To join a Telegram group with a link, tap or click the link on a device where Telegram is installed and signed in. Telegram opens a preview of the group, and you tap Join (or Request to Join if admins approve new members). That is the whole process when everything works. The details change slightly depending on whether you are on a phone, the desktop app or Telegram Web, and on what kind of link you have.
This guide covers each platform step by step, plus a simple workaround for links that open in the browser instead of the app.
First, recognize the kind of link you have
Telegram links come in a few shapes. Knowing which one you are holding tells you what to expect.
| Link format | What it is | What happens |
|---|---|---|
t.me/groupname | Public group or channel username | Opens a preview; you can often read messages before joining |
t.me/+AbC123xyz | Private invite link | Shows name, description and member count, then Join or Request to Join |
t.me/joinchat/AbC123xyz | Older style of private invite link | Works like the + format |
telegram.me/... | Alternate domain | Behaves the same as t.me |
tg://... | Direct app link | Opens the app immediately; does nothing if Telegram is not installed |
For a fuller explanation of private, expiring and limited links, see Telegram invite links explained.
Joining on Android or iPhone
- Make sure the Telegram app is installed and you are logged in.
- Tap the link wherever you found it: a message, an email, a website or a QR code scan.
- If your phone opens the link in a browser first, you will see a Telegram page with a button to open the group in the app. Tap it.
- Telegram shows the group's name, photo, member count and description. For public groups you may see recent messages too.
- Tap Join. If the button says Request to Join, tap it and wait for an admin to approve you. Telegram notifies you when you are accepted.
If links keep opening in the browser on Android
Android lets apps claim certain web addresses. Open your phone's settings, find Telegram in the apps list, and look for the option to open supported links by default. Make sure t.me is enabled. The exact menu names vary by phone maker, so search your settings for "open by default" if you cannot find it.
If the link is inside another app's in-app browser
Apps like email clients and social networks sometimes open links in their own built-in browser, which may not hand off to Telegram. Use the menu in that browser to open the page in your regular browser, or copy the link and use the Saved Messages method below.
Joining on Telegram Desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Install and sign in to the desktop app. You can log in by scanning a QR code from your phone's Telegram app.
- Click the link in your web browser. The browser will ask whether to open Telegram; allow it. You can tick the option to always allow this so you are not asked again.
- The desktop app opens the group preview. Click Join or Request to Join.
If clicking does nothing, copy the link, paste it into any chat in the desktop app (Saved Messages works best), send it, and click it there.
Joining on Telegram Web
Telegram Web runs in your browser at web.telegram.org and does not need an install, which is handy on a shared or work computer.
- Go to
web.telegram.organd log in, usually by scanning the QR code with the Telegram app on your phone. - Open Saved Messages (your private cloud chat with yourself).
- Paste the group link and send it.
- Click the link in your Saved Messages. The preview opens inside Telegram Web.
- Click Join or Request to Join.
For public groups you can also type the username (the part after t.me/) into the search bar and open the result directly.
The Saved Messages trick works everywhere
Whenever a link refuses to open properly, sending it to yourself in Saved Messages is the most reliable fix. Links inside Telegram are always handled by Telegram, so you skip browser settings, in-app browsers and operating system prompts entirely. It also lets you pass a link from your computer to your phone: paste it on one device, and it appears on the other because Saved Messages syncs across all your sessions.
What to check before tapping Join
The preview screen is your chance to make sure you are joining the right place.
- Name and photo: do they match the community you expected? Impostor groups often copy them closely.
- Member count: a group claiming to be official with a handful of members deserves suspicion, and so does a huge group with no visible activity.
- Source of the link: links from an organization's own website or a person you know are safer than links from unknown comments or unsolicited messages.
- Your privacy settings: other members can see your name and photo. Hide your phone number in privacy settings before joining public groups.
Our guide to using Telegram group links safely goes deeper on judging a link before you open it. If you are still looking for groups to join, you can browse Telegram groups on Grupla, where links are sorted by category.
When the link does not work
A link may fail because it expired, reached its usage limit, was revoked by an admin, or points to a group that changed its username or was deleted. You may also have been removed from that group before. Ask whoever shared it for a fresh link, and see Telegram link not working? Common causes and fixes for a full troubleshooting list.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Telegram account to join a group?
Yes. You can view some public channel posts in a web browser without an account, but joining any group requires signing up with a phone number.
Will the admins see that I joined through their link?
Admins can see who joined a group and, for invite links they created, which members joined through each link. Other members may see a short notice that you joined.
Why does it say "Request to Join" instead of "Join"?
The admins turned on approval for that link or group. Your request goes to them, and you can enter only after someone approves it. Some groups ask questions through a bot first.