An overview of the features introduced by the instant messaging service since the beginning of the year.
1. End-to-end encrypted group calls
In an update rolled out this Wednesday, April 30, 2025, Telegram has strengthened the privacy of its group calls, a feature introduced in 2021, by adding end-to-end encryption. “Now, you can start an end-to-end encrypted group call without creating a group first,” the platform announced in a blog post. Up to 200 people can join this secure call via a link or a QR code generated by the host. To verify that the connection is encrypted, four emojis are now displayed at the top of the screen. “If they are the same for all participants, the call is fully secure,” the platform explains.
Here’s a video preview of the feature:
2. Frozen accounts
Also in April, the instant messaging service introduced a new moderation tool: account freezing. From now on, when a user is suspected of violating the terms of service, their account will be frozen before being permanently blocked.
Thanks to our robust moderation tools and user reporting, people attempting to send scam or spam messages on Telegram are quickly detected and banned. While these systems have an extremely low error rate, users can now appeal their ban from Telegram in the event of an error, the platform explains.
In concrete terms, instead of being immediately disconnected, the user will see a window informing them that their account has been temporarily frozen (see below). They will then have the opportunity to “submit an appeal for review by our moderators,” Telegram specifies. If the appeal is accepted, their restrictions will be lifted.
3. A new certification badge
In addition to the badges awarded to public figures and organizations, Telegram introduced an additional certification in January “aimed at preventing scams and reducing misinformation,” a blog post explains. Specifically, “official third-party services,” handpicked by Telegram, can now assign a certification icon to users they deem trustworthy. “When an account receives a third-party certification, a small logo appears before their name. If you open their profile, you’ll see a detailed explanation of their status and what it means,” the platform adds. To be recognized as an official third-party service, authorized to assign certifications to other users, simply follow the procedure detailed at this address.
4. Sender Information Sheets
In a continued effort to be transparent, Telegram has been offering a detailed information page for each user who tries to contact you since March. This page, designed to help you “spot scams, avoid imposters or check who you are talking to,” the platform says, provides several details about the sender: their country, the groups you have in common, their registration date on Telegram, as well as the last time they changed their profile picture or username, “a practical way to detect sudden identity changes,” we can read.
Whether you’re chatting with a potential collaborator, a fan, or a new friend, you’ll have the information you need to decide whether to continue the conversation effortlessly and confidently, Telegram boasts.
5. A series of minor improvements to the video
Last February, the messaging service also introduced some discreet improvements to video content. For example, it’s now possible to select a specific moment in a video before sharing it in a channel or conversation, to use a video as a cover image, or to resume watching content where you left off, with viewing progress now automatically saved.
