Yesterday, August 3rd for all of about 40 minutes Telegram was removed from the iOS app store. This can be incredibly stressful news if you’re a Creator like me even though it has since been restored and is available again on the app store. This is incredibly stressful because what happens if next time they choose not to put it back? How then will creators go about downloading Telegram and updates? What happens to creators like me who manage most of their clients on telegram or who have telegram channels that we depend on or even groups that we depend on for storage or again client management.
The best of news is that you do not just have to hope that telegram doesn’t accidentally get deleted from your phone and you don’t have to just deal with never having another update on your device. There are so many many many ways to get telegram. In fact if you’re purchasing telegram premium it’s incredibly cheaper to not go through the app store that is how much the app itself encourages you to step away from app stores.
How to Use Telegram Without Downloading Anything
Telegram Web
Telegram offers two official browser applications:
Both versions are listed on Telegram’s official applications page and can be used on mobile or desktop browsers.
Where Can You Officially Download Telegram?
There are so many, many, many ways to get Telegram.
Telegram offers official applications for iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux. It also offers official web versions that can run inside a browser. You can see every current option on Telegram’s official applications page.
Your safest starting point is Telegram’s official applications page.
Telegram lists official apps for:
- Android
- iPhone and iPad
- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
- Web browsers
Telegram also lists experimental and unofficial apps on that page, so pay attention to the labels. An app using Telegram’s technology is not automatically an official Telegram application.
For beginners, I recommend sticking to one of these sources:
- Apple’s App Store
- Google Play
- Telegram’s official website
- Telegram’s official desktop website
- Telegram Web
Do not download Telegram from:
- A random APK website
- A file someone sends you in a direct message
- A pop-up advertisement
- An unofficial software directory
- A link posted by an account you don’t trust
- A website designed to look like Telegram
How to Download Telegram on an iPhone or iPad
The easy way
Under normal circumstances, the easiest way to download Telegram on an iPhone or iPad is through Apple’s App Store. But we just watched how fickle of a fact that can be. So what happens if she disappears again?
Telegram Web
Telegram does not currently provide a regular direct iPhone download through its website in the same way that it provides a direct Android APK. So, if Telegram disappears from the iOS App Store and you don’t already have it installed, your most practical official backup is Telegram Web.
You can open Telegram Web through Safari, log into your account, and add the website to your Home Screen so it functions more like an app.
The following directions were compiled with AI, as I am an android girly.
Apple officially supports turning a website into a Home Screen web app. The website receives its own icon and opens more like a traditional application.
- Open Safari.
- Visit Telegram Web.
- Log into your Telegram account.
- Tap the Share button.
- Scroll down and select Add to Home Screen.
- Turn on Open as Web App if the option appears.
- Tap Add.
This isn’t exactly the same experience as using the full Telegram iOS app, but it gives you another way to reach your account, messages, groups, and channels.
How to Download Telegram on Android
The easy way
For most Android users, Google Play is the easiest installation method. Downloading through Google Play is the simplest option for beginners because Google Play normally handles updates for you.
But Android creators have another official option that iPhone creators don’t.
Telegram’s Android APK
Telegram provides an official Android APK directly through its website. An APK is the installation file Android uses to install an application. Telegram says its direct Android version has fewer restrictions and receives automatic updates directly from Telegram.
Download Telegram Directly From Its Website
- Open a browser on your Android phone or tablet.
- Go to Telegram’s official Android download page.
- Tap Download Telegram.
- Wait for the APK file to download.
- Open the downloaded file.
- Your device may ask for permission to install apps from that browser. Allow the permission for that specific browser.
- Install Telegram.
- Open the app and log into your account.
- Remove the browser’s installation permission afterward if you no longer need it.
The exact wording and steps may vary depending on your Android device. Basically, download the file and follow all set up steps.
A Very Important APK Warning
Only download the Telegram APK directly from Telegram’s official website.
Do not search for: “Telegram Premium APK” “Unlocked Telegram APK” or anything similar
A modified or fake app could expose:
- Your login codes
- Your phone number
- Your messages
- Your contacts
- Your media
- Your creator identity or YOUR identity
- Your client information
- Other files stored on your device
The fact that Android allows direct installation is useful. It also means you are responsible for checking where the file came from.
How to Download Telegram on Windows
Telegram official windows application
Telegram offers an official desktop application for Windows.
The official Telegram Desktop website currently provides:
- A Windows installer
- A Windows x64 installer
- A portable version (can run without going through a traditional software installation.)
Telegram Desktop syncs with your Telegram account, so your regular cloud chats can appear on both your phone and computer.
Install Telegram on a Windows Computer
If you are not wanting to only use Telegram web in your browser the following steps will help you donwload the app to your device:
The following steps were compiled with AI, as again, I am an adroid girly.
- Visit the official Telegram Desktop website.
- Select the Windows download.
- Open the downloaded installer.
- Follow the installation instructions.
- Launch Telegram Desktop.
- Choose whether to log in with a phone number or QR code.
- Approve the login through an existing Telegram device if prompted.
- Review the new session under your Telegram device settings.
How to Download Telegram on Mac
The two options: The easy way
Telegram provides a native macOS application and includes macOS support through Telegram Desktop. The official applications page links to both choices. The easiest way is through the Mac app store.
The second option: Download Telegram Diretly
If the store disapears, Mac users do stil have an option:
The following steps were compiled with AI, still am an adroid girly.
- Visit the official Telegram Desktop website.
- Select the macOS download.
- Open the downloaded file.
- Move Telegram to your Applications folder if prompted.
- Open the application.
- Complete the login process.
- Review the device session inside your account.
How to Download Telegram on Linux
Plety options available
Telegram officially offers several Linux installation methods.
These include:
- A Linux x64 download
- Flatpak
- Snap
All three options are available through Telegram’s official desktop download page.
Direct Linux Download
The following steps were compiled with AI
- Visit Telegram Desktop.
- Select the Linux x64 version.
- Download the file.
- Extract it if necessary.
- Open or run Telegram.
- Log in with your phone number or QR code.
- Approve the session when prompted.
Install Telegram Through Flatpak
Creators who already use Flatpak can select the official Flatpak option linked through Telegram’s desktop page. Your exact installation process will depend on your Linux distribution and software manager.
Install Telegram Through Snap
Telegram also offers an official Snap installation option through its desktop download page. This may be easier on systems that already support Snap packages. Linux installations can vary, so I’m not going to pretend every distribution has identical steps. The important thing is that you begin from Telegram’s official desktop page rather than downloading a similarly named package from a random website.
Final Thoughts
I remember when tiktok went down and I realized cap cut was going down with it. I made it my life’s mission to figure out how I could download that. And that was just my video editor. The thought of the app that manages 90% of my client interactions disappearing overnight is incredibly stressful. But with these many many many other options we have available for downloading Telegram, I still feel pretty damn secure that this app is going nowhere.
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