Telegram has introduced a major update to its messenger, now featuring encrypted group calls, gesture commands, and improved tools for account management and business use.
Group calls, which have been part of Telegram since 2021, no longer require creating a group or channel. You can now manually gather up to 200 participants or send an invitation link — including in the form of a QR code. These calls support audio and video communication as well as screen sharing, and are now protected with end-to-end encryption.
To confirm encryption, four emoticons are shown on all participants’ screens. If the sets match, the call is considered secure. The encryption mechanism uses a blockchain-like algorithm that prevents even Telegram itself from accessing the call. The documentation for this protocol is publicly available, and Telegram offers over $100,000 to anyone who can break it — a challenge that has gone unmet for over ten years.
In mobile applications for iOS and Android, gesture commands have been introduced. You can quickly forward publications from channels to your “Favorites” or recent chats. On iOS, expanding the story strip above the chat list and dragging it to the right now opens the story editor. Swiping right in the chat list also launches the story editor.
Business Features and Gift Tools
Telegram for Business — available to Premium subscribers — now supports automated account management. Businesses can connect chatbots, including those powered by AI, control whether bots manage messages and profiles, and publish stories.
Gift-sending has also been updated. A new button with a gift icon can be added directly to the input field and is visible to both users in a chat. You can now set which gifts appear by default on your profile. Premium users can also specify the types of gifts they’re willing to receive. Introduced in October last year, gifts are exchanged over 10 million times each month.
Account Blocking Controls and Appeal Options
Telegram has strengthened its mechanisms for detecting spam and fraud, adds NIXSolutions. While false positives are rare, blocked accounts are now only frozen — not immediately banned. Affected users cannot send messages but can appeal to moderators to lift the restrictions. First-time messages from unknown users can be blocked and reported instantly.
This update reflects Telegram’s ongoing focus on both user security and usability. We’ll keep you updated as more integrations become available.