How To Hide Your Phone Number in Telegram

For those interested in secure communication solutions, you may have come across Telegram, a service that provides cloud-based messaging along with VOIP capabilities. Users can send messages, photos, videos, audio files, and other documents anonymously through Telegram.

Nevertheless, despite its popularity, Telegram is not regarded as a highly secure communication option. The application only encrypts messages on the client’s side, and security experts have raised concerns about its cryptographic framework. Notably, it stores all contacts and messages alongside their decryption keys and does not offer end-to-end encryption for its messages. Furthermore, their unique encryption protocol has been shown to have notable security vulnerabilities and reliability concerns.

Due to these factors, some users continue to use Telegram but seek ways to maintain anonymity while using the platform.

Specifically, plenty of users want to leverage Telegram without revealing their phone numbers. This article will guide you through the process of achieving that.

Is it Possible to Conceal My Phone Number on Telegram?

Upon signing up for Telegram, the app requires permission to make and receive calls on your device and your phone number. Unfortunately, this information is necessary if you wish to register for Telegram on your main device.

However, Telegram does not utilize your number for communication purposes, nor does it disclose it to other users. Instead, your account username serves as your unique identifier within the service.

Other users of Telegram can only view your phone number if you have saved their number in your contacts and synchronized them with the app. This encompasses friends, anyone in your phone book, and individuals with whom you have shared your number voluntarily.

This straightforward setup offers a degree of privacy. In situations where you do not include someone’s number in your contacts, they will solely see your Telegram username. Nonetheless, there is a method to conceal your phone number on Telegram. To do this, adhere to the following steps:

1. Launch Telegram and tap on Settings in the lower-left corner.
   
2. Click on Privacy and Security.
   
3. Tap on Phone number.
   
4. Select either My Contacts (to allow your contacts to view your phone number) or Nobody (to restrict everyone from seeing your phone number).
   

This adjustment will ensure that your phone number remains concealed from all users within the app. Keep in mind, however, that your phone number will still be linked to your account.

Additional Privacy Enhancements for Telegram

Telegram aims to protect user privacy within its platform. Messages are stored on your device rather than on Telegram’s servers, ensuring they remain secure from unauthorized access.

When a message is removed, it disappears for both involved parties, providing you with control over the chat’s visibility for the other person. Still, there are further adjustments you could make to Telegram for enhancing the privacy of your conversations.

Here are a few methods to increase security within Telegram.

Self-destructing Chats

Telegram offers a Secret Chat feature employing end-to-end encryption, where messages can self-destruct after a predetermined period. You will need to set a timer for these conversations, but the remainder is automatic. For chat sessions that you wish to remain untraceable, this feature is particularly advantageous.

1. Initiate a secret chat in Telegram.
   
2. Tap the three-dot menu icon.
   
3. Choose Set self-destruct timer and designate a time limit.
   

Once the timer has been initiated, all messages in the selected chat will be erased once the set duration expires. Moreover, Telegram will deactivate your smartphone’s screenshot capability while you are engaged in a secret chat, thereby enhancing the security level further.

Conceal Screenshots from Your Phone’s Gallery

If you wish to prevent Telegram screenshots…If media files appear in your phone’s media gallery and you’d like to conceal them, you have the option to do so. You can determine precisely which media is accessible outside of Telegram, helping you prevent the unintentional sharing of images while browsing through your photo library.

For Android devices:

1. Access the Settings in Telegram.
   
2. Tap on Chat Settings.
   
3. Switch Save to gallery to Off.
   

For iOS devices:

1. Launch the Settings app.
2. Choose Privacy and Photos.
3. Turn the toggle for Telegram to off.

While you can still access that media within Telegram, it will not be visible elsewhere on your device.

Establish a Passcode

If you share your phone with others and wish to safeguard your privacy, you can enable a passcode for Telegram. This will secure the app, preventing unauthorized users from accessing or viewing it without the correct passcode.

1. Launch Telegram and tap Settings.
   
2. Tap on Privacy and Security.
   
3. Choose Passcode Lock, then select Turn Passcode On.
   
4. When prompted, enter and confirm your passcode.
   

From this point forward, a PIN will be required each time you launch Telegram. Ensure you memorize your PIN or keep it stored securely, as it is essential for accessing your Telegram account.

Conceal Last Seen Status for Specific Contacts in Telegram

As you might be aware, Telegram displays to others the last time you accessed the app. To avoid being seen while chatting or to evade someone, follow these instructions.

1. Access Settings within the Telegram app.
   
2. Select Privacy and Security.
   
3. Tap Last Seen & Online.
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4. Choose between Everybody, My Contacts, or Nobody.
   

Creating a Telegram Account Without Using Your Phone Number

As mentioned previously, it’s apparent that signing up for Telegram requires providing a phone number. However, it does not necessarily have to be YOUR personal number.

Telegram uses the number solely for the purpose of initial account verification, which means that you can provide them with a number that doesn’t link back to your personal identity. There are multiple methods available to set up a Telegram account while maintaining your anonymity.

Use a Landline Phone

It’s unnecessary to utilize a mobile phone for Telegram registration. Should you find yourself unable to receive SMS messages, Telegram can authenticate your account by calling a landline and delivering the verification code through a voice call. Payphones are still available in some locations, and a few even allow incoming calls.

Alternatively, consider borrowing a phone located in libraries or retail establishments. Many healthcare facilities provide public phones in their lobbies for people to make calls. If you can receive the call from Telegram, utilizing that number and remaining untraceable is feasible.

Utilize Google Voice

Offered by Google, Google Voice is a Voice Over IP service. By creating a Google Voice account, you can obtain a local phone number; this account must be linked to a Google account, but setting up a new anonymous Google account is quite simple.

1. Log out of all existing Google accounts.
   
2. Create a new Google account.
   
3. After setting up your new account, link it to a Google Voice account.
4. Select a phone number.
   
5. Register for Telegram while providing your Google Voice number as the contact number.
   
6. Access the authorization code via your Google Voice account and enter it into Telegram.

Obtain a Temporary Number

If you’re not inclined to create a new Google pseudonym, consider signing up for a temporary number. Various services offer temporary phone numbers, or even secondary numbers, which typically require minimal verification or identity establishment.

Numerous websites are available for this service, with FreePhoneNum providing a free option that is perfectly suited for your needs. You can acquire a temporary number from this site at no cost, and that number is subsequently recycled for future use by other individuals.

Given that both FreePhoneNum and Telegram operate as separate entities, no correlation will exist to indicate that you are the specific user who registered on Telegram with that temporary number.

1. Go to FreePhoneNum and select one of the available numbers.
   
2. Input the chosen number into Telegram.
   
3. Wait for the SMS from Telegram containing the verification code to appear on FreePhoneNum.
   
4. Input the received verification code into Telegram.

Acquire a Burner Phone

It remains possible to obtain older feature phones (that is, non-smartphones still operational on cellular networks) from thrift shops or private sellers. Alternatively, you can purchase someone else’s old phone that still possesses SMS functionality for a nominal fee.

This aspect of the phone resale market is somewhat dubious, as many of these devices are often obtained with the intent to facilitate illicit activities; however, possessing a phone unlinked to your identity is not illegal.

Once you own the phone, utilize it for Telegram registration and then discard it. Subsequently, you can log into Telegram on your primary phone using your new account.

“`With your Telegram username and password, verifying your identity will no longer be necessary. Simply ensure that “Two-Factor Verification” is disabled in Settings, and you can disregard that phone number altogether.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to conceal my last name on Telegram?

Unfortunately, Telegram does not allow users to hide their first or last names from others. However, you can modify your name within the app. To do so, tap on the three horizontal lines located in the upper left corner, then select Settings. On the new page, click on the three vertical dots in the upper right corner. Choose Edit name from the menu. Enter the name you wish to display and confirm by clicking on the checkmark in the upper right corner.

Final Thoughts

Although Telegram may not be the most secure messaging application, it does provide a degree of security, and there are several measures you can take to enhance the app’s security. By adhering to the recommendations outlined above, you can easily create a Telegram account without revealing your identity and adjust your settings to safeguard your privacy.

Do you have additional tips for enhancing Telegram’s security? Feel free to share in the comments below!