Telegram Improves Website Authentication via Bots

In Beta version of Telegram for Android 12.4, new elements for bot-based authentication have been introduced. The authentication mechanism itself is not new, but this update redesigns the user interface and adds phone number transmission.

When logging in via a bot, the system can collect additional user data:

• Browser and platform: information about the app or environment used to log in.
• IP address and region: geographic data and session location.
• Phone number: requested by the website optionally and shared only after explicit user confirmation.
• Name, username, and profile photo: standard profile data.

This information is sent to the service during authorization along with a hash used to authenticate the request.

Website developers can use this feature as one of the methods for phone number verification. Currently, Telegram already offers several related solutions:

• Telegram Gateway — a paid tool for phone number verification via codes, positioned by Telegram as a cheaper alternative to SMS.
• Bot API contact request button — a free bot feature that allows obtaining a phone number but requires an explicit action from the user in a chat.

It is not yet clear whether Telegram plans to charge developers for using this enhanced phone-number-based authentication in the future.

More detailed information about the authentication system is available in the Telegram API documentation.

#Android

Updated Tabs in Global Search

In the Beta version of Telegram for Android 12.4, the tabs in the Global Search section have been redesigned. They are now displayed in a carousel-style layout, similar to the chat folder carousel on the main screen.

#Android

Changes to Connection Status Display

In the Beta version of Telegram for Android 12.4, the statuses “Waiting for network…,” “Connecting…,” and “Updating…” are once again shown in place of the “Telegram” title in the header of the main screen.

In the previous beta builds, these statuses were tested below the messenger name instead.

#Android

New Options for Styling Bot Buttons

Telegram Beta for Android and iOS version 12.4 introduce support for new APIs that allow chatbot developers to customize the appearance of buttons.

What’s new:

• Button styling: Developers can now choose the button type for bot keyboards, each with its own color scheme. In standard Telegram themes, these are blue (bg_primary), red (bg_danger), and green (bg_success).

• Custom icons: Bots now support any custom emoji placed before button labels.

Earlier, Telegram revised how premium emojis work in bots, allowing them to be sent without linking an expensive NFT username to the bot.

Important notes:

• A bot may stop displaying custom emojis in text and buttons if its owner’s Premium subscription expires.
• The new styles apply to buttons in both Inline and Reply keyboards.
• Users must be on the latest Telegram version to see the updated styling.

At the moment, these features are available only in the MTProto layer 224. Support for button customization is not yet available in the Bot API.

#Android #iOS

Telegram Beta Android 12.4.0 (6502)

Changelog:

- glitch fix when replying to a far message
- fix avatar clipping for chats with auto-delete icon
- rounder floating toolbar on text selection menu
- padding of grey text in some pages fix
- fix "remove fee" not updating top panel
- fix action buttons in channel profile
- closing pages after login from user info
- support for albums in profile personal channel
- new music button in profile
- transparent action mode in contacts page when selecting
- darker ripple in settings, trying out without shadows
- rounding in group/channel color page, fixes switching theme inside
- gift fixes

#Android #apk

Telegram Beta Android 12.4.0 (6503)

Changelog:

- fix profile name location with music opened from tabs

#Android #apk

Telegram Beta Android 12.4.0 (6504)

Changelog:

- display refresh rate fix
- blur in search in dialogs page

#Android #apk

Telegram Beta Android 12.4.0 (6506)

Changelog:

- fixed paid reaction width
- fixed selecting chats in chat list
- fixed touches on reactions in stories
- close settings search on back press
- gifts fixes

#Android #apk

Telegram Beta Android 12.4.0 (6508)

Changelog:

- add blur in attach menu header
- add liquid glass in fast scroll in attach menu

#Android #apk

Telegram Beta Android 12.4.1 (6510)

Changelog:

- fix opening profile animation with expanding photo
- fix updating theme in settings page
- "craft new gift" after successful crafting
- gift hidden icon update, fix toast in main tabs pages
- fix editing contact note share checkbox
- gifts fixes

#Android #apk

Telegram Beta Android 12.4.2 (6525)

Changelog:

- bot buttons with emoji fixes
- bot forums fixes
- gift wallpaper fixes
- rounding for music, contacts, replies in attach menu

#Android #apk

Telegram Beta Android 12.4.3 (6527)

Changelog:

- bot forum fixes
- fix join button in topics list

#Android #apk

Smart Date Recognition for Reminders

In the Beta version of Telegram for iOS 12.5 (32413), a new feature has been introduced that automatically detects dates in messages and allows users to create reminders.

The app highlights phrases such as “today,” “tomorrow,” or “April 1” and suggests turning them into a reminder.

If a reminder is created in a group chat, the notification is delivered to the user’s Saved Messages. This ensures the reminder is received even if notifications from that group are disabled or if the user later leaves the group.

Stable versions of the app do not yet support displaying messages where Telegram highlights recognized dates.

#iOS

Telegram Beta Android 12.5.0 (6541)

Changelog:

- chat tags
- sharing disable
- gif caption

#Android #apk

Telegram Beta Android 12.5.0 (6545)

Changelog:

- joined group toast with add tag button
- show date/time in poll votes
- "Allow Member Tags" in chat settings members section
- support schedule message for gifs with caption
- fix progress conflicting under/over gifts/stories, fix no background in groups tab in profile
- fix tag color in dark themes, fix updating tags
- supported event logs for member tags

#Android #apk

Telegram Beta Android 12.5.0 (6554)

Changelog:

- picker for relative dates, realtime update for relative dates
- "Edit Sticker" supported on not owned sticker packs too, "Create Sticker" from photo viewer
- fixed bot button width when using animated emoji
- admin tag with boosts fix
- fix the lock icon color in secret chats in dark theme
- hide disable sharing option in secret chats and for service accounts
- crash fixes

#Android #apk

Telegram Beta Android 12.5.0 (6560)

Changelog:

- fixes in photo editor blur for old android

#Android #apk

Telegram Beta Android 12.5.0 (6561)

Changelog:

- crash fix

#Android #apk

Captions for GIF Animations

In the Beta version of Telegram for Android 12.5, users now have the ability to add a text caption to GIF animations before sending a message.

To add text to a GIF, long-press the animation before sending, then select "Add Caption".

#Android

Tags for Regular Group Members

In the Beta version of Telegram for Android 12.5, it's now possible to assign tags to group members without administrator rights.

Additionally, users can edit their own tag next to their username — for this, the group permissions must have "Edit Own Tags" enabled.

Tags have also received visual changes: custom tags still display as plain text next to the username, while admin and owner tags now have a colored outline.

Currently, attempting to edit a member's tag results in an error.

#Android

Design Improvements on Android

In the Beta version of Telegram for Android 12.5, several interface elements have been refined:

• The tab carousel in chat profiles now features liquid glass effect and rounded corners.
• The media editor button interface has been redesigned.

#Android