Telegram Data Retention Policy Explained (2025 Update)

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Telegram’s approach to data retention is distinct from other messaging apps because of its privacy-centric design and hybrid cloud architecture. While Telegram does store data to provide cross-device syncing, it offers users powerful tools to control and delete their own data. Here's a detailed, up-to-date explanation of Telegram's data retention policy in 2025.

1. Cloud Chats and Retention
Telegram's Cloud Chats are stored on Telegram’s secure, distributed servers. This enables users to access messages from any device instantly. However, Telegram only retains what is necessary georgia telemarketing data for functionality—not for ad targeting or third-party sharing.

What is Retained:
Message content in cloud chats (unless deleted by a user)

Shared media, files, voice notes, and documents

Chat metadata: timestamps, reactions, and delivery/read status

Group/channel activity logs (admin actions, member joins, etc.)

How Long is it Retained?
Indefinitely, unless the user deletes it. Telegram does not set automatic deletion windows for cloud chats.

User control: You can delete any message, media, or chat at any time—either for yourself or for all participants.

Key Feature: Telegram allows message deletion for all users at any time—even years after a message was sent.

2. Secret Chats and Retention
Secret Chats are designed for users who need higher levels of privacy. These chats use end-to-end encryption and are not stored on Telegram’s servers at all.

What is Retained:
Nothing is stored server-side. All data is held locally on the devices involved in the conversation.

How Long is it Retained?
As long as you keep it on your device. If you delete it, it’s gone.

Self-destruct timers can be set per message or chat. Once expired, the message is automatically deleted from both devices.

Secret chats are not backed up and not accessible from multiple devices.

Telegram cannot recover Secret Chat messages under any circumstances—even if legally requested.

3. Account Data & Deleted Accounts
Telegram allows users to control their account data with fine granularity.

What is Retained:
Your phone number

Contact list (if you opt to sync it)

Username, profile picture, and bio

List of joined groups/channels

Settings and preferences

Account Self-Destruct:
Telegram accounts are automatically deleted after a period of inactivity. You can choose between 1 month to 1 year.

After that, all messages, media, and contacts are permanently erased.

Manual Account Deletion:
If you delete your Telegram account manually, all data is permanently erased, including messages, media, and cloud history.

Cannot be recovered. Telegram makes this irreversible for privacy reasons.

4. Bot Interactions & Third-Party Services
Bots are third-party apps connected to Telegram, and they can store data independently.

What Telegram Retains:
Only interaction metadata (e.g., when and which bot you used)

Telegram does not store the message contents sent to bots—bots store that data themselves.

What Bots Might Retain:
Usernames

Message content

Media

Usage patterns

Important: Bots are not bound by Telegram’s internal data policies. Always check the privacy policy of any third-party bot you interact with.

5. Ad Platform & Analytics (2025)
Since the introduction of sponsored messages and Telegram Premium, Telegram collects minimal data to run contextual ads in public channels.

What Telegram Uses:
Public channel engagement

Device type and region

Language preferences

No message content from private chats is used

Telegram claims:

“We don’t profile users and do not sell data. Ads are based solely on the topics of public channels you follow.”

Data used for analytics or advertising is anonymized and stored in aggregate form.