Choose the right Telegram app for Mac
Telegram Desktop and the native Telegram for macOS app are different applications. Read the package label to identify which app you are downloading. Their features and interface can differ, so use the description of the actual package when comparing them.
Check the package requirements against your macOS release and Mac hardware. If separate Apple silicon and Intel builds are offered, choose the matching build; if a universal package is provided, check its stated compatibility. This page does not imply that every available package runs on every Mac.
Install the app and sign in
The downloaded package may use a disk image, an archive or another installer format. Follow the instructions shown by the package you selected.
- Download the Mac package, then inspect its file details and any available publisher or signature information.
- Open a disk image and move the app to Applications if instructed. For an archive, extract it and follow the included installation directions.
- Launch the app from Applications. If the selected app offers QR login, use Telegram on your phone to link a device and scan the displayed code.
- Use phone-number login when available and complete the requested verification. Enter your two-step verification password if your account has one.
Handle installation and connection problems
If macOS cannot open the package, check that the download is complete and that it supports your operating system and processor. If the app reports a damaged file, download it again and verify its source. Do not disable macOS security protections as a general troubleshooting step.
Permission prompts for notifications, microphone or camera relate to specific app features. Enable only what you need, and review those permissions in system settings. If sign-in or message syncing stalls, check your internet connection and the app’s proxy settings, then follow any retry options displayed by Telegram.
Check Secret Chat support and account security
Telegram Desktop on macOS does not support Secret Chats. The native Telegram for macOS app supports Secret Chats, but those chats remain tied to the devices where they were created. A Secret Chat on your phone does not appear on a Mac just because the same account is signed in.
Cloud chats can synchronize between your signed-in devices. Protect your account with two-step verification, review linked devices and sign out of Macs you no longer use. When a trusted reference checksum is available, use it to confirm that your package matches the reference file; check its publisher information as well.