> ## 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

> Chat with customers on Telegram from your shared inbox, run automations, send campaigns, and moderate groups — using your own Telegram bot.

## What is this?

**Telegram** is a channel like WhatsApp or Instagram. You connect your own **Telegram bot**, and people who message the bot appear in your shared **Inbox**. Your team, your automations, and your AI agents can reply, and you can send campaigns to your Telegram contacts.

The bot can also be added to **Telegram groups**, where it can answer questions and moderate — deleting spam, warning, muting, or banning.

\[SCREENSHOT: telegram-overview-sidebar — The Telegram section of the sidebar showing Campaigns, Groups, and Bot settings]

<Info>
  Telegram is available when your **plan** includes Telegram Integration and your platform has the Telegram channel switched on. If your plan doesn't include it, Telegram pages show **Upgrade Required**. Ask your platform administrator if you can't connect a bot.
</Info>

## What can I do here?

* **Connect a Telegram bot** so customers can message you — see [Connect a Telegram Bot](/workspace/telegram/connect-bot)
* **Reply in the Inbox** with text, photos, video, audio, voice notes, documents, locations, buttons, and reactions — see [Telegram in the Inbox](/workspace/telegram/inbox)
* **Set a welcome message, a command menu, and inline mode** — see [Bot Settings](/workspace/telegram/bot-settings)
* **Send campaigns**, now or scheduled — see [Campaigns](/workspace/telegram/campaigns)
* **Manage groups** the bot is in, with moderation rules and welcome messages — see [Groups](/workspace/telegram/groups)
* **Automate** replies with Telegram triggers and steps — see [Telegram Triggers](/workspace/automation/triggers/telegram-triggers) and [Telegram Steps](/workspace/automation/steps/telegram-steps)

## How it works

1. You create a bot in Telegram with **@BotFather** and connect it to your workspace.
2. When someone sends the bot a message, it arrives in your Inbox as a conversation with a new contact.
3. Automations and AI agents answer instantly when they can; your team takes over when needed.
4. You can message people back at any time — as long as they've started your bot.

## The Telegram pages

| Sidebar item     | What it's for                                                                  |
| ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Campaigns**    | Send messages to your Telegram contacts and groups, and see how they performed |
| **Groups**       | See groups your bot is in, and set replies and moderation for each             |
| **Bot settings** | Welcome message, bot commands, inline mode, and group chats on/off             |

The bot connection itself lives in **Channels → Telegram**.

## How Telegram differs from WhatsApp

Telegram works differently, and it's worth knowing before you plan messages:

* **People must start the bot first.** A bot can't message someone who has never started it, or who has blocked it. Campaigns skip these people automatically.
* **No message templates.** You can send a free-form message any time. There's no 24-hour window.
* **No read receipts.** Messages are marked **sent**; delivered and read aren't tracked.
* **File size:** files people send you can be up to 20 MB.
* **Speed limits.** Telegram limits how fast a bot can send. Campaigns are sent in the background at a pace Telegram allows.
* **Broadcast channels aren't supported.** Private chats, groups, and supergroups are.

## Permissions

Team members need these permissions. Owners and admins have them by default.

| Permission                      | Lets you                                                        |
| ------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **View Telegram**               | See the connection and the Telegram pages                       |
| **Connect Telegram bots**       | Connect a bot                                                   |
| **Refresh status and settings** | Check status and edit Bot settings, and moderate from the Inbox |
| **Remove connections**          | Disconnect the bot, and make the bot leave a group              |

Campaigns use the normal campaign permissions (view, create, send, schedule). See [Team](/workspace/team).

## Troubleshooting / Technical Notes

* **The Telegram menu isn't in the sidebar.** Telegram may not be enabled for your platform or plan. Ask your platform administrator.
* **"Upgrade Required."** Your plan doesn't include Telegram Integration.
* **Nothing arrives in the Inbox.** Open **Channels → Telegram** and click **Check status**. See [Connect a Telegram Bot](/workspace/telegram/connect-bot).
* **I can't message a contact.** They haven't started the bot, or they blocked it.

## Related docs

* [Connect a Telegram Bot](/workspace/telegram/connect-bot)
* [Bot Settings](/workspace/telegram/bot-settings)
* [Campaigns](/workspace/telegram/campaigns)
* [Groups](/workspace/telegram/groups)
* [Telegram in the Inbox](/workspace/telegram/inbox)
* [Channels](/workspace/channels)