Telegram Link Guide 2026: How to Create, Share, and Track Every t.me Link Type
Published: June 4, 2026
Telegram has six different link formats. Each one does something different. This guide covers all six, when to use each, and how to create them.
The 6 Telegram Link Formats
| Format | Example | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| Username | t.me/durov | Public users, channels, groups with a username set |
| Phone | t.me/+15551234567 | Users who do not have a public username |
| Public group/channel | t.me/telegram | Same as username — channels and groups use it too |
| Private group invite | t.me/+abc123XYZ | Private groups, anyone with the link can join |
| Bot | t.me/yourbotname | Send users to a bot to start a conversation |
| Bot deep-link | t.me/yourbotname?start=PARAM | Bot conversations with campaign attribution or flow context |
1. Username Links
Format: https://t.me/USERNAME
Works for users, public channels, and public groups that have set a username. Recipient does not need to know your phone number. Safest format because it reveals nothing personal.
To set your username: Telegram > Settings > Username > pick a unique handle. Done. Your link is live.
2. Phone Number Links
Format: https://t.me/+15551234567 (note the + prefix, country code, digits only)
Works for anyone with a Telegram account, even if they have no username. Downside: reveals the phone number to whoever clicks. Use only when username is not an option.
3. Channel and Group Links (Public)
Public channels and groups use the same username format: https://t.me/CHANNELNAME.
To find your channel's username: open the channel > tap the name at the top > look for the @ handle. That is your link.
4. Private Group Invite Links
Format: https://t.me/+RANDOM_HASH (the + distinguishes private invites from public usernames)
To get one: open the group > tap the group name > Invite Link > generate or copy. The hash is unique to your group. Anyone with the link can join — there is no application step.
You can revoke an invite link from the same menu. New link, old one stops working.
5. Bot Links
Format: https://t.me/yourbotname
Identical to username format but the recipient lands on a bot instead of a user. Telegram shows a "Start" button when the user opens the chat for the first time.
6. Bot Deep-Links with Start Parameter
Format: https://t.me/yourbotname?start=PARAM
The most powerful Telegram link. When the user presses Start, your bot receives /start PARAM as the first message. Two big use cases:
- Campaign attribution. Different start params per campaign source:
?start=tiktok,?start=instagram-bio,?start=email-sig. Your bot logs which channel sent each conversion. - Flow routing. Send users to specific flows from the first message:
?start=demo-request,?start=support-ticket,?start=newsletter-signup. Bot reads the param and triggers the right flow.
Where to Share Telegram Links
- Instagram bio: Edit Profile > Website. Paste t.me link.
- TikTok bio: Profile > Edit > Website. Paste t.me link.
- Email signature: One-tap contact for anyone who reads your emails.
- Website button: Add a "Chat on Telegram" button next to your WhatsApp button.
- QR code: Generate a QR for the link. Print on packaging, business cards, in-store signs.
- Ads: Use as the destination URL in click-to-chat ads.
How to Track Clicks
Telegram does not provide built-in click analytics. Three workarounds:
- URL shortener. Wrap the t.me link with Bitly or Rebrandly. The shortener logs each click before redirecting.
- Bot start parameter. If your destination is a bot, use unique start params per campaign. Your bot's logs become your analytics.
- UTM-wrapped redirect. Put a server-side redirect under your own domain (e.g., yoursite.com/r/tg-ig) that 302s to the t.me link and logs the click with UTM source.
Common Issues
- Link opens browser instead of app. Default behavior on first click. Once Telegram is installed and the OS knows to handle t.me links, future clicks open the app.
- Username changed, old links break. Telegram does not redirect old usernames to new ones. If you rename, update every link you have shared.
- Private group link revoked. Old link stops working immediately. Generate a new one and update.
- Spam-blocked. If you share a t.me link too often in short succession across public groups, Telegram may flag your account. Stay reasonable.
Generate Your Telegram Link
Use the free Telegram Link Generator at the top of this page to create any of the 6 link formats in seconds. No login required.
Related Tools
- Telegram Link Generator
- WhatsApp Link Generator
- Instagram DM Link Generator
- WhatsApp QR Code Generator
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Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to what people ask most.
- A Telegram link is a t.me URL that opens a chat, profile, channel, group, or bot in the Telegram app. The format is https://t.me/USERNAME or https://t.me/+PHONE for personal numbers, https://t.me/+PRIVATE_HASH for private group invites, and https://t.me/BOT?start=PARAM for bot deep-links with a campaign parameter.
- Open Telegram > Settings > Username. Set a unique handle if you have not already. Your link is https://t.me/YOUR_USERNAME. You can also use the free Telegram link generator below to format any link correctly.
- For public groups/channels with a username: https://t.me/CHANNEL_USERNAME works for anyone. For private groups: open the group > tap the group name > Invite via Link > copy. The link looks like https://t.me/+abc123XYZ. Anyone with the link can join.
- A bot deep-link is https://t.me/YOUR_BOT?start=PARAMETER. When the user clicks it and presses Start, your bot receives /start PARAMETER as the first message. Use this to track campaign source, route users to a specific flow, or pre-fill onboarding context.
- Three common reasons: (1) the username has not been set on the account, (2) the username has spaces or special characters that are not allowed, (3) the recipient blocked you. Test the link in an incognito browser to confirm it opens correctly.
- Telegram does not provide built-in click analytics. For tracking, wrap the t.me link with a URL shortener (Bitly, Rebrandly) that logs the redirect. For bots, use the start parameter — each campaign gets a unique param so you know which source sent the user when they hit /start.
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