Gifts, Verification Platform and More

Users can now send Gifts to their friends. The recipients of gifts can display them on their profile pages or turn them into Stars. Telegram Stars can be used for many things, including supporting creators and buying services in mini apps.

Additionally, Telegram launched a platform for businesses to verify customer phone numbers: this new verification platform lets users easily confirm their phone numbers by receiving a code via Telegram and will cost businesses just $0.01 per user. We've also improved video chats, added new ways to report content on Telegram — and more.

Gifts

Telegram users can now send each other gifts for Telegram Stars — celebrating holidays and congratulating contacts with animated artwork and custom messages.

Just in case you need to give a unicorn instead of a star.

When you receive a gift, you can display it on the new 'Gifts' tab of your profile — or discard the gift and get some of its Stars to spend elsewhere, including on more gifts.

To send a gift, open the user's profile and tap ⋮ / ⋯ > Send a Gift. You can add any message or emoji.

Just in case the unicorn needs explaining.

When sending a gift, you can choose to hide your name. The recipient will still know who sent it, but nobody else will see your name if the gift is displayed on their profile.

Verification Platform

We know from our own experience how expensive it can be for businesses to verify phone numbers of their customers. Starting today, any business, app or website can send verification codes via Telegram and pay for them on Fragment. Telegram codes are faster, cheaper, more secure and convenient than SMS or other alternatives.

Just in case you don't want to spend half your company's budget on codes.

Users will instantly receive messages with codes in a special chat inside Telegram.

Telegram's Gateway API is completely free to test. Interested developers can learn more in our detailed guide.

Improved Reporting Interface

Each day, Telegram moderators remove millions of pieces of content that violates our Terms of Service. Since 2015, all Telegram apps allow users to report messages to moderators.

To further improve moderators' ability to process reports at scale and our AI capabilities, the reporting menu has been expanded with even more detailed options for each category. The list of reporting reasons is now dynamically updated from the server, allowing us to suggest the most relevant reporting reasons in real-time, adapting to unfolding events and trends.

Just in case you need to report precisely that.

To report a message, tap on Android, hold on iOS or right-click on Desktop or Web and select 'Report'.

Redesigned Video Chats on iOS

Video chats on iOS have been rebuilt from scratch to increase performance and improve battery life.

This also means that devices now stay dramatically cooler on long calls — even with multiple video feeds from dozens of participants.

Just in case you already have warm gloves.

Video chats on Telegram let you show your camera and share your screen at the same time.

RTMP Streams on Android

Telegram for Android now has support for livestreaming with RTMP — allowing you to generate a stream key and connect your video feed to popular apps like OBS Studio and XSplit Broadcaster.