Telegram channel subscribers: how to see the list and remove one
Who can see the subscriber list of a Telegram channel, how an owner or admin opens it, how to remove a subscriber, what the statistics show and why ordinary readers cannot see the list.
Only the owner and admins of a Telegram channel can see its list of subscribers. An ordinary subscriber cannot, and subscribers cannot see who else has joined. The owner can remove a subscriber; an admin can do it if they have the right to ban users. Below: how to open the list, how to remove someone and what a channel's statistics show.
Who can see a channel's subscribers
According to Telegram's page on channels, the subscriber list is visible only to the channel owner and admins. Subscribers cannot see each other, and they cannot see which accounts manage the channel.
- The owner and admins see the list in the channel's management screens.
- A reader sees only the subscriber count, not the names. There is no way to find out who follows someone else's channel.
- The number of subscribers is not capped: per the channels FAQ, a channel can have an unlimited number of subscribers.
The subscriber list is private data, so give the admin role only to people you trust. Which rights admins can have is covered in Telegram channel admins.
How to see the subscribers of your channel
- Open your channel and tap its name at the top to open the channel profile.
- Find the "Subscribers" item.
- Open it: you get the list of people who follow the channel.
Where exactly this item sits depends on the app and its version: on a phone it is in the channel's profile or settings, on a computer in the channel management menu. If you cannot find it, check three things:
- you are the owner or an admin of this very channel;
- you opened the channel itself, not its discussion group;
- your app is up to date: how to update Telegram.
How to remove a subscriber from a channel
Per the channels FAQ, the owner of a channel can remove subscribers. An admin needs the right to ban users, which Telegram's documentation calls "Ban users" (admin rights).
- Open the subscriber list as described above.
- Pick the person you want to remove.
- Choose the action that removes them from the channel. Apps word it differently, for example "Remove" or "Ban".
In Telegram's technical documentation, removing and banning someone in a channel are described as one action, "ban/kick" (channels.editBanned).
If you want to keep random people out of your channel, consider a private channel: how a private Telegram channel works.
What a channel's statistics show
Statistics graphs are visible to the owner and admins. They include how many people joined and left over a period, where new followers come from, the share of subscribers with notifications on, and the audience's languages. According to Telegram's announcement, detailed statistics are available for channels with more than 50 subscribers. The statistics are described as a set of graphs that count people over periods; Telegram does not say they contain a list of names. Each graph is explained in Telegram channel statistics.
Subscribers and fake growth
Bought subscribers are accounts that do not read posts or respond. The subscriber count goes up while views stay the same. Which ways of reaching readers do work is covered in how to promote a Telegram channel.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see the subscribers of a Telegram channel?
Open your channel's profile and find the "Subscribers" item. It is available only to the owner and admins.
Can a subscriber see the list of a channel's subscribers?
No. According to Telegram, the list is visible only to the owner and admins, and subscribers cannot see each other.
How do I remove a subscriber from a channel?
Open the subscriber list, pick the person and choose the action that removes them from the channel. The owner can remove subscribers; an admin needs the right to ban users.
Can I find out who unsubscribed from my channel?
The channel's statistics show how many people joined and left over a period. Telegram does not describe names in those graphs.
How many subscribers can a channel have?
An unlimited number: the Telegram channels FAQ says so.
Why can't I see my channel's subscribers?
The list is open only to the owner and admins. Check that you are looking at the channel itself, not its discussion group, and that your app is up to date.
