Start with one question: does the link fail for everyone, or only for one person? A link that fails for everyone is a link problem. A link that works for others but not for one person is almost always about that person.
First question: everyone or one person?
- Fails for everyone: the link itself expired, hit its usage limit or was revoked.
- Works for others, fails for one person: that person was removed from the chat before, or their account has joined too many chats.
The free invite link troubleshooter walks you through these questions and lists the checks in the right order.
The 6 causes
| Cause | Who it affects | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Expiry date passed | Everyone | Create a new link or edit the expiry in Invite Links |
| Usage limit reached | Everyone after the limit | Raise the limit or create a new link |
| Link revoked | Everyone | Share the current link; old revoked links never work again |
| Person is on the Removed users list | One person, even with a brand-new link | Remove them from the Removed users list, or add them directly |
| Person has joined too many chats | One person | They leave some groups or channels first |
| Group is full | New joiners | Groups hold up to 200,000 members; see the member limit guide |
A link that needs admin approval does not fail: it sends a join request that an admin must accept. If people say "nothing happens", check the pending requests.
Fixes for admins
- Open the chat info → Edit → Invite Links. Check the expiry date, the usage limit and how many people already joined through the link.
- If the link was revoked or expired, create a new one and update every place it is shared.
- For one person who keeps seeing "expired": open Permissions → Removed users and remove them from the list, then send the link again or add them directly.
- For campaigns, create a separate link per source so you can see which one people actually use.
Links in ads and promotions
A dead link in a paid post wastes the whole placement. Before an ad goes live, open the link from an account that is not in the chat, check the expiry and usage limit, and avoid limits lower than the expected number of joins. Build tracked links with the Telegram link generator, and if you are adding members with a package, see Telegram members.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my Telegram invite link say expired when it is new?
If it fails only for one person, they are probably on the chat's Removed users list; new links do not help until an admin removes them from that list. If it fails for everyone, check the link's expiry date and usage limit.
How do I make a Telegram invite link that never expires?
Create the link without an expiry date and without a usage limit, and do not revoke it.
Can I see how many people joined through a link?
Yes. Admins can open Invite Links in the chat settings to see each link's joins, limits and expiry.
Why does the link only send a request?
The link requires admin approval. An admin must accept the join request before the person becomes a member.
Someone was removed by mistake. How do they come back?
Remove them from the Removed users list in the chat's permissions, then send the link again or add them directly.
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