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2025 Guide: Must-Adjust Settings for Telegram Beginners

· 3 min read
Aston
Aston
All maintainers of All In One TG

If you're just starting out with Telegram, it's highly recommended to configure the following settings to ensure account security, a smooth user experience, and a more user-friendly interface:

Settings Overview​

  • ✅ Enable Chinese interface (recommended)
  • ✅ Enable "Two-Step Verification" password (highly recommended)
  • ✅ Restrict online status visibility & group invite permissions (highly recommended)
  • ✅ Adjust "Account Self-Destruct" timeout period (optional)

If your Telegram interface defaults to English, we recommend switching to Chinese for easier reading and configuration.

Click here to install the Chinese language pack with one tap

To prevent account theft, it’s strongly advised to set a Two-Step Verification password in Telegram.

How to set it:​

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Two-Step Verification → Set Password

This password will be required when logging in on a new device. It won’t affect daily use, but it significantly improves your account security.

⚠️ Tip: Avoid using free domestic email providers as your recovery email. They may fail to receive Telegram's verification emails.

3. Privacy Settings: Online Status & Group Invite Permissions (Recommended)​

How to set:​

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Last Seen & Online → Set to “My Contacts”
  2. Go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Groups & Channels → Set to “My Contacts”

These settings help you avoid being tracked by strangers and prevent being force-added to unfamiliar groups.

4. Account Self-Destruct Timeout (Optional)​

By default, Telegram will delete your account if you’re inactive for a long time. You can extend this timeout to prevent accidental data loss.

How to set:​

  1. Go to Settings → Privacy and Security → Delete My Account → Set to “6 months” or longer

This helps you keep your data if you take a break from using Telegram.

Reference: Interface Screenshots​

iOS Example (Android similar)​

  1. Open “Settings” → “Privacy and Security”
  2. Configure two-step verification, privacy settings, and self-destruct timeout
Two-step verification, privacy settings, self-destruct timeout

Enable two-step verification, configure privacy settings, and set self-destruct timeout

Set two-step verification, online status, and account self-destruct timeout

Set two-step verification, online status visibility, and account timeout

MacOS Example​

  1. Open the Settings menu → Privacy and Security
  2. Follow the same steps as above to complete your configuration
Settings menu, Privacy and Security

Settings menu → Privacy and Security