How to delete a Telegram channel
How to delete a Telegram channel on iPhone, Android and desktop: who can do it, what disappears, what happens to the channel's Stars and GRAM, and how to transfer the channel instead of deleting it.
Only a channel's owner can delete it. Open the channel's profile, tap «Edit» and choose the red «Delete Channel» line at the bottom. Telegram warns that all subscribers will be removed and all messages lost. If the channel's balance holds Stars or GRAM, withdraw them before you delete the channel: afterwards there is no one to withdraw them.
Who can delete a channel
Telegram says the owner of a channel can delete the channel completely. Admins cannot: the «Delete Channel» line is shown only to the creator. If you are not the owner but want the channel closed, ask the owner, or see the section on transferring a channel below.
How to delete a Telegram channel step by step
On iPhone:
- Open the channel and tap its name at the top to open the profile.
- Tap «Edit» in the top right corner.
- Scroll down and choose the red «Delete Channel» line.
- Confirm the deletion.
On Android:
- Open the channel and tap its name or picture at the top.
- Tap the pencil icon, «Edit».
- Choose «Delete Channel» at the bottom.
- In the confirmation window, make sure «Delete for all subscribers» is ticked: the button then reads «Delete Channel». If you untick it, the button offers only to leave the channel.
On desktop:
- Open the channel and click its name to open the profile.
- In the «⋮» menu choose «Manage Channel».
- Choose «Delete channel» at the bottom of the window and confirm.
Menu names differ between app versions, but the red delete line sits at the very bottom of the channel's edit screen. Right after you confirm, Telegram shows a notice for a few seconds that lets you undo the deletion.
If Telegram refuses to delete the channel, the subscriber count may be the reason. Telegram's technical documentation says that deleting a channel with more than 1,000 members may fail with the error «Channel is too large to be deleted», and marks the limit as subject to change. In that case you can transfer the channel to someone else.
What happens when a channel is deleted
- Subscribers and posts. The confirmation window warns that the channel is removed with all its members and all messages are lost.
- The link. The
t.me/nameaddress no longer opens the channel. - Paid posts. Under Telegram's terms, people who unlocked a paid post with Stars keep access to it from their payment history even if you delete the channel.
- Premium giveaways. An admin who paid for a giveaway in the channel gets no refund if the channel is deleted: Telegram's terms say so directly.
The channel's Stars and GRAM before you delete it
Stars and GRAM rewards that a channel has received sit on the channel's balance, and the owner withdraws them through Fragment. Telegram does not say outright what becomes of that balance when a channel is deleted. The closest rule is in the terms for content creators: if you lose access to the channel and cannot withdraw the remainder, it is considered forfeit and Telegram will not compensate you. The same terms say the owner is responsible for withdrawing in time.
Timing matters. By the same terms, GRAM rewards become available for withdrawal 2 days after they are credited, and Stars after 21 days. Recently received Stars therefore cannot be withdrawn at once: wait until the 21 days pass, then delete the channel. How to withdraw is in how to withdraw Stars from a channel, and where they come from in Stars in a Telegram channel.
Transfer the channel instead of deleting it
If the channel is still needed but you no longer want to own it, hand it to another person: the Telegram app has a «Transfer Channel Ownership» option, and all owner rights pass to the new person. Telegram runs a security check: 2-Step Verification must be on in your account (the Android app says it must have been enabled more than 7 days ago), and you must have logged in on this device more than 24 hours ago. If the conditions are not met, the app asks you to come back later.
Before you delete or hand over a channel, withdraw its Stars and GRAM: how to withdraw Stars from a channel.
Frequently asked questions
How do I delete a channel in Telegram?
Open the channel's profile, tap «Edit», choose «Delete Channel» at the bottom and confirm. Only the owner can delete a channel.
How do I delete a Telegram channel permanently?
The same way: choose «Delete Channel» and confirm. You can undo it right away while the notice is on screen; after that, the subscribers are removed and the channel's messages are lost.
How do I delete a Telegram channel on iPhone?
Open the channel, tap its name, then «Edit» in the top right corner. Scroll down, choose «Delete Channel» and confirm.
Can an admin delete a channel?
No. Only the owner can delete a channel completely; admins do not have the delete line.
What happens to a channel's Stars when the channel is deleted?
Telegram does not describe this directly. Under the terms for content creators, a balance you could not withdraw after losing access to the channel is considered forfeit. Withdraw the Stars and GRAM before you delete the channel.
