn"id="tl_twitter_share_btn"data-text="Introducing animated backgrounds, message sending animations, group video calls, and more."data-url="https://telegram.org/blog/animated-backgrounds"data-via="Telegram">Tweet <spanclass="tl_twitter_share_cnt"></span></a>
<h4class="dev_blog_card_title">Similar Channels, Reposting Stories, and 9 More Features</h4>
<divclass="dev_blog_card_lead">Today's update lets you find more channels on similar topics, repost stories from friends and channels, and add video messages to stories.…</div>
<h4class="dev_blog_card_title">Giveaways in Channels and Free Premium</h4>
<divclass="dev_blog_card_lead">Channel owners can now launch Giveaways to randomly distribute prizes among their followers. This is great if you want to promote your channel, get new subscribers or reward existing…</div>
<h4class="dev_blog_card_title">Replies 2.0, Adjustable Link Previews, Name Colors and More</h4>
<divclass="dev_blog_card_lead">Today's update lets you quote specific parts of messages when replying, send your replies to other chats, add quote formatting to any text…</div>
<divclass="dev_blog_card_lead">Channels can start posting stories thanks to a new boost system. Stories now have reaction stickers and the option to add your own music.…</div>
