A Telegram invite link is the address people use to join your group or channel. Public groups and channels have one permanent link based on their username, like t.me/yourgroup. Private ones use invite links that look like t.me/+ followed by a random string, and these are far more flexible: admins can create as many as they want, give each a name, make them expire, cap how many people can use them, require approval, and revoke them at any time.
This guide is written for admins. It explains each type of link, how the options work together, and which setup fits common situations, from a family chat to a community promoted on several websites.
Public links vs private invite links
The first decision is whether your group is public or private, because that determines the kind of link you have.
| Public link | Private invite link | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | t.me/username | t.me/+RandomString |
| Found in Telegram search | Yes | No |
| Can be revoked | Only by changing or removing the username | Yes, instantly |
| Expiry and usage limits | No | Yes |
| Join approval | Can be enabled for the group | Can be enabled per link |
| How many | One username | Primary link plus as many extra links as you create |
A public group can still use private-style invite links alongside its username, which is useful for tracking where members come from. For the trade-offs of going public, see how to make a Telegram group public.
The primary link
Every private group and channel has a primary invite link, created automatically. It never expires on its own and has no usage limit. If it leaks somewhere you did not intend, you can revoke it, and Telegram generates a new primary link straight away. Anyone holding the old one will get an error when they try to use it, while existing members are not affected.
Additional invite links and their options
In the group or channel settings, the invite links section lets admins with the right to invite users create extra links. Each one can be configured independently:
- Name: a label only admins see, such as "Website footer" or "Spring workshop." It makes the list of links readable.
- Expiry: the link stops working after a set time or date. Useful for event chats and time-limited offers.
- Usage limit: the link stops working after a certain number of people have joined through it. Good for a class of 30 students or a fixed team.
- Request admin approval: people who open the link do not join directly. Instead they send a join request that an admin, or a bot with admin rights, must approve. Because approval already gives admins control over each person, you generally choose approval or a usage limit for a given link rather than both.
Approval-based links are the most powerful option for keeping spam out; our guide to Telegram join requests covers how to review requests efficiently.
Managing links after you create them
Invite links are not "set and forget." The link list in your settings is also a small analytics tool.
- See who joined through each link. Open a link to view the members who used it. This tells you which website, post or partner actually brings people in.
- Edit a link. You can change its name, expiry or limit without generating a new address.
- Revoke a link. It stops working immediately. Revoked links move to a separate list, where you can delete them for good.
- Share as a QR code. Telegram can display a QR code for an invite link, ready for posters, slides or printed handouts.
Bots can also create and revoke invite links through the Bot API, which some admins use to generate a unique single-use link per person, for example after a sign-up form.
Choosing the right setup for your situation
A private family or friends group
Use the primary link, share it directly with the people you want, and consider adding them by name instead. If the link ever ends up in a public place, revoke it.
A class, cohort or team with a known size
Create a named link with a usage limit equal to the group size and an expiry after the enrollment period. Late arrivals can get a fresh link from you.
An event chat
Create a link that expires shortly after the event and print it as a QR code. Attendees join on the spot, and the link cannot be reused months later.
A community promoted in many places
Create one named link per source: your website, a newsletter, each directory listing, each partner. After a few weeks you will know exactly where active members come from, and you can revoke any link that only brings spam.
A group that keeps getting spam accounts
Switch your shared links to approval-only and review requests, or use a bot that asks a simple question before approving. This stops many automated accounts before they ever post.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Posting the primary link everywhere. If it leaks, revoking it breaks the link on every site at once. Separate links let you cut off just one source.
- Forgetting old expiry dates. A link printed on a flyer that expired last month makes your group look dead. Check your list before you reuse materials.
- Assuming private means secret. Anyone with a valid link can forward it. If a group is truly sensitive, use approval and limited links.
- Giving every admin invite rights. Only admins who handle growth need permission to create links. Fewer link creators means less confusion.
Once your links are set up, you can make your group easier to discover by listing it for free on Grupla. Give that listing its own named invite link so you can see how many members it brings. For the member side of links, including how to spot fakes, read Telegram group links and how to use them safely.
Frequently asked questions
Does revoking an invite link remove members who joined with it?
No. Revoking only stops new people from using the link. Everyone who already joined stays in the group until an admin removes them.
Can regular members create invite links?
Creating, naming and revoking invite links is an admin task, and admins decide who gets the invite right when they set each admin's permissions. Depending on group permissions, members may be able to add people or pass on an existing link, but only admins control the links themselves.
Why does my link say it has expired when I never set an expiry?
Another admin may have revoked it, it may have reached a usage limit, or the primary link may have been reset. Check the revoked links list in your group settings.