Bots FAQ

Bots

If you're a developer, you may find our Bots FAQ more useful.

What are bots?

Bots are small programs that run inside Telegram. They are made by outside developers using the Telegram Bot API.

Modern bots can do a lot more than reply to messages. They can open full mini apps with their own interface, run AI assistants with multiple conversation threads and streaming responses – and much more.

How do I create a bot?

Creating Telegram bots is super-easy, but you will need at least some skills in computer programming. If you're sure you're up to it, our Introduction for Developers is a good place to start.

Unfortunately, there are no out-of-the-box ways to create a working bot if you are not a developer. But we're sure you'll soon find plenty of bots created by other people to play with.

A bot is sending me messages, how do I make it stop?

If you don't want a bot to send you messages, feel free to block it – same as you would block a human user. Some Telegram clients have a 'Stop Bot' button right in the bot's profile.

That said, most bot developers offer commands that silence the bot, check its /help for clues.

Are bots safe?

Yes. Bots are no different from human users that you meet in groups for example. They can see your public name, username, and profile pictures, and they can see messages you send to them, that's it. They can't access your last seen status and don't see your phone number (unless you decide to give it to them yourself).

Naturally, any bot should be treated as a stranger — don't give them your passwords, Telegram codes or bank account numbers, even if they ask nicely. Also, be careful when opening files sent by bots, same as you would deal with ordinary humans. Example: If a bot sent us a file called OpenMe.exe, we probably wouldn't open it.

If I add a bot to my group, can it read my messages?

Bots can work in two modes when you add them to groups. By default, bots only see messages that are meant for them. In this case, you'll see 'has no access to messages' in the group members list next to the bot.

Some bots need more information to work, so developers may disable the privacy mode. In this case, the bot will see all messages sent to the group, and you will see 'has access to messages' in the members list next to the bot.

Learn more about privacy mode for bots »

If your group contains very sensitive information, maybe it's better to avoid adding bots you don't trust 100%.

Are bots made by Telegram?

No. While we have some official bots for specific purposes (like @gif or @Stickers), we don't usually make bots. Bots are made by third-party developers using the Telegram Bot API and platform.

What are mini apps?

Mini apps are full applications that run inside Telegram, built by outside developers on top of the Bot platform. They can look and feel like normal apps, with their own interface, payments, subscriptions and more.

You can find mini apps in the Mini App Store in the Apps tab of Search, open them in full-screen mode, and even add a shortcut to your phone's home screen.

Mini apps can sell digital goods and subscriptions for Telegram Stars. Some mini apps offer affiliate programs — when you share them with friends, you can earn Stars.