Telegram storage: free up space without losing chats.

Telegram keeps your chats in its cloud, so the space it takes on your phone is mostly a cache: copies of media you already opened. Clearing it does not delete your messages.

1. Why Telegram takes so much space

Every photo, video, voice message and file you open is saved on the phone so it opens fast next time. Busy groups and channels with videos fill that cache quickly.

2. Where is Telegram storage?

• Open Settings, then Data and Storage, then Storage Usage.
• You see how much space photos, videos, files and other media use, and which chats take the most.

3. Clear the cache

1. In Storage Usage, tap Clear Cache, or clear only some media types or chats.
2. Confirm. The space is freed at once.
3. Your messages and media stay in the Telegram cloud. Open them again and they download again.

Secret chats are different: their media lives only on your device. Save anything important from them before you clear.

4. Keep Media and the cache limit

• Keep Media sets how long Telegram keeps media you have not opened again, for example 3 days, 1 week or 1 month.
• You can set a different time for private chats, groups and channels.
• A maximum cache size makes Telegram delete the oldest media when the limit is reached.

5. Stop automatic downloads

In Data and Storage, Automatic Media Download, turn off videos and files for mobile data, Wi-Fi and roaming, or lower the size limit. Media then downloads only when you tap it, which saves both space and data.

Frequently asked questions