The Telegram app can be used on your phone, tablet, and laptop. Telegram offers a more secure way of messaging and sharing files with colleagues at work or friends.
Telegram offers you different features that aim to enhance the security of your data. These features encompass not only personal chats, including secret chats, but also Telegram channels and groups.
If you use the PC more often than your smartphone for work or other reasons, it’s more convenient to have your messaging apps on the PC, too. Luckily, Telegram offers official PC versions of the app.
In this article, we will guide you through how to set up and use Telegram on PC — Windows, Linux and Mac.
Also read: How to stop auto-download in Telegram?
How to set up Telegram on PC?
Telegram has separate apps for Windows, Linux and Mac. Download Telegram for Windows or Linux here or for macOS here. The portable version link for respective operating systems will download a compressed zip file of the setup.
You can download the file by clicking on Get Telegram on Windows (Linux or macOS) and then running the downloaded file.
Step 1: In the installer’s first window, select your preferred language and click the OK button.
Step 2: Select the folder on your PC where you want to install the app and click the Next button.
Step 3: The installer will automatically select the folder for shortcuts, but you can change it by clicking on the Browse button. Once that’s done, click on the Next button.
Step 4: Check or uncheck the create shortcut according to your preference and click the Next button.
Step 5: Then click on the Install button to start the installation.
Step 6: Once the Telegram app is installed on your PC, a completion window confirming the installation will appear. Click on the Finish button
Also read: How to pin or unpin a message on Telegram groups and channels?
How to use Telegram on PC?
Step 1: Run the app and click on the Start messaging button.
Step 2: Select your country, fill in your phone number, and click Next.
Step 3: Telegram app will send a code on the number you entered, fill your code and click on the Next button.
Your chatbox will appear, and you can see all your chats from your Android or iOS phone app. The PC version of Telegram works the same way as its mobile apps, with app settings and features in similar locations.
Also read: How to share a Telegram group link?
Some shortcuts you should know
Here are some shortcuts for users who like to use the keyboard more frequently:
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Move to the next chat | Ctrl + Tab |
| Move to the next chat | Ctrl + PageDown |
| Move to the next chat | Alt + Arrow Down |
| Move to the previous chat | Ctrl + Shift + Tab |
| Move to the previous chat | Ctrl + PageUp |
| Move to the previous chat | Alt + Arrow Up |
| Go to the Previous Folder | Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Up |
| Go to the Next Folder | Ctrl + Shift + Arrow Down |
| Search selected chat | Ctrl + F |
| Exit the selected chat and search Telegram | Esc |
| Exit display of current chat/channel | Esc |
| Delete the currently selected message | Delete |
| Quit Telegram | Ctrl + Q |
| Lock Telegram (if Local Password is set) | Ctrl + L |
| Iconify (Minimize) Telegram | Ctrl + M |
| Iconify (Minimize) Telegram to System Tray | Ctrl + W |
| Edit Previous Message | Arrow Up |
| Start a New Line in the Input Area | Ctrl + Enter or Shift + Enter |
| Movethe Cursor to Start of a Multi-line Message | Ctrl + Home |
| Make Text Italic | Ctrl + I |
| Make Text Bold | Ctrl + B |
| Make Text Underline | Ctrl + U |
| Make Text Strikethrough | Ctrl + Shift + X |
| Make Text Monospace | Ctrl + Shift + M |
| Remove Text Formatting (Make Selection Plain Text) | Ctrl + Shift + N |
| Add URL to Selected Text (Make Link) | Ctrl + K |
| Send File | Ctrl + O |
| Open Contacts | Ctrl + J |
Also read: How to right-click with a keyboard?
How to change the chat wallpaper in the Telegram Desktop app?
To change the wallpaper in the Telegram desktop app, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Open the chat for which you want to change the wallpaper and tap on the Triple dot icon at the top right corner of the app.
Step 2: In the menu, click on the Set wallpaper option.
Step 3: Theme options will appear at the bottom of the screen; click on the Change wallpaper option.
Step 4: Select the wallpaper you like; you also have the option to select images from your PC.
Step 5: Click on the Apply For This Chat option.
Also read: Applications folder on Mac explained
How to change the chat theme in the Telegram Desktop app?
The steps to change the theme of a chat are mostly the same as changing the chat’s wallpaper. Here are the steps to change the theme of a chat on the Telegram desktop app:
Step 1: Open the chat for which you want to change the wallpaper and tap on the Triple dot icon at the top right corner of the app.
Step 2: In the menu, click on the Set wallpaper option.
Step 3: Theme options will appear at the bottom of the screen; choose the theme you like and click on the Apple Theme button.
