To hide your phone number on Telegram, go to Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Phone Number, and set Who can see my phone number to Nobody. Then set Who can find me by my number to My Contacts, so strangers who have your number can't look you up.
Does Telegram show your phone number by default? Only to some people. Telegram's FAQ says that, out of the box, your number is visible to people you've added to your own address book as contacts. Strangers in a group don't see it. Setting it to Nobody closes that gap completely, with one exception you should know about.
Who can still see your number after you hide it
Nobody doesn't hide your number from people who already have it saved in their own phone contacts. Telegram's FAQ is clear on this: if someone knows your number and saved it in their address book, they'll always see it on your profile, whatever your setting says.
That's not a bug. Telegram can't un-know a number someone already has. What the setting does is stop your number leaking to people who don't have it: group members, people you message, people who find you by username.
So if you're hiding your number from a specific person who already has it, the setting won't help. Blocking them, or changing the number on your account, are the only real options there.
Step by step on each device
On iPhone
- Open Telegram and tap Settings in the bottom bar.
- Tap Privacy and Security.
- Tap Phone Number.
- Under Who can see my phone number, choose Nobody.
- A new section appears, Who can find me by my number. Choose My Contacts.
- Tap back. It saves on its own.
On Android
- Open Telegram and tap the three lines in the top-left corner.
- Tap Settings, then Privacy and Security.
- Tap Phone Number.
- Pick Nobody under Who can see my phone number.
- Under Who can find me by my number, pick My Contacts.
- Go back to save.
On Telegram Desktop
- Open Telegram Desktop and click the three lines at the top left, then Settings.
- Click Privacy and Security.
- Click Phone Number.
- Select Nobody, then set the find-by-number option to My Contacts.
- Click Save.
Your setting syncs across all your devices, so you only need to do this once. If a menu name looks different on your version, open Settings and search for phone number.
How to check it's working
You can't view your own profile the way a stranger sees it, so the simplest test is to ask someone who doesn't have your number saved. A friend of a friend in a shared group works well. Ask them to open your profile from the group's member list and tell you what they see. With the setting on Nobody, they should see your name, photo, bio and username, but no phone number line.
If they can still see it, check two things. First, that they really haven't saved your number in their phone at some point. Second, that you haven't added them, or a whole group of contacts, to the Always Share With list under the Phone Number setting. Exceptions override the main choice, so an old exception you've forgotten about can quietly undo it.
It's also worth checking again after you change phones or reinstall the app. The setting lives on your account, not your device, so it should carry over, but a quick look only takes a moment.
Set a username so people can reach you without your number
Once your number's hidden, people need another way to find you. That's what a username is for. With a public username, anyone can search for you in Telegram's global search and message you, and they'll never see your number.
- Go to Settings and tap your profile, or Edit on iPhone.
- Tap Username.
- Type a name using letters, numbers and underscores. Telegram tells you straight away if it's taken.
- Save it.
Telegram's FAQ says usernames can use a-z, 0-9 and underscores, and they're case-insensitive. You can remove your username at any time by saving it empty. If you'd rather not be searchable at all, skip the username and share your profile only with people you choose.
Want to see how other people search? My guide on how to find people on Telegram shows what's visible from the other side.
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Which setting controls what
| Setting | What it controls | What I'd pick |
|---|---|---|
| Who can see my phone number | Whether your number shows on your profile to people who don't already have it saved | Nobody |
| Who can find me by my number | Whether someone who types your number into their contacts can find your Telegram account | My Contacts |
| Username | A public handle people can search for and message without your number | Set one if you want to be reachable |
| Exceptions (Always Share With) | Specific people who should see your number even when it's set to Nobody | Add family or colleagues if needed |
| Last Seen and Online | Separate setting; doesn't affect your number | Your choice |
Groups and channels: what members see
This is where most people's worry comes from. If your number setting is Nobody, other members of a group can't see your number, even when you post in it. They'll see your name, your profile photo and your username if you've set one.
Channels are even more private. Subscribers can't see each other at all, and they can't see the channel owner's number. If you're planning to run one, my guide on how to create a Telegram channel covers the privacy settings for that too.
Two things still reveal you in groups, so keep them in mind:
- Anyone in the group who already has your number saved will see it, for the reason covered above.
- Your name and profile photo are visible to group members. If those identify you, hiding the number only goes so far.
What I'd do
I'd set the number to Nobody, finding to My Contacts, and add a username. That's the setup that lets people reach you without ever handing over your number. If you want to go further and leave Telegram altogether, here's how to delete a Telegram account.
Frequently asked questions
Does Telegram show your phone number to everyone?
No. Telegram's FAQ says that by default only people you've saved as contacts can see it. Set Who can see my phone number to Nobody to hide it from everyone else.
Can people still find me on Telegram by my number?
Only if your Who can find me by my number setting allows it. Set it to My Contacts and only people you've saved can find your account that way.
Why can my friend still see my number when it's set to Nobody?
Because your friend has your number saved in their phone contacts. Telegram always shows a number to people who already know it and saved it.
Can group members see my phone number?
Not if your setting is Nobody. They'll see your name, photo and username, but not your number, unless they already have it saved.
Can I use Telegram without a phone number?
You need a phone number to create an account. Once you're in, hiding it and adding a username lets people contact you without seeing it.
