Telegram's limits come from two places. The Telegram FAQ and the Bot API state the core numbers. Many account limits are set in the app configuration that Telegram's servers send to every app, and those can change without notice, so the tables below show where each number comes from.
1. Text and message limits
| Telegram limit | Free account | Telegram Premium | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Message length | 4,096 characters | 4,096 characters | Bot API |
| Photo or video caption | 1,024 characters | 4,096 characters | App configuration |
| Bio | 70 characters | 140 characters | App configuration |
| Story caption | 200 characters | 2,048 characters | App configuration |
| Username | 5–32 characters: a–z, 0–9 and underscores | Same | Telegram FAQ and app |
Many emoji count as two characters, so a message full of emoji reaches the limit sooner. Check a post before you send it with the free Telegram character counter.
2. Files and media
| Telegram limit | Free account | Telegram Premium | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size of one file | 2 GB | 4 GB | Telegram FAQ |
| Cloud storage | Unlimited | Unlimited | Telegram |
| Files sent by bots (Bot API) | 50 MB | Not applicable | Bot API |
Anyone can download a 4 GB file that a Premium user sends; only uploading needs Premium.
3. Groups and channels
| Telegram limit | Free account | Telegram Premium | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Members in a group | 200,000 | 200,000 | Telegram FAQ |
| Subscribers in a channel | Unlimited | Unlimited | Telegram FAQ |
| Channels and groups you can join | 500 | 1,000 | App configuration |
| Public links (usernames) you can own | 10 | 20 | App configuration |
What happens when a group gets close to 200,000 members is covered in the group member limit guide.
4. Chats, folders and pins
| Telegram limit | Free account | Telegram Premium | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chat folders | 10 | 30 | App configuration |
| Chats in one folder | 100 | 200 | App configuration |
| Pinned chats in the main list | 5 | 10 | App configuration |
| Pinned chats inside a folder | 100 | 200 | App configuration |
| Invite links per shared folder | 3 | 100 | App configuration |
| Shared folders you can join | 2 | 20 | App configuration |
5. Stickers, GIFs and reactions
| Telegram limit | Free account | Telegram Premium | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Favourite stickers | 5 | 10 | App configuration |
| Saved GIFs | 200 | 400 | App configuration |
| Reactions you can add to one message | 1 | 3 | App configuration |
| Different reactions on one message | 11 | 11 | App configuration |
"App configuration" values are the defaults documented in Telegram's developer documentation. Telegram's servers send the live values to each app, so the number your app shows wins if it differs.
6. Limits that are not fixed numbers
If messages to people outside your contacts stop going through, or you see "too many attempts", that is usually a spam limit on the account rather than a fixed Telegram limit. Read account limited for spam, and if the account looks like a deleted account to others, see Telegram account frozen.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Telegram character limit for a message?
4,096 characters per message, for free and Premium accounts. Longer text has to be split into several messages or sent as a file.
How long can a Telegram caption be?
1,024 characters for a photo or video caption on a free account, and 4,096 characters with Telegram Premium according to Telegram's current app defaults.
What is the maximum file size on Telegram?
2 GB per file, or 4 GB with Telegram Premium. Anyone can download a 4 GB file sent by a Premium user.
How many members can a Telegram group have?
Up to 200,000. Channels have no subscriber limit.
How many channels and groups can I join?
500, or 1,000 with Telegram Premium, according to Telegram's current app defaults.
Does Telegram change these limits?
Yes. Limits that come from the app configuration are sent by Telegram's servers and can change; the number shown in your app is the current one.
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