How to create a group on Telegram
How to create a Telegram group on iPhone, Android and desktop: add members, make an invite link, set it public or private, turn on topics and add a bot.
To create a Telegram group, tap the new-message button and choose "New Group", then pick members, enter a name and confirm. You do not need Telegram Premium for it, and a group can hold up to 200,000 members.
How to create a group on a phone
Telegram's own FAQ gives the path:
- iPhone (iOS): tap the new-message icon in the top-right corner of the chat list and choose "New Group".
- Android: tap the round pencil button in the chat list and choose "New Group".
After that the order is the same: select members from your contacts, type the group name, optionally add a photo and confirm. The name and photo can be changed later, and you can add more people whenever you like.
How to create a group on a computer
In Telegram Desktop click the menu button in the top-left corner and choose "New Group". Then select members, enter a name and confirm.
Menu wording can differ slightly between app versions, but the order stays the same: New Group, members, name.
How to add members and make a group link
You can add people from your own contacts. Often it is easier to send a link: according to the Telegram FAQ, open the group info, choose to add a member and then "Invite to Group via Link".
A private invite link has settings (Telegram's developer documentation lists them):
- an expiry date;
- a limit on the number of joins;
- admin approval: a person sends a request and you decide whether to let them in;
- revoking: a revoked link can no longer be used to join.
If a link ended up with the wrong people, revoke it and make a new one.
Public or private group
Until a group has a public name, people get in by invitation or an invite link. Telegram gives a public group a short link like t.me/group_name: anyone can find it, join without an invitation, and read the chat history.
Only a supergroup can have a public name. A basic group holds up to 200 members, and when you pick an action that only supergroups support, Telegram converts the group for you. You do not have to do anything by hand.
The public name follows the same rules as an account username: Latin letters, digits and underscores, at least 5 characters. More in usernames on Telegram.
How to create a group with topics
Topics split a chat into separate threads, each with its own message history. In Telegram's announcement, admins turn topics on in the group settings and use Permissions to choose who can create and manage topics. The feature is meant for large groups.
What to set up after you create it
- Admins. Appoint helpers and give each only the rights they need.
- Permissions. You can restrict all members from posting certain kinds of content, such as links or stickers.
- A pinned message. Pin the group rules so they stay at the top of the chat.
- History for newcomers. In a private group the settings let you choose whether people who join can see earlier messages. In a public group anyone can read the history.
- Rules. Say in the first message what the group is for and what is not allowed.
Group or channel
In a group members talk to each other, up to 200,000 of them. In a channel only admins post, and the number of subscribers is unlimited. If you want a channel with discussion under its posts, link a group to the channel: a comment button then appears under the posts. How to make a channel: how to create a Telegram channel; about comments: comments in a channel.
Adding a bot to your group
A bot is added to a group like a member: find it in Telegram search and add it. The Shiba Bank bot @barboskich_stars_bot hands out Stars in a group with the +boom and +boom react commands. To let it see members' messages, make it an administrator. It does not need rights to delete messages or ban people. Details: Stars drops in a group and the page for chats.
Frequently asked questions
How do I create a Telegram group on iPhone?
Tap the new-message icon in the top-right corner of the chat list, choose "New Group", select members, enter a name and confirm.
How do I create a Telegram group on a computer?
In Telegram Desktop click the menu button in the top-left corner and choose "New Group". Then add members and enter a name.
How do I make a link to a Telegram group?
Open the group info, choose to add a member and then "Invite to Group via Link". You can limit the link by time and number of joins, or require admin approval.
How do I create a Telegram group with topics?
An admin turns topics on in the group settings and uses Permissions to choose who can create topics. Every topic gets its own message thread.
How many people can be in a Telegram group?
Up to 200,000 members. A basic group holds up to 200 people, and beyond that Telegram converts it to a supergroup.
Do I need Telegram Premium to create a group?
No, any Telegram account can create a group.
How do I organize my chats into a set?
A group is one chat with many people. To sort your own chats into sets, use Telegram folders.
