Is Telegram Down? How to Check Telegram Status

Telegram is a cloud-based messaging app with over 900 million active users. When Telegram goes down, communication for millions of users, businesses, and communities is disrupted.

Here's how to check if Telegram is down and what to do about it.

Common Telegram Issues

1. "Connecting..." Forever

Symptoms:

• App shows "Connecting..." but never loads
• Messages not sending or receiving
• Can't see online status of contacts

Possible causes:

• Internet connection issues (most common)
• Telegram server overload during major incidents
• ISP or government blocking Telegram
• VPN interfering with connection
• Proxy settings misconfigured

Troubleshooting:

1. Check your internet connection with other apps
2. Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data
3. Disable VPN temporarily to test
4. Check if Telegram is blocked in your region
5. Try Telegram Web (web.telegram.org) — if it works, the issue is with the mobile app

2. Messages Not Sending

Symptoms:

• Messages stuck on "sending" (clock icon)
• "Waiting for network" message
• Messages failing to deliver

Quick fixes:

• Check your internet connection
• Force-close and restart the Telegram app
• Clear Telegram cache: Settings → Data and Storage → Storage Usage → Clear Cache
• Check if you have enough local storage space
• Try sending in a different chat to isolate the issue

3. Can't Download Media

Symptoms:

• Photos/videos not loading
• "Download failed" errors
• Stuck on "Downloading..."

Quick fixes:

• Check your available storage space
• Switch to a different network (Wi-Fi/mobile data)
• Clear Telegram cache
• Disable "Use Less Data" mode temporarily: Settings → Data and Storage
• Check API Status Check to see if Telegram's media servers are experiencing issues

4. Login or Verification Code Issues

Symptoms:

• Not receiving SMS verification codes
• "Phone number banned" message
• "Flood wait" errors when trying to log in

Common causes:

• Carrier delays for SMS (can take 5-10 minutes)
• Phone number flagged for spam
• Too many login attempts (flood protection)
• Using a VoIP number (not supported for new registrations)

Quick fixes:

• Wait 5-10 minutes for SMS to arrive
• Try requesting the code via call instead of SMS
• Use a different phone number if available
• Contact @SpamBot on Telegram to check if your account is restricted

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What to Do When Telegram Is Down

Immediate Alternatives

Need	Alternative	Notes
Instant messaging	WhatsApp / Signal	Popular encrypted alternatives
Group chats	Discord	Great for communities and voice
Business communication	Slack	Professional team messaging
International calls	WhatsApp / FaceTime	Free voice/video calls
File sharing	Google Drive	Quick file sharing

For Communities and Channels

If you manage a Telegram channel or group:

1. Have a backup channel on Discord or WhatsApp for critical announcements
2. Post status updates on Twitter/X when Telegram is down
3. Monitor Telegram status via API Status Check to notify your community immediately
4. Keep alternative contact info for key members outside Telegram

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Telegram Outage History

Telegram has experienced several types of incidents:

• Regional outages — Service disruptions in specific countries (often due to DDoS attacks or government interference)
• Global degradation — Elevated message delays and connection issues during extreme load (e.g., major news events)
• Media server issues — Photos/videos not loading while text messages work fine
• Login service outages — Verification codes not sending, preventing new logins
• Bot API disruptions — Bots stop responding while user messaging continues

Major global outages are rare (1-2 per year). Telegram's distributed architecture makes it resilient to most issues.

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Is Telegram Blocked in My Country?

Telegram is blocked or restricted in several countries:

• Currently blocked: China, Iran (intermittent), Pakistan (intermittent), Russia (previously banned, now partially accessible)
• Previously blocked: Brazil, India (temporary bans lifted)

If Telegram is blocked in your country:

1. Use a VPN — Connect to a server in a different country
2. Try proxy settings — Telegram has built-in proxy support: Settings → Data and Storage → Proxy
3. Use Telegram Web — Sometimes web access isn't blocked even when apps are
4. Check @proxy on Telegram — Public proxy channels (accessible via VPN first)

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Telegram down right now?

Check API Status Check for real-time Telegram status. You can also check Downdetector for community reports or try web.telegram.org directly.

Why is Telegram not working but my internet is fine?

If other apps work but Telegram doesn't, possible causes include: Telegram servers are down, your ISP is throttling Telegram, Telegram is blocked in your region, or there's an issue with Telegram's app on your device. Try Telegram Web to isolate the problem.

Can I use Telegram offline?

Telegram requires an internet connection to send and receive messages. However, you can read previously loaded messages offline, and they'll automatically sync when you reconnect.

How long do Telegram outages usually last?

Most Telegram incidents are resolved within 1-3 hours. Regional outages may persist longer if caused by external factors (government blocking, ISP issues). Global infrastructure issues are typically fixed within 2-4 hours.

Why does Telegram work on Wi-Fi but not mobile data (or vice versa)?

This usually indicates a network-specific issue. Your carrier may be throttling or blocking Telegram, or there may be DNS issues. Try switching between Wi-Fi and mobile data, or use a VPN to test.

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