How to Go Invisible on Telegram: Privacy Tips [2024] 💥

Updated: November 4, 2024 | by: Martijn Assie, creating websites & shops since 20 years, also Linux-, Wordpress-,
Photoshop- and SEO expert. | 0 comments

Privacy is a paramount concern for most internet users today. With instant messaging apps like Telegram, there are always ways to ensure you're not constantly in the spotlight. In this guide, we'll delve deep into how you can go invisible on Telegram, keeping your online status and personal information guarded from prying eyes.

Understanding Telegram's Privacy Features

Telegram FAQ offers a comprehensive overview of its platform's features and functions. Before diving into the specifics, it's important to grasp the general privacy settings and tools that Telegram provides to its users. Among them are the Last Seen settings, profile photo privacy, and the ability to conduct secret chats.

Last Seen & Online Status

Telegram allows users to control who can see their 'last seen' timestamp. This helps you keep your online status discreet, making it harder for others to deduce when you're online.

Here's how to manage your 'Last Seen' status:

Open Telegram and navigate to 'Settings'.
Select 'Privacy and Security'.
Choose 'Last Seen & Online'.
From here, you can select who can view your status: 'Everybody', 'My Contacts', or 'Nobody'. There are also exceptions you can set, allowing specific users to see or not see your status irrespective of the global setting.

If you want more details on adjusting these settings specifically on Android or iPhone, you can check our previous guide on how to adjust privacy settings on Telegram for Android and iPhone.

Profile Photo Privacy

Just like with the last seen status, Telegram gives you the option to control who can see your profile photo. This can be especially useful if you're in multiple groups and don't want everyone to see your picture.

Steps to adjust profile photo privacy:

Go to Telegram's 'Settings'.
Click on 'Privacy and Security'.
Choose 'Profile Photo'.
Now, you can select if 'Everybody', 'My Contacts', or 'Nobody' can see your profile picture. The exception feature is also available here.

Secret Chats

Telegram secret chats are a standout feature of the platform, offering end-to-end encrypted conversations that leave no trace on Telegram's servers. These chats can't be forwarded, and you can even set messages to self-destruct after a certain period.

To start a secret chat:

Open a chat with the contact you wish to have a secret conversation with.
Click on their name at the top to open the contact's details.
Select 'Start Secret Chat'.

Enhancing Security with Additional Measures

Two-Step Verification

Telegram's 2-Step Verification adds an extra layer of security to your account. This requires not only the code sent to your phone number but also a password you set up. Thus, even if someone has access to your SIM card, they can't log into your Telegram account without this password.

How to set up 2-Step Verification:

Open 'Settings' in Telegram.
Select 'Privacy and Security'.
Click on 'Two-Step Verification'.
Set up a password and hint. Make sure to remember this, as losing access could mean being locked out of your account.

Check Active Sessions

Regularly monitoring the devices that are logged into your Telegram account is essential. If you spot any unfamiliar devices, it's crucial to terminate those sessions immediately. Our guide on how to check active sessions on Telegram for both Android and iPhone offers a step-by-step walkthrough on this topic.

Passcode Lock

Apart from the two-step verification, setting up a passcode lock on the app itself provides another level of security. This way, even if your phone is unlocked, nobody can access your Telegram chats without the passcode. Interested in setting this up? See our detailed guide on how to set up a passlock code on Telegram for Android and iPhone.

Final Thoughts

With the constant threat of digital eavesdropping and data breaches, taking extra measures to ensure privacy and security on platforms like Telegram is more crucial than ever. By using the above tips and regularly reviewing your settings, you can keep your Telegram experience as private as possible. If you encounter any issues or need further assistance, Telegram's support form is always available to help.