Does Telegram Show Your Phone Number? (Updated 2025)

Have you ever wondered if your phone number is visible to everyone on Telegram? In today’s digital world, our privacy concerns are valid, especially when it comes to messaging apps that require our personal information. Telegram is known for its privacy features, but does Telegram show your phone number to others by default? Let’s dive into this topic and explore how you can protect your privacy on this popular messaging platform.

Is Your Phone Number Visible in Telegram By Default?

Unfortunately, yes. Telegram does show your phone number to certain users. When you first sign up for Telegram, your phone number is visible to people who already have your number saved in their contacts. This means if someone has your number saved on their phone and they join Telegram, they’ll be able to see that you’re on Telegram too, and your phone number will be visible to them in your profile.

This default setting creates a bit of a privacy conundrum. On one hand, it makes it easy to connect with friends who already have your contact information. On the other hand, it might expose your phone number to people you’d rather not share it with. Perhaps you gave your number to a business contact years ago, and now they can suddenly see your personal Telegram profile – not ideal!

I experienced this firsthand when an old colleague I hadn’t spoken to in years messaged me on Telegram. While it was nice to reconnect, it made me realize how many people potentially had access to my phone number through the app.

How to Hide Your Phone Number on Telegram?

If you’re concerned about your phone number being visible (as I was), the good news is that Telegram allows you to hide it. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to adjust these privacy settings:

1. Open your Telegram app
2. Select “Settings” from the menu
3. Navigate to “Privacy and Security”
4. Tap on “Phone Number”.

Once you’re in the Phone Number privacy settings, you’ll see options for “Who Can See My Phone Number.” You have three main choices:

1. Everybody: Your phone number will be visible to anyone on Telegram who views your profile
2. My Contacts: Only people whose numbers you have saved in your contacts will see your phone number
3. Nobody: Your phone number will be hidden from all Telegram users.

If you are worryiny about “Does Telegram Show Your Phone Number?”, I will recommend selecting “Nobody.” However, it’s worth noting that even with this setting, people who already have your number saved in their contacts might still be able to see it. This is one of Telegram’s quirks that privacy-conscious users should be aware of.

After changing this setting myself, I felt much more comfortable using Telegram for various communities and groups where I didn’t necessarily want everyone to have my personal contact information.

Does Telegram Show Your Region?

Another privacy concern is whether Telegram reveals your location or region. The short answer is: it can, but it depends on several factors.

Telegram has a feature called “People Nearby” that can potentially reveal your approximate location to other users. While this feature only shows the distance between you and other users, security researchers have demonstrated that with a bit of triangulation, someone could potentially determine your exact location. Fortunately, the company has removed its ‘People Nearby’ feature from the as it was reportedly being used by scammers for promoting illicit activities on the platform.

More recently, Telegram has implemented a feature that shows a user’s country of origin when they message you for the first time. The important thing is, even a VPN cannot change this location because it’s about the phone number you registered for your Telegram account! This is part of their effort to help users identify potential scammers or unwanted contacts. While this doesn’t reveal your specific location, it does disclose your general region based on your phone number.

This page gives you essential insights about the sender, including:

• Their country (based on their phone number).
• Any shared groups you have in common.
• When they joined Telegram — so you can spot fresh accounts.
• When they last updated their username or profile picture — a handy way to detect sudden identity changes.
• Clear indicators showing whether the user is an official account, has third-party verification, or is just a regular user.

I find this feature to be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it helps me quickly identify if a message from an unknown contact might be a scam from a country I have no connections to. On the other hand, it does reveal a piece of information about me to others.

How to Protect Your Online Privacy on Telegram?

Beyond hiding your phone number, there are several other ways to enhance your privacy on Telegram:

1. Use Secret Chats

Telegram’s regular chats are not end-to-end encrypted by default. For truly private conversations, use Secret Chats, which provide end-to-end encryption and self-destructing messages. This means only you and the recipient can read these messages – not even Telegram can access them.

I’ve made it a habit to use Secret Chats when discussing sensitive information with friends or family. The peace of mind is worth the extra step.

2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

By default, Telegram only requires a code sent to your phone to log in. By enabling two-step verification, you’ll add an additional password requirement, making it much harder for anyone to gain unauthorized access to your account.

To enable 2FA:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy and Security
2. Scroll down to “Two-Step Verification”
3. Tap “Set Password”

This simple step has saved many users from account takeover attempts. I consider it essential, especially given how central our messaging apps have become to our digital lives.

3. Set Up a Local Passcode

For additional security on your device, set up a local passcode:

1. Go to Settings > Privacy and Security
2. Tap “Passcode Lock”
3. Enable and set your passcode

You can also enable fingerprint authentication if your device supports it. This prevents anyone who has physical access to your phone from opening your Telegram app.

4. Use a VPN

Using a VPN like Bear VPN when accessing Telegram can hide your real IP address and encrypt your internet connection. This prevents your internet service provider, network administrators, or potential attackers from monitoring your Telegram usage or tracking your location based on your IP address.

Here comes the question, Does Telegram show your phone number to scammers? It might, depending on your privacy settings. This makes it even more important to be vigilant against common Telegram scams.

Conclusion

So, does Telegram show your phone number? Yes, it does by default, but you have options to control its visibility. By understanding Telegram’s privacy settings and implementing the security measures we’ve discussed, you can enjoy the platform’s features while maintaining control over your personal information.

Taking these privacy steps has allowed me to use Telegram comfortably for both personal and professional communications without worrying about my information being exposed.

Remember, digital privacy isn’t just about hiding your information—it’s about having control over who can see what. Telegram gives you many of the tools you need for this control, but it’s up to you to use them effectively.

FAQs About Telegram Phone Number

1. Can I use a virtual phone number to register on Telegram?

Yes, you can use a virtual phone number to register on Telegram. This is a great option for maintaining anonymity and protecting your primary phone number. Services like Google Voice or temporary number providers allow you to create an account without exposing your real number.

However, keep in mind:

• Virtual numbers must be active for receiving the initial verification code.
• If the virtual number expires or is reused by someone else, you could lose access to your account unless two-step verification is enabled.

2. How does Telegram ensure the security of my phone number?

Telegram employs several measures to secure your phone number:

• Privacy Settings: You can control who sees your phone number by setting it to “Nobody,” “My Contacts,” or “Everybody.”
• Encryption Protocols: Messages are encrypted using MTProto 2.0, ensuring secure communication between devices and servers.
• No Third-Party Sharing: Telegram doesn’t sell user data, including phone numbers, to advertisers or third parties.
• Legal Compliance: While rare, Telegram may disclose phone numbers to authorities under valid legal requests in cases involving criminal activities.

Despite these measures, users must actively adjust privacy settings to limit visibility and reduce risks.

3. What are the risks of not hiding my phone number on Telegram?

If you don’t hide your phone number on Telegram, you expose yourself to several risks:

• Targeted Scams: Scammers with access to your phone number can contact you directly with phishing attempts or impersonation schemes.
• Data Breaches: If Telegram experiences a breach, visible phone numbers could be leaked alongside other user data.
• Cross-Platform Targeting: Malicious actors could use your phone number to target you across other platforms like WhatsApp or SMS.
• Unwanted Contact: Strangers in shared groups or channels could access your phone number if visibility isn’t restricted.

To mitigate these risks, always set your phone number visibility to “Nobody” in Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number.