Telegram privacy settings for Windows: Relaxed level

What for: So you don't get hacked.

To log in to Telegram on a new device, you should scan a QR code with your phone or enter a code received by phone call or SMS. If cybercriminals want to hijack your account, they can intercept a message or incoming call and log in to the messenger in your place.

To protect yourself, enable two-factor authentication. If this feature is activated, when logging in to the app from a new device you should enter not only a code received via SMS or phone call, but also a password. Without the password, cybercriminals will not be able to enter the account, even if they intercept a message or call containing a code. To enable two-factor authentication:

1. Click three horizontal lines in the upper left corner of the screen;
2. Select Settings;
3. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
4. In the Security section, select Two-Step Verification;
5. In the window that opens, click Create Password;
6. Create a strong password and enter it twice, then click Continue;
7. If you're worried about forgetting your password, add a hint in the next window and click Continue;
8. Important! Don't use the password itself as the hint, and don't use a question which answer can easily be googled (e.g., "how many steps are in the Spanish Steps, Rome?");
9. In the next window, enter an e-mail address you can use to recover the password in case you forget it;
10. Click Save and Finish;
11. In the next window, enter the code sent to your e-mail address.

What for: To keep strangers from reading your correspondence.

If you logged in to Telegram on someone else's computer or phone and didn't log out, anyone will be able to read your messages and even write to people from your account. For your convenience, the app keeps a list of active sessions. Check the list and make sure that there are no extra devices connected:

1. Click three horizontal lines in the upper left corner of the screen;
2. Select Settings;
3. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
4. Skip this point in Web version Z.
5. In the Security section, select Show all sessions;
6. In the Web versions, this button is called Devices;
7. If you see an unfamiliar device in the Active Sessions section, select it and click Terminate Session.

What for: So the new owner of your old number can't read your correspondence or write messages from your account.

To log in to Telegram on a new device, you can scan a QR code or enter a one-time code received by phone call or SMS. If you decide to change your number or you don't use it for a long time, at some point the operator will transfer the old number to someone else.

In certain circumstances — for example, if you want to log in to Telegram using an SMS code — that code might go to a stranger, who could then access your account. To prevent this, if you change your number you should enter the new one in the settings.

1. Click three horizontal lines in the upper left corner of the screen;
2. Select Settings;
3. Click Edit profile;
4. Select Phone number;
5. Click Change number, enter the new one and click Submit;
6. Enter the code sent via SMS to your new number.

In the Web versions of Telegram, you can't change your phone number.

What for: So you can decide who gets to see your number.

By default, only your contacts can see your phone number in Telegram. If you changed this setting and made your number visible to everybody, spammers or obsessive admirers could take advantage of this.

To limit the visibility of your number or hide it completely:

1. Click three horizontal lines in the upper left corner of the screen;
2. Select Settings;
3. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
4. In the Privacy section, click Phone Number;
5. In the Web versions, this point is called Who can see my phone number?;
6. Next, select My Contacts or Nobody and click Save.

In this window, you can also add exceptions. To do so, in the app:

1. In the Add exceptions section, click Add users opposite Always share with or Never share with;
2. Select the relevant person from your contact list and click Save.

In the Web versions:

1. In the Exceptions section, click Always Allow or Never Allow;
2. Select the relevant person from the contact list and click on the blue arrow in the lower right corner of the window.

What for: So you don't receive messages from people you don't want to communicate with.

If you received a message from a spammer or fraudster, or just somebody you don't want to communicate with, you can block that user.

1. Click three horizontal lines in the upper left corner of the screen;
2. Select Settings;
3. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
4. In the Security section, select Blocked users;
5. In the window that opens, click Block user;
6. In the Web versions, click the plus sign in the lower right corner;
7. Select who you want to block.

The blocked user will not know you added them to your denylist. They can send you messages, but you won't see them — they will appear to the user as unread. Regardless of your other settings, blocked users can't see your photographs or last seen status.

What for: So you don't get invitations from anyone.

By default, all Telegram users can send you invitations to channels and groups. To restrict this:

1. Click three horizontal lines in the upper left corner of the screen;
2. Select Settings;
3. Go to the Privacy and Security section;
4. In the Privacy section, select Groups and channels;
5. In the Web versions, this item is called Who can add me to group chats?;
6. In the Who can add me to groups and channels section, select My Contacts and click Save.

In this window, you can also add exceptions. To do so, in the app:

1. In the Add exceptions section, select Add Users opposite Always allow or Never Allow;
2. Select the relevant person from your contact list and click Save.

In the Web versions:

1. In the Exceptions section, click Always Allow or Never Allow;
2. Select the relevant person from the contact list and click on the blue arrow in the lower right corner of the window.