How to donate Stars on Telegram
How to donate Stars on Telegram: a Star reaction under a channel post, a Stars subscription, a live stream, paid posts and gifts. Where the Stars go, how the creator withdraws them and how to donate on iPhone.
You can donate Stars on Telegram in several ways: send a Star reaction under a channel post, subscribe to a channel for Stars, send Stars to a creator during a live stream, or send a gift. The Stars must be on your account; if you have none, you can buy them in the app or in the Shiba Bank bot.
Ways to support a creator with Stars
- A Star reaction under a post. Tap ⭐ under a channel post and choose how many Stars to send. A channel admin turns this reaction on (Channel Settings → Reactions → Enable Paid Reactions); if it is not under the post, the channel has not turned it on. More: Star reactions on Telegram.
- A Stars subscription. A channel's creator makes a special invite link that lets you join in exchange for a monthly payment in Stars. More: paid channel subscriptions.
- Paid photos and videos. A creator posts media that opens only after you pay in Stars. More: paid media for Stars.
- A live stream. Users, groups and channels can host live streams in Stories. A viewer taps the Star icon in the bottom corner of the stream to send Stars to the host, and can also highlight and pin their own comment for Stars with the message-bubble icon.
- A gift. A gift is bought with Stars and sent to a person or a channel; the recipient can keep it on the profile or turn it into Stars. In a channel the gift icon is in the bottom corner; Telegram rolled this out gradually, so the icon may be missing for some people. More: how to send a Telegram gift and how to convert a gift to Stars.
Can you donate through a bot
Some bots accept Stars: the bot sends an invoice with a Pay button, and tapping it opens the payment window. Telegram describes such payments as payment for digital goods and services in bots and mini apps. If a bot did not deliver what it promised, its developer can refund the Stars: send the bot the command /paysupport. A purchase of Stars itself is not refunded if you change your mind or buy by mistake; see refunds for Stars.
Where the Stars go and how they are withdrawn
The channel owner receives all the Stars from reactions. They can withdraw them through Fragment: each Star becomes available for withdrawal 21 days after it arrives, and the minimum for a withdrawal is 1,000 Stars. Step by step: how to withdraw Stars from a channel.
A reaction can be cancelled only at once: while the notice with the cancel button is on screen. After that the Stars belong to the channel. You can hide your own name in the list of supporters; see how to send Stars anonymously.
How to donate Stars on iPhone and Android
Stars belong to your account, not to a device: Stars bought on an iPhone show up on an Android phone, so all that matters is that they sit on your account. If you have none, open Settings → My Stars, pick a pack and pay: on an iPhone the payment goes through the App Store, on Android through Google Play. If the in-app purchase fails, you can buy Stars on Fragment or in the bot, and they arrive on the same account. More: how to buy Stars on iPhone and Android.
Where to get Stars for a donation
In the Shiba Bank bot you buy Stars for yourself by @username, from 50 at a time, with crypto (and, in Russia, with SBP or Mir cards); Fragment delivers them, usually within a minute. Stars sitting in the bot's wallet cannot be donated directly: withdraw them to your account first ("👛 Wallet" → "Withdraw" → "To a Telegram account"). Prices: Stars prices.
Do not send Stars or gifts because strangers ask for them in private messages, and never type a login code anywhere. More on common tricks: scams on Telegram.
Frequently asked questions
How do I donate Stars on Telegram?
Tap ⭐ under a channel post and choose the amount, send Stars during a live stream, subscribe to a channel for Stars, or send a gift. The Stars must be on your account.
How do I donate Stars on Telegram on an iPhone?
Tap the star icon under a channel post or in a live stream; the Stars must be on your account. If you have none, buy them in Settings → My Stars (the App Store handles the payment), on Fragment or in the bot.
Can I donate Stars during a live stream?
Yes: in a Stories live stream tap the Star icon in the bottom corner and send Stars to the host. You can also highlight and pin your own comment for Stars.
Where do donated Stars go?
To the channel owner or to the person you supported. They can withdraw them through Fragment: the minimum is 1,000 Stars, and each Star is available after 21 days.
Can I get my Stars back after donating?
A reaction can be cancelled only at once, with the button in the notice. After that the Stars stay with the recipient.
Why is there no star under the post?
A channel's admin turns Star reactions on. If paid reactions are off, there is no star under the posts.
