# Profile color and name color in Telegram

Where to change your name and profile color, what it needs and how channels get theirs.

https://shiba-bank.com/en/guides/profile-color

Updated 2026-10-02 · 4 min read

You change the color of your name and your profile in Telegram's settings, but only with a Telegram Premium subscription. Without one you cannot pick a color: the app colors your name for you. Your name color shows in groups, in links you send and in replies to your messages; your profile color is the backdrop of your profile page.

## Name color and profile color: the difference

There are two settings, and they sit next to each other:

- **Name color.** A color or a color combination for your name in groups, in the links you send and in replies to your messages. You can also pick an icon to use as a pattern: it makes the background behind a quote when someone replies to you.
- **Profile color.** A color combination with logos on your profile page, so that it stands out.

## How to change your profile color and name color

Telegram says you can change your profile appearance directly from the main Settings page. Look for the name color in the appearance section:

- **Android:** Settings → Chat Settings → Change Name Color.
- **iPhone:** Settings → Appearance → Your Name Color.

Then choose a color or color combination and an icon for the pattern, and confirm. Menu names vary with the app version and the platform, but the thing to look for is the appearance section. All of it is a Premium feature and is open to subscribers only.

> **Tip:** Pick a profile color that goes with your profile photo.

## What to do without Premium

Without a subscription you cannot choose a color: according to Telegram's documentation, only a Premium account can change it, and for everyone else the app picks one of the standard colors itself. A 3, 6 or 12 month subscription, for yourself or a friend, can be bought in the Shiba Bank bot: no login and no passport, paid in crypto or with Stars from the bot's wallet. More in [how to buy Premium](https://shiba-bank.com/en/guides/buy-telegram-premium) and [what Telegram Premium includes](https://shiba-bank.com/en/guides/what-is-telegram-premium).

[Buy Premium — Open the app](https://t.me/barboskich_stars_bot?startapp=site_ai_en_premium)

## A profile color from a gift

Since October 2025, besides the preset colors you can select a gift and use its backdrop and symbol as your profile cover. Some collectible gifts also add their backdrop and symbol to the links you send and to replies to your messages. These settings are for Premium subscribers too.

You can also wear a gift: on your profile, tap a collectible gift and choose "Wear", and your profile's look follows the gift's backdrop and symbol. More in [emoji status and wearing a gift](https://shiba-bank.com/en/guides/emoji-status).

## Colors for channels and groups

For channels and groups, the look is unlocked by boosts. In a channel's profile, open Channel Settings → Appearance: there you can set a color and a logo for the profile cover, an emoji status and a wallpaper. Which options are available depends on the channel's level, and the level depends on the number of boosts. Telegram publishes the table of levels in its [Premium FAQ](https://telegram.org/faq_premium); how a channel gets boosts is in [boosts on Telegram](https://shiba-bank.com/en/guides/telegram-boosts).

## Frequently asked questions

### How do I change my profile color in Telegram?
You need Telegram Premium. Open Settings and choose the profile appearance; the name color is in the appearance section. If you cannot find it, look for "Appearance" on iPhone or "Chat Settings" on Android.

### How do I change the color of my name in Telegram?
The same way, in the appearance settings: choose "Name Color", pick a color and a pattern icon, and confirm. It changes the color of your name as other people see it.

### Can I change my name color without Premium?
No. Only Premium subscribers can choose a color; for everyone else Telegram sets a standard one.

### Who sees my name color?
It shows in groups, in the links you send and in replies to your messages.

### Can I style my profile with a gift?
Yes, with Premium: select a gift in the profile appearance settings and its backdrop and symbol become your cover. You can also wear a gift from the Gifts section of your profile.

### How do I change the color of a channel profile?
In the channel's profile, open Channel Settings → Appearance. The available options depend on the channel's level, and the level depends on its boosts.