Telegram: hide your phone number and turn on two-step verification
In short
- By default only your contacts see your number; change it in Settings, Privacy and Security, Phone Number.
- “Who can find me by my number” set to My Contacts stops strangers matching your number to your profile.
- Two-step verification adds a password to the SMS code; add a recovery email in case you forget it.
Telegram needs a phone number to register, but it doesn’t have to show it to anyone.
Who can see your number
Telegram’s FAQ says your number is visible by default only to people who have you saved as a contact. Change it in Settings, then Privacy and Security, then Phone Number. People who already have your number saved can still see it.
Who can find you by your number
Set “Who can find me by my number” to My Contacts, and strangers who add your number can’t match it to your profile. When you chat through a username, neither of you sees the other’s number unless your settings allow it.
Two-step verification
In Settings, then Privacy and Security, then 2-Step Verification, set a password. Logging in then needs the SMS code and the password. Add a recovery email: without one, Telegram says your only options are remembering the password or resetting the account.
Using a one-time number
Telegram sends login codes to the number, and a number from ReserveSMS receives codes for 20 minutes only. Turn on two-step verification and stay logged in. See Telegram codes not arriving. Get a number for Telegram.
Common questions
Can people see my phone number on Telegram?
By default only your contacts. Change it in Settings, Privacy and Security, Phone Number.
How do I stop strangers finding me on Telegram by my number?
Set “Who can find me by my number” to My Contacts.
What happens if I forget my Telegram two-step password?
A recovery email lets you reset it. Without one, Telegram says you can only remember it or reset the account.