Telegram for macOS

Telegram for macOS is Telegram's native Mac messaging application. It connects to the Telegram service for personal conversations, group discussions and channels, with a Mac interface and synchronized cloud messaging. This cask installs Telegram.app from the native macOS distribution; the separate cross-platform Telegram Desktop application has a different codebase and release sequence.

Main features

• Exchange text, photos, documents and voice messages.
• Follow channels and participate in group conversations.
• Access cloud conversations across supported devices without keeping the phone continuously connected.
• Use stickers, GIFs and customizable appearance settings.
• Organize conversations and search message history.
• Use the native Mac client's Secret Chats for device-specific end-to-end encrypted conversations.

Install and sign in

Install with brew install --cask telegram, or download the ZIP from the official native macOS website, extract it and place Telegram.app in Applications. Open the app and follow the sign-in flow for your Telegram account. A phone number is required to register and access the service; existing users may use the offered device-assisted login or verification flow. An internet connection is needed for service access. Grant microphone or camera permissions when using features that need them, rather than treating these as prerequisites for text messaging.

Privacy and encryption

Telegram distinguishes cloud chats from Secret Chats. Cloud chats use client-server encryption and synchronize through Telegram's cloud; they are not end-to-end encrypted by default. Secret Chats use end-to-end encryption, are specific to the participating devices and do not synchronize as cloud history. This native Mac application supports Secret Chats. Do not assume that every Telegram client implements the same features or that ordinary groups and channels have Secret Chat encryption. Review active sessions, account security and Telegram's privacy policy for the intended use.

Requirements and distribution

The developer's Mac App Store listing requires macOS 10.13 or later for its store distribution. The current Homebrew direct-download cask does not declare a specific macOS minimum or additional formula dependency. These are different distribution channels: the store's compatibility and download-size fields must not be treated as an inspection of the direct ZIP. The cask declares a conflict with telegram@beta and supports application-managed updates. No verified universal RAM or installed-disk requirement was published in the reviewed sources.

The official direct ZIP for recorded version 12.10, build 282985 is 138,858,137 bytes, verified against the download server's Content-Length. This is download size, not installed space. Telegram also offers mobile, web and cross-platform desktop clients, but their version numbers, supported features and system requirements can differ from this native Mac client.

Cost, account and license

Core Telegram messaging is free. Telegram Premium is an optional paid subscription with additional limits and capabilities; prices depend on country, payment channel and applicable fees. Premium is not required for normal communication with other users. Some paid features may arrive in different clients at different times. Uninstalling the application does not cancel a paid subscription; use the relevant payment provider's cancellation process.

The official native Mac source repository is published under GNU GPL version 2. This describes the client source license, not a promise that Telegram's hosted service is self-hostable or governed by the same license. Service use remains subject to Telegram's terms and privacy policy.

The accompanying repository illustration is a historical native macOS example showing light and dark chat windows, file and voice-message sharing. It has not been verified as the 12.10 interface.

Sources: Native Mac website, Native Mac source and license, Telegram FAQ, Premium FAQ, Mac App Store listing, Privacy policy.