Telegram Desktop is a powerful messaging with top-ranked popularity across the world. The fool-proof encryption offered by the app allows users to send and receive their private messages, critical documents, and other sensitive information with ease. The go-to messaging app offers free-of-cost services, and gives quick synchronization between multiple devices, so you can easily continue your conversation using any available device. As compared to other messaging apps i.e. WhatsApp, it also offers entire messaging capabilities along with sharing of your multimedia and documents with your friends and family.

What is Telegram?

Telegram Desktop was developed by Telegram-FZ-LLC as part of the Communication category that offers freeware services for sending and receiving messages. It is a cross-platform, and cloud-based utility with a simple-to-use interface that allows the users to share their messages, documents, and audio/video files with their friends and family without any unauthorized access. It is the safest way of communicating with your contacts, as only authorized persons can access the messages or other shared content.

The cross-platform compatibility enables the users to sync across multiple devices, and enjoy a non-stop chatting experience. You also create groups or channels to add your friends, even co-members to broadcast messages for quick access.

Features of Telegram

Quick Launching

The app with a quick installation process offers a simple and easy launching process. When you navigate to open the app, you are asked to enter your username, password, and phone number to register on the app. You have to use your cell phone number, or just scan a QR code to log in to your Telegram desktop platform. So, we can say the Telegram desktop works as an extension of the Telegram mobile application and allows the users of the Windows operating system to enjoy all Telegram features on their big screen.

Instant Messaging

The platform is one of the top 10 messaging apps in the world and is used by 800 million active users. The fast and speedy performance offered by the app helps the users to send and receive messages quickly because the app has a distributed network of servers that make your message delivery quick and fast.

Versatile Tool

The app was launched for mobile phones i.e. Android and iOS devices for the first time and then moved to desktop operating systems i.e. Windows, macOS, and Linux. The versatility of the platform helps the users to continue their conversation and sharing of content easy and simple.

Seamless Connection

You will find seamless connections between users, as the platform allows the users to connect with their contacts exclusively, or in groups. You will find all basic features similar to other messaging apps.

Channels

The users are allowed to create channels add up to 200 members, and post messages as admin. Anyone can access these channels by subscribing to them and watching messages easily. The channels are created on a private or public basis, and you can create them on different topics i.e. hobbies, interests, business, entertainment, and so on. Government agencies also use this platform for sharing content.

You can follow or subscribe to any channel using any of the following three ways;

Use keywords on the global search function to access channels
Get a link from a related person
Search online lists on particular websites

If you want to create your own channel, it is very simple such as entering a suitable name, creating a URL, giving a link to your contacts, and starting broadcast messaging the same as in private chat.

Quick Sharing

The file-sharing process on the platform is one of the best capabilities offered by the app. You can share your multimedia files i.e. Photos, audio, and videos. Likewise, you also have the option of sharing your sensitive data, documents, and archives with your friends or family without any limitation of size or type.

Audio/Video Calls

The crystal-quality audio/video calls help the users to connect with friends, family, or other business contacts across the world. You have the option to establish VOIP calls exclusively, or within groups that range up to 1000 people. You can even share your screen, adjust volume, and so on.

Privacy & Security

The use of end-to-end encryption protects your calls and messages while making sure only the specific receiver is attending to everything shared with you. You can set “self-distract timer”, so the received message deletes automatically after the modified time. Moreover, you also have the option of adjusting a specific passcode, two-factor authentication, etc to make your privacy fool-proof. You can disable the ability to view your Telegram profile by anyone. For this purpose follow the given steps;

Launch the Telegram app on your device
Open the Settings menu by clicking on three vertical lines
Scroll down to Privacy & Security section, and click on your Phone Number.
Click on “Who can see my profile”, and select an option from Nobody, Everybody, and MyContacts. You need to select ‘Nobody, or My Contacts’.

Seamless Synchronization

The cross-platform compatibility allows the users to sync their messages and sharing of multimedia across the devices seamlessly. Avail an amazing experience and stay in touch with your friends and family using any device including smartphones, tablets, PCs, and so on.

Simple Interface

The simple interface with easy navigation gives quick access to all features. Despite of having an extensive collection of features, Telegram maintains the simplicity and versatility of its interface. You will find the chat list on the left panel, whereas, the main conversations are housed on the right panel, and you can create group chats, and broadcast channels, and access the contact list. Night mode is also available that you can enable or disable from left drop-down menu, you can automate it using the configuration options.

Create Surveys

You can do more rather than messaging or calling, so you can create quizzes educational tests, or other informative surveys while creating public or private groups, so anyone can access and avail of the facility.

Lightweight

If you are a regular Telegram user, you can avail of the desktop version facility for more flexibility in staying in touch with others. In comparison to other apps, Telegram is also a lightweight utility and consumes very little resources on your hard drive. You need only to enable the self-distract timer to delete messages,

Safe & Secure

Telegram gives first priority to security and ease of use, so it applies the best combination of 256-bit, symmetric AES encryption, 2048-bit RSA encryption, and Diffie-Hellman to make your chats, groups, and media safe and secure.

Powerful Utility

You have the option to create group chats with up to 200,000 members and share content without any limit on size, and type, as it supports .docx, .MP3, ZIP, and so on. Set up bots to manage multiple social tasks and facilitate teamwork.

Simple & Reliable

The app uses minimal data to deliver messages, even on a weak internet connection. It offers a big collection of photo and video editing tools and helps to make simple changes to your photos and videos before sharing. Moreover, you will find an awesome theme collection to customize the look of your chat screen and use unique animated stickers, emojis, and FIGs to make your conversation impressive.

How to Download & Install Telegram on a PC

Step 1: Download

Click on the “Download” button given on the page, and download the exe file of Telegram on your system. The exe file will be downloaded and saved to your Downloads folder automatically. You can save it in your preferred folder as well.

Step 2: Install Telegram

After completing the downloading process, extract the .exe file, and run the installer by double-clicking it. Complete the installation process by following on-screen instructions.

Step 3: Account Setup

After completing the installation app, click the icon of the app from your desktop, and launch it. You can create a new account, or continue with the existing one. Integrate the desktop app with your mobile app while scanning the QR code from your mobile.

Step 4: Main Interface

Navigate to the main interface, and you will find it similar to a mobile app embedded with multiple features i.e. chat list, contacts, settings, and so on.

Step 5: Start Chatting

You can start your conversation using different options, or share your content as well.

Step 6: Customize Settings

If you are not satisfied with the current state of your app, you can make changes using customization settings.

Alternatives of Telegram Desktop

Whatsapp Desktop

Whatsapp Desktop owned by a big giant, the Meta offers instant messaging and VOIP service. You are capable of sending and receiving text, audio messages, and videos, and conducting audio/video calls. You have the capability of sharing your multimedia files with others as well.

Viber

Viber is also an instant messaging app developed by a Japanese multinational company, Rakuten as a cross-platform. You can use it on Google Android, iOS devices, Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux

Google Chat

It is basically designed to initiate a business and team’s environment in the first place, but later on, it was available for general use.

Signal

It is an open-source platform to offers encrypted messages, and audio and video calls. You have the option to send and receive text and voice messages and share videos and other documents. You can contact exclusively with your contacts, or create groups to add multiple people.

Skype

Skype developed by Skype Technologies is a proprietary telecommunication app that helps to conduct video conferencing video calls. It also offers multiple features such as instant messaging, filter transfer, debit-based calls to landline and mobile telephones, and so on.

Slack

It is a freeware cloud-based communication platform launched by Slack.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is another best alternative to Telegram launched by Microsoft as part of Microsoft 365 Office productivity apps. It helps to arrange video conference calls collaboration in real-time, and so on.

Pros

Sync your messages and calls across devices
Personalize your user experience using an extensive collection of customization tools
Create interest-based channels and groups while adding suitable communities and teams
End-to-end encryption to offer fool-proof security and privacy
Share up to 2GB files with support of multiple formats
An efficient fully responsive developer team to assisting
Get regular updates
Make audio/video calls for single contact or within groups
Set up bots to perform multiple tasks
Integrated into multiple social media platforms
Free to use

Cons

Advanced features can be used after some exploration
Sharing of multimedia files is limited to up to 2GB
Have some steep learning curve for new learners
Slow performance in case of batch sharing of files
Required to connect via your mobile

FAQs

Is Telegram a secure platform?

Similar to other messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Viber, etc, Telegram also offers an encrypted connection while offering the MTProto protocol.

Is it possible to make audio/video calls on Telegram?

You can make audio calls on the desktop version, but video calls are not available on the desktop.

Can I sync my mobile chats on the desktop?

Yes, the platform offers seamless synchronization across devices to continue your chat.

What is the difference between Telegram desktop and Telegram web?

Both are the same to deliver multiple features and functions, but you need to use a browser to access the web version.

Telegram Desktop