You set a Telegram username in Settings, using only a to z, 0 to 9 and underscores. It's public, so anyone can find you in Global Search and message you without your phone number, and to remove it you simply save an empty username.
That's the whole job in two lines. The bit people skip is the second half: a username changes who can reach you. Here's how to set one, what Telegram allows, what to do when the name you want has gone, and how to take it down again, all from Telegram's own FAQ as of Nov 2026.
What a Telegram username changes
Without a username, Telegram says people can contact you if they know your phone number, if you message them first, or if you're both in the same group. Set a public username and you add a fourth route: anyone can type it into Global Search, find you under global results and send you a message.
Telegram is unusually blunt about this. Its FAQ says people who find you will be able to message you even if they don't know your number, and if you're not comfortable with that, it advises against setting a username at all. You don't need one to use the app.
For a business, that's often the point. A username means customers can reach you without you handing out a personal mobile number. For a private account, it's an open door, so think about which one you're setting up.
Set or change your username
Telegram's FAQ doesn't give a tap-by-tap path, so I won't invent one. What it does say is enough:
- Open Telegram and go to Settings.
- Find the username field. Telegram's FAQ places it just below your phone number in Settings.
- Type the username you want, using only the allowed characters below.
- Save it. To change it later, go back to the same field, type the new one and save again.
Once it's saved, people can find you through the universal search box at the top of the chat list, which Telegram says searches chats, messages and usernames.
The characters Telegram accepts
Telegram allows three things in a username: the letters a to z, the numbers 0 to 9, and underscores. Usernames are case-insensitive, but Telegram stores your preferred capitals. Its own example: Telegram and TeleGram are the same user.
That's useful for brands. You can show your name as YourBrand_Shop for readability, and someone typing yourbrand_shop will still land on you. The FAQ doesn't give a length rule or a limit on how often you can change it, so I'd treat any figure you see elsewhere with caution.
| Username type | How you get it | Shows in Global Search | Links you can share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Set it yourself in Settings, first come, first served | Yes | t.me/username and username.t.me |
| Collectible | Bought or sold through third-party platforms such as Fragment | Yes | t.me/username and username.t.me |
| No username | Nothing to set | No | A t.me link with your phone number, which shows your number |
Your t.me link
With a username in place, you can give people a t.me/username or username.t.me link. Telegram says opening either one on a phone fires up the Telegram app and opens a chat with you. It suggests putting them on business cards or your website, which is exactly where I'd use them.
If you don't want a public username and don't mind sharing your number, Telegram says you can make a t.me link from your phone number in international format instead. That link only works if your privacy settings let others find you by your number, and it exposes the number, so for a business I'd always choose the username route.
A common worry: if someone finds you by username and you reply, do they see your number? Telegram says no, neither side sees the other's number unless your privacy settings allow it. If you want to lock that down further, here's how to hide your phone number on Telegram.
When the name you want is taken
Telegram has two kinds of username, and what you can do depends on which kind is sitting on your name.
Basic usernames are first come, first served. If yours is taken and it isn't a collectible, Telegram says it can help you get it for your account or channel, but there's a condition most people never read: you need to have that same username on at least two of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Telegram also says it reserves the right to recall usernames assigned to unused bots and channels, and openly squatted names. To ask, you contact @Username_bot.
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Collectible usernames are a different story. Telegram says it can't assign them; only their owners can manage them. If the one you want is a collectible, your only route is to check whether it's for sale.
Collectible usernames explained
Collectible usernames work like basic ones: they appear in Global Search and come with t.me/username and username.t.me links. The difference is ownership. Telegram says they're bought and sold through third-party platforms like Fragment, and owning one gives permanent ownership verified by the TON blockchain. Owners can assign them to chats, sell them or hold them for later.
One detail that surprises people: a single user, group or channel can have several collectible usernames pointing at it at once, each with its own link. If you want the background on the marketplace itself, I've covered how Fragment works for Telegram usernames separately.
Take your username down
- Go to Settings.
- Clear the username field so it's empty.
- Save the empty username.
Telegram says that removes your username and people can no longer find you through search. Your existing conversations aren't affected, so nobody you're already talking to loses the chat.
What I'd do
For a business or a creator, I'd set a basic username that matches your brand name on your other socials, and put the t.me link on your website and email signature. Matching names also helps if you ever need Telegram's help reclaiming a taken one. I'd skip the phone-number link entirely, and I'd skip chasing a collectible unless the name is central to your brand.
For a personal account you'd rather keep quiet, I'd leave the username blank. Telegram itself says you don't need one. And if you're setting up a broadcast presence rather than a personal profile, a public channel gets its own link too: here's how to create a Telegram channel.
If you want customers to find your brand on Telegram without anyone sharing a personal number, that sits inside the social profile setup I help businesses get right. I run AI training and workshops for teams, and help businesses with AI enablement and workflow automation, so the busywork runs itself and people get time back. Most of that work is with SaaS marketing teams and small businesses. Here's how we can work together.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a Telegram username?
No. Telegram says you don't have to get one. A username is public and lets people find you in Global Search and message you without your number, so it advises against one if you're not comfortable with that.
What characters can a Telegram username use?
Telegram allows a to z, 0 to 9 and underscores. Usernames are case-insensitive, but Telegram stores your capitalisation, so Telegram and TeleGram are the same user.
How do I remove my Telegram username?
Go to Settings and save an empty username. Telegram says people can no longer find you via search, and your existing conversations aren't affected.
What can I do if my Telegram username is taken?
If it's a basic username, Telegram may help you get it if you have the same name on at least two of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; contact @Username_bot. If it's a collectible, only its owner can manage it.
Will someone see my number if they find me by username?
Telegram says no. Neither party sees the other's phone number unless your privacy settings allow it.
