Telegram Privacy Settings Every Fan Should Change Today

The Telegram privacy settings that matter most for fans are: hide your phone number (set it to Nobody), limit who can find you by number, choose who sees your profile photo and last seen time, stop strangers from adding you to groups, and turn on two-step verification. All of them live under Settings, then Privacy and Security, and take about five minutes.

Talking to adult creators is a private matter for most people. Telegram gives you strong controls, but several defaults are more open than many fans expect. This walkthrough covers each setting, what it does, and a sensible choice for someone who messages creators. Menus can differ slightly between iPhone, Android and desktop, and Telegram updates them often, so look for the names below rather than exact positions. TeleSearch is for adults (18+) only.

1. Phone number: set it to Nobody

Where: Settings, Privacy and Security, Phone Number.

This controls who can see your phone number on your profile. Set "Who can see my phone number" to Nobody. People who already have your number saved in their contacts may still see it, because they already know it.

Directly below, "Who can find me by my number" decides whether someone who has your number can look up your account. Set it to My Contacts. That prevents a stranger with a list of numbers from matching them to Telegram accounts.

Why it matters: your phone number links your Telegram account to your real identity, your messaging apps and often your bank. A creator does not need it to talk to you.

2. Username: use one, and choose it carefully

Where: Settings, then tap your profile, Username.

A public @username lets people message you without knowing your phone number, which is exactly what you want. Pick a username that does not contain your real name, birth year or the same handle you use on professional networks. That keeps your Telegram activity separate from the rest of your online life.

3. Last seen and online status

Where: Settings, Privacy and Security, Last Seen and Online.

Choose Nobody or My Contacts. Note that Telegram applies a reciprocal rule: if you hide your last seen time, you generally will not see other people's exact times either. Telegram Premium subscribers have an option to hide their own status while still seeing others' (check the app for the current behaviour).

4. Profile photos

Where: Settings, Privacy and Security, Profile Photos.

Set who can see your profile photo to My Contacts, or use a photo that does not show your face. You can also add exceptions. If you would rather show a picture to everyone, Telegram lets you set a separate "public photo" that non-contacts see.

5. Forwarded messages

Where: Settings, Privacy and Security, Forwarded Messages.

When someone forwards your message, Telegram can attach a link to your account. Set this to Nobody or My Contacts, so forwarded messages appear without a link back to you.

6. Calls

Where: Settings, Privacy and Security, Calls.

Choose who can call you. My Contacts or Nobody stops unexpected voice and video calls. There is also a "Peer-to-peer" option: setting it to Nobody or My Contacts routes calls through Telegram's servers, so the other person does not see your IP address.

7. Groups and channels

Where: Settings, Privacy and Security, Groups and Channels (sometimes called Invites).

Set "Who can add me to groups and channels" to My Contacts. Spammers and scam groups add random users in bulk, often to groups using creators' names. With this setting, strangers can only send you an invite link that you can ignore.

8. Messages from strangers

Where: Settings, Privacy and Security, Messages.

Depending on your account and region, Telegram lets you limit new messages from non-contacts, for example to contacts and Premium users only. Because many scam attempts start with an unsolicited message, this is worth turning on if available.

Telegram also has an option for Telegram Premium users to charge Stars for messages from non-contacts. If a creator has enabled it, you will see the price before sending. More on that in Telegram paid media and paid messages explained.

9. Bio and date of birth

Where: Settings, Privacy and Security, Bio, and separately Date of Birth.

Your bio and birthday can each be limited to contacts or hidden. Leave out anything that identifies you: workplace, city, other social handles.

10. Two-step verification

Where: Settings, Privacy and Security, Two-Step Verification.

This is the most important security setting on the list. It adds a password on top of the SMS code when you log in on a new device. If someone tricks you into sharing a login code, they still cannot get into your account. Add a recovery email you control, and do not reuse a password from another site. See our guide on avoiding phishing links for why this matters.

11. Passcode lock and active sessions

Where: Settings, Privacy and Security, Passcode Lock (or Passcode and Face ID); Settings, Devices.

A passcode lock protects the app itself if someone picks up your unlocked phone. In Devices, review every logged-in session and terminate any you do not recognise. Set "Automatically terminate old sessions" to a period that suits you.

12. Contact sync

Where: Settings, Privacy and Security, Data Settings, Sync Contacts.

If contact sync is on, Telegram uploads your phone contacts to suggest people you know. Turning it off and deleting synced contacts keeps your address book off Telegram's servers and reduces the chance that someone in your contacts is notified that you joined.

13. Sensitive content

Telegram hides some content marked as sensitive by default. Adults can change this, on some platforms only from the desktop or web app. Our guide how to enable 18+ content on Telegram explains the steps.

Habits that matter as much as settings

• Do not share your phone number, workplace, address or ID with anyone you meet on Telegram, creator or not.
• Do not send photos that show your face or surroundings if you are not comfortable with them being kept.
• Open creators from a link they published or from a checked directory listing. TeleSearch lists personal accounts only and checks each link before it goes live (how we verify).
• Remember that the other person can take screenshots. Secret chats and self-destructing messages reduce exposure but cannot stop someone photographing their screen.

More advice for both fans and creators is on our safety page.

Frequently asked questions

Can a creator see my phone number on Telegram?

Only if your privacy setting allows it or they already have your number saved. Set "Who can see my phone number" to Nobody and "Who can find me by my number" to My Contacts.

Do I need a username to message a creator?

No, but a username is useful: people can reply and find you by @username instead of your phone number, which keeps your number private.

Will a creator know if I read their messages?

Telegram shows read receipts (two ticks) in private chats. You can hide your last seen time, but read ticks still appear in one-to-one chats.

Is Telegram end-to-end encrypted?

Secret chats are end-to-end encrypted. Ordinary cloud chats are encrypted between your device and Telegram's servers. Secret chats are only available between two devices and do not sync to your other devices.

What should I do first if I only have five minutes?

Turn on two-step verification and set your phone number visibility to Nobody. Those two steps protect your account and your identity more than anything else.