To leave a Telegram group, open it, tap the group name to open its info page, and choose Leave Group from the menu (on desktop, you can also right-click the chat in your list). Leaving a channel works the same way with Leave Channel. The chat disappears from your list and you stop receiving messages. In a group, other members may see a short notice that you left; in a channel, nobody is notified.
Below are the steps for each device, exactly what other people can see, what happens to your old messages, and a few alternatives if you only want some peace and quiet.
How to leave on each device
Android
- Open the group or channel.
- Tap its name at the top to open the info page.
- Tap the three-dot menu and choose Leave Group or Leave Channel.
- Confirm.
Shortcut: long-press the chat in your chat list and tap the delete icon. Telegram asks whether you want to leave.
iPhone and iPad
- Open the group or channel and tap its name at the top.
- Tap More (or the menu button) and choose Leave Group or Leave Channel.
- Confirm.
Shortcut: swipe left on the chat in your chat list, tap Delete, and choose the leave option.
Telegram Desktop and Telegram Web
- Right-click the chat in the chat list, or open it and click the menu in the top-right corner.
- Choose the leave option and confirm.
Menu labels shift a little between app versions, but the leave option is always on the chat's info page or in its menu.
What other people see when you leave
| Where | What members see | What admins see |
|---|---|---|
| Small or basic group | Usually a service message such as "Name left the group" | The same, plus a lower member count |
| Large group | Often the same notice, unless admins hide or clean up these messages with a bot | The member count drops, and admins may see it in the group's recent actions |
| Channel | Nothing | The subscriber count drops; you no longer appear in the subscriber list |
Nobody receives a personal notification that you left, and Telegram does not tell anyone why.
What happens to your messages and media
- Your messages stay in the group. Leaving does not delete anything you posted. Members can still read and forward it.
- Delete first if you want them gone. You can delete your own messages for everyone in a group before leaving, but it has to be done message by message or by selecting several at once. Do it before you leave, because once you are out you cannot reach them.
- Your copy of the chat disappears. After leaving, the chat is removed from your list. If you think you might need something from it, save it first: forward key messages to your Saved Messages or download files you need.
- Your name may still show on old messages. Your past messages keep your name and photo attached.
A quick checklist before you leave
- Forward anything you want to keep, such as files, addresses or instructions, to your Saved Messages.
- Delete any of your own messages you would rather not leave behind.
- If you are an admin, tell the other admins so moderation does not suddenly have a gap.
- If you joined through a private invite link, note that you will need a new link to come back.
- Ask yourself whether muting would solve the problem instead.
If you are the group owner
Owners should think twice before leaving. A group without an active owner can be harder to manage, and some owner-only actions, such as deleting the group or managing other admins' rights, depend on that role.
- Decide what should happen to the group. If it should live on, hand it over; if not, delete it from the group settings instead of simply walking away.
- Transfer ownership first. Telegram lets the owner transfer ownership to another admin. You need two-step verification enabled on your account to do this. See our guide to transferring Telegram group ownership.
- Tell your admins. A short pinned message about the change prevents confusion and helps members spot impersonators.
Alternatives to leaving
Sometimes you do not want to leave, you just want the group to stop interrupting you.
- Mute it. You stay in the group but stop getting notifications, either for a set time or indefinitely. Our guide on muting a busy Telegram group covers all the options.
- Archive it. Archived chats move out of your main list. If a muted chat is archived, it stays there even when new messages arrive.
- Put it in a folder. Folders keep low-priority groups out of sight without removing them.
Rejoining and avoiding being added back
You can rejoin a public group any time through its t.me link, as long as you were not banned. For a private group, you need a valid invite link or someone who can add you.
If you keep getting added to groups you never asked for, change your privacy settings so only your contacts, or nobody, can add you to groups and channels. People blocked by that setting can only send you an invite link, which you are free to ignore. When a stranger adds you to a spam group, Telegram may also show an option to report it as spam; using it before leaving helps Telegram deal with the sender. For more ways to deal with unwanted contacts, read how to block and restrict users on Telegram.
Leaving groups you no longer read also frees space for better ones. When you are ready to replace them, you can browse Telegram groups on Grupla by topic.
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave a Telegram group without anyone knowing?
Not completely in a group, since a service notice may appear and the member count changes. Leaving a channel is silent: no message is posted and no one is notified.
Does leaving a group delete my messages?
No. Your messages remain visible to members. Delete them yourself before leaving if you do not want them to stay.
Can I leave several groups at once?
Yes. On mobile you can select multiple chats in your chat list, for example by long-pressing on Android or using Edit on iPhone, and then delete or leave them together.