Telegram does not have fixed roles like "editor" or "moderator". Each admin gets a set of individual rights that you switch on or off. Giving only the rights a person actually needs is the simplest protection a channel or group has.
Every admin right explained
| Right | What it allows | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Change info | Change the name, photo and description | Channels and groups |
| Post messages | Publish posts | Channels |
| Edit messages | Edit posts, including other admins' posts | Channels |
| Delete messages | Delete posts and messages | Channels and groups |
| Ban users | Restrict and remove members or subscribers | Channels and groups |
| Invite users | Add members and manage invite links | Channels and groups |
| Pin messages | Pin messages | Channels and groups |
| Manage topics | Create and edit topics | Groups with Topics |
| Post, edit and delete stories | Manage the chat's stories | Channels and groups |
| Manage live streams | Start and manage voice and video chats | Channels and groups |
| Remain anonymous | Post as the group instead of their own account | Groups |
| Add new admins | Appoint other admins with rights up to their own | Channels and groups |
Labels can differ slightly between apps and versions. The underlying list is Telegram's official admin rights documentation.
The rights that can hurt you
- Add new admins: the most powerful right. Anyone holding it can create more admins, so a single compromised account can multiply. Keep it to people you would trust with the whole chat.
- Ban users: lets an admin remove members or subscribers. In the wrong hands it can empty a group or channel.
- Delete messages: lets an admin wipe posts and history, including the old posts that show a channel's age.
- Change info: lets an admin rename the chat and change its photo and description.
Plan the minimum set for each person or bot with the free admin permission planner.
What only the owner can do
- Transfer ownership of the channel or group.
- Delete the channel or group.
That is why the owner account needs two-step verification and why a buyer must receive the owner role, not just admin rights. See how ownership transfer works and the two-step verification guide.
Typical roles and the rights they need
| Role | Enable | Keep off |
|---|---|---|
| Content editor (channel) | Post, edit and delete messages; stories | Ban users, add new admins, change info |
| Moderator (group) | Delete messages, ban users, pin messages | Add new admins, change info |
| Community or growth manager | Invite users | Ban users, delete messages, add new admins |
| Ad or partnership manager | Post messages only, or nothing (send drafts instead) | Everything else |
| Co-owner you fully trust | All rights | None, but keep ownership yourself |
Bots
A bot is an admin like any other. Give a posting bot only Post messages, an anti-spam bot only Delete messages and Ban users, and never give a bot Add new admins. Remove bots you no longer use, and when you buy a channel, ask who controls each bot in BotFather.
Frequently asked questions
What can a Telegram admin do?
Only the rights the owner or another admin switched on for them: for example posting, editing, deleting messages, banning users, inviting users, pinning, changing info or adding new admins.
Can an admin delete a Telegram channel?
No. Deleting the channel or group and transferring ownership are owner-only actions.
Can an admin remove all subscribers?
An admin with the Ban users right can remove members or subscribers, so only give it to people you trust.
Which admin right is the most dangerous?
Add new admins, because it lets someone create more admins. Keep it for people you would trust with the whole chat.
What rights should a bot have?
Only the rights its job needs: a posting bot needs Post messages, an anti-spam bot needs Delete messages and Ban users. Never give a bot Add new admins.
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