> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.xpressbot.org/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Telegram Steps

> Every Telegram step in the Automation builder — send text, media, locations, buttons, reply keyboards, ask questions, and moderate groups.

## What is this?

These steps let an automation talk to people on **Telegram**. They appear in the builder palette under **Telegram Utilities** and **Ask Questions** when you build on a Telegram channel.

Steps for **logic, sequences, integrations, AI, and actions** work on Telegram too — see the [Builder Steps overview](/workspace/automation/steps/overview).

\[SCREENSHOT: automation-steps-telegram-palette — The builder palette showing the Telegram send, ask, and group steps]

## What can I do here?

| Step                                                                                    | What it does                                         |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- |
| [Text](#text)                                                                           | Sends a text message                                 |
| [Media](#media)                                                                         | Sends a photo, video, audio, voice note, or document |
| [Location](#location)                                                                   | Sends a map pin                                      |
| [Buttons](#buttons)                                                                     | Sends a message with inline buttons                  |
| [Reply Keyboard](#reply-keyboard)                                                       | Shows a custom keyboard                              |
| [Ask Text](#ask-questions) / [Ask Number](#ask-questions) / [Ask Email](#ask-questions) | Asks a question and saves a checked answer           |
| [Group Action](#group-action)                                                           | Deletes, warns, mutes, bans, or pins in a group      |

## How to use it

Drag a step onto the canvas, connect it, and fill in its settings. Use **Add Variable** in any text box to insert details such as the person's name.

### Text

**What it does:** sends a text message. Emojis and variables work.
**When to use it:** greetings, answers, confirmations.

* **Message text** — up to 4,096 characters.
* **Remove the reply keyboard shown earlier** — tick to hide a keyboard you sent before.

### Media

**What it does:** sends a file.
**When to use it:** product photos, brochures, voice notes.

* **Media type** — **Photo**, **Video**, **Audio**, **Voice note**, or **Document**.
* **Upload a file** or use **Or paste a media URL** — Telegram fetches the file from a public address (uploads are hosted for you).
* **Caption** — up to 1,024 characters.

### Location

**What it does:** sends a map pin. Enter the **Latitude** and **Longitude**.
**When to use it:** your shop or an event venue.

### Buttons

**What it does:** sends a message with an **inline keyboard** — buttons under the message.
**When to use it:** menus and quick choices.

* **Message text** — up to 4,096 characters.
* **Buttons** — click **Add button**. Each has a **label** (up to 64 characters) and a type:
  * **Callback** — pauses the flow until it's tapped. Each has its own output path.
  * **Link** — opens a web address.
* **Per row** — how many buttons sit side by side.

<Note>
  A callback button pauses the flow until the person taps it. Connect each button's output to what should happen next.
</Note>

### Reply Keyboard

**What it does:** replaces the person's keyboard with your **keys**. A tapped key comes back as a normal message.
**When to use it:** fixed answer sets like *Yes / No*, or asking for a phone number or location.

* **Message text** — the prompt.
* **Keys** — add up to 24. Each key has its own output path.
* **Ask for phone number** / **Ask for location** — turn a key into a request for that detail.
* **Input placeholder** — hint text in the message box.
* **Hide keyboard after one use** — one-time keyboard.

The flow waits for a key. If the person types something else, it continues as a normal message.

### Ask Questions

**Ask Text**, **Ask Number**, and **Ask Email** ask a question and wait for the reply.

* **Question** — for example "What can we help you with?"
* **Quick answers (optional)** — comma-separated, for example `Yes, No, Maybe`. Shown as keyboard keys.
* **Save answer to** — a custom field for the answer.
* **Validation error message** — shown if a number or email isn't valid.
* **Max attempts** — from 1 to 10 (default 3).

### Group Action

**What it does:** takes an action in a group, on the person who sent the message (or who joined).
**When to use it:** automatic moderation and welcome flows. It only works inside a group.

* **Action** — **Delete the message**, **Warn the member**, **Mute the member** (set the minutes, default 60), **Unmute**, **Ban**, **Unban**, **Pin the message**, or **Reset the member's warnings**.
* **Reason (optional)** — up to 200 characters.

The bot needs the matching admin right in the group. See [Groups](/workspace/telegram/groups).

## Troubleshooting / Technical Notes

* **A Telegram step isn't in the palette.** The palette follows the automation's channel. Build on a Telegram channel.
* **A message isn't delivered.** The person hasn't started the bot or they blocked it.
* **A photo or file doesn't arrive.** Telegram needs to reach the file at a public address. Use an upload, or check the link opens without a login.
* **A button does nothing.** Connect its output path to the next step. Callback buttons need a path.
* **Group Action fails.** It only works in a group, and the bot must be an admin with the right to do it. A hint is added to the group's conversation.
* **A text is too long.** Keep messages under 4,096 characters and captions under 1,024.

## Related docs

* [Builder Steps overview](/workspace/automation/steps/overview)
* [Telegram Triggers](/workspace/automation/triggers/telegram-triggers)
* [Telegram in the Inbox](/workspace/telegram/inbox)
* [Groups](/workspace/telegram/groups)