Telegram Topics turn a single group chat into a forum: instead of one endless stream, the group is divided into separate threads such as "Announcements," "Help," "Showcase" and "Off-topic," each with its own name, icon, messages and pins. Admins switch Topics on in the group settings. Members then open the group to a list of topics, pick one, and chat inside it, which keeps a busy group readable even with thousands of people in it.
This guide explains how forum mode works, how to enable it, how to design a topic structure that members actually use, and when Topics are more trouble than they are worth.
How Topics change a group
With Topics enabled, the group behaves differently in a few key ways:
- The group opens to a topic list. Each row shows a topic's icon, name and latest message, like threads in a forum.
- Every message belongs to a topic. A default General topic catches messages that do not fit elsewhere.
- Topics have their own pins. The rules can be pinned in one topic and an event schedule in another.
- Notifications are per topic. Members can mute chatty topics and keep important ones loud.
- Admins can close a topic. In a closed topic only admins can post, which is ideal for announcements and rules.
- Admins can pin topics. Pinned topics stay at the top of the list where newcomers see them first.
Everything else about the group stays the same: the member list, permissions, slow mode, bots, polls and voice chats all still work.
Turning Topics on
- Open the group and tap its name to open the info page.
- Tap Edit.
- Find the Topics switch and turn it on.
- Back in the group, create your first topics with a name and icon.
If you do not see the Topics option, update the app and check that you are the owner or an admin with the right to change group info. Enabling Topics on a small basic group upgrades it to a supergroup, which is a one-way change but has no downside for members.
Next, decide who can create topics. In the group's permissions you can allow members to start new topics, or keep that for admins with the right to manage topics. Most groups start with admin-only topic creation and open it up once the structure settles. Our Telegram group permissions guide covers the related settings.
Designing a topic structure people will use
The biggest mistake is creating twenty topics on day one. Members do not know where to post, conversations scatter, and most topics stay empty. Start with five to eight and add more when a subject keeps coming up.
| Community type | Starter topics |
|---|---|
| Software or open-source project | Announcements (closed), Help, Bug reports, Feature ideas, Showcase, Off-topic |
| Language learning group | Rules and resources (closed), Daily practice, Grammar questions, Voice messages, Partner search |
| Local city community | Announcements (closed), Events, Recommendations, Buy and sell, Housing, General |
| Course or study cohort | Schedule (closed), Week-by-week topics, Assignments help, Resources, Social |
| Hobby or fan community | News, Discussion, Share your work, Questions, Memes |
Naming tips
- Use plain names that describe what goes inside: "Questions" beats "The Lab."
- Pick icons that are easy to tell apart at a glance.
- Put the rules in a closed, pinned topic so they are the first thing new members see.
- Keep one catch-all topic. Without it, people post random messages in the wrong places.
Switching an existing busy group
Moving an established group to Topics works best as a short, announced project. Post a message a few days ahead explaining why, create and pin the main topics before the switch, and write a closed "How this group works" topic listing what goes where. For the first week, expect people to post in General out of habit; reply with a friendly pointer to the right topic rather than deleting their messages.
Moderating a forum-mode group
Topics make moderation easier because problems stay contained in one thread, but they introduce new tasks.
- Redirect, do not just delete. When someone posts in the wrong topic, reply with a link to the right one. People learn the structure quickly.
- Close stale topics. A one-off event topic can be closed after the event so it stops collecting messages.
- Review topics monthly. Merge or close topics nobody uses, and create new ones for subjects that dominate General.
- Combine with slow mode. Slow mode still applies to the whole group and can calm heated threads. See our guide to Telegram slow mode.
- Check your bots. Bots can work with topics through the Bot API, but older bots may only post into General. Test welcome messages and anti-spam bots after enabling Topics.
For broader techniques, see how to moderate a large Telegram group.
When Topics help, and when they do not
Topics are a good fit when: the group is large or fast-moving, several distinct subjects compete for attention, or newcomers keep asking questions that bury important discussions.
Topics are a poor fit when: the group is small and close-knit, conversations are naturally about one thing, or members mostly read on mobile and dislike tapping into threads. A 30-person friends group rarely benefits from forum mode.
You can turn Topics off again in the same settings screen if the experiment does not work. Tell members before you change anything, because the layout shift can be confusing.
Tips for members of forum groups
- Mute topics you do not follow and keep the important ones on. Our guide to muting Telegram groups explains the options.
- Read the rules topic before posting.
- Search within a topic before asking; the answer may already be there.
If you want to see how other communities structure their topics, browse Telegram groups on Grupla and preview a few larger public groups.
Frequently asked questions
Do I lose existing messages when I enable Topics?
No. Existing messages remain in the group, generally under the General topic. New messages go into whichever topic members choose.
Can members create their own topics?
Only if admins allow it in the group's permissions. Otherwise, only admins with the right to manage topics can create, rename, close or pin them.
Are Topics available in channels?
No. Topics are a group feature. Channels are one-way broadcasts, although a channel can link a discussion group for comments.