How to Set Up a Telegram Proxy

What you need before connecting

An MTProto entry needs a server, port and secret. A SOCKS5 entry needs a server and port, plus a proxy username and password if authentication is required. Obtain these from the operator; the credentials for the two types are not interchangeable.

A proxy secret or password is not your Telegram login code. Adding a server does not require giving its operator your Telegram authorization code or two-step verification password.

Telegram proxy settings on Android

Settings → Data and Storage → Proxy Settings.

1. Choose Add Proxy and select MTProto or SOCKS5.
2. Enter the supplied details without extra spaces.
3. Save the entry and enable the proxy.

Record your previous settings before changing them. For a practical test, send a short note to Saved Messages and check that it sends instead of remaining pending.

How to connect on iPhone

Settings → Data and Storage → Proxy.

Add the correct server type, save its details and enable proxy use. Check the switch: a saved entry alone does not confirm an active connection. Menu labels depend on your app version and language.

Telegram proxy on desktop and Mac

In Telegram Desktop: Settings → Advanced → Connection Type. In the separate Telegram for macOS app: Settings → Data and Storage → Use Proxy.

Add the server and test the connection. If a Mac instruction does not match your menu, check whether you installed Telegram Desktop or the separate macOS client. They are different applications.

How to add a Telegram proxy link

An operator may provide a t.me/proxy?… link for MTProto or t.me/socks?… for SOCKS5. Open it in the official app, review the server shown in the connection prompt and confirm only if you trust its source.

If the link does not open, request the fields separately and enter them manually. Avoid publishing a private link in full: it may contain access credentials for a personal or paid server.

Telegram proxy not connecting: what to check

Change one condition at a time so you can identify what affects the result. This is a troubleshooting method, not a diagnosis of your particular outage.

Stuck on “Connecting…”

Compare the proxy type, server, port and full secret or password with the operator’s details. Confirm the entry is enabled.

Works on Wi-Fi but not mobile data

Test the same server on both networks. A difference indicates a network-dependent result, but does not by itself prove blocking.

Messages or files load slowly

Compare a short message and a small file. Repeat using another trusted server without changing every setting at once.

Neither proxy nor direct access works

Check ordinary internet access and try Telegram on a different network. Several causes are possible, including a wider outage; switching proxies is not a guaranteed fix.

To test direct access, disable Use Proxy only if direct connectivity is appropriate for your circumstances. Avoid reinstalling as your first step: it complicates diagnosis and may affect local data.

Where to get a free Telegram proxy

Ask a known operator or an administrator you trust for connection details. Free access does not establish quality. Check who maintains the server, when its details were updated and how to report a problem.

This page does not offer a live-tested proxy list. We do not label random addresses as working servers. If you want to operate your own, start with Telegram’s official MTProxy guide linked below.

Proxy, VPN and access to your chats

A proxy configured inside Telegram concerns that app’s connection; it does not configure connectivity for your whole device. An MTProxy operator cannot read encrypted messages, but can log connection IP addresses and times. Choosing an operator still matters.

A proxy may help with an unavailable route to Telegram, but a particular server must be tested on your network. It cannot restore deleted history. If a chat is still missing once you reconnect, check your account and Archived Chats.