In this article, we will look at how to add a proxy to the Telegram messenger both on a smartphone and on your laptop/computer, as well as where to get a proxy if you don’t have one yet. In general, the process is simple if you are familiar with proxies and already have them, and a little more difficult for those who are hearing about proxies for the first time and don’t know where to get them.
Why do you need to add a proxy to Telegram?
The main reason for using a proxy in the Telegram messenger is to bypass the blocking of Telegram in some countries. Proxies are also used to protect privacy by hiding your real IP address.
Instructions for adding a proxy to Telegram
Telegram mobile application (Android/iOS)
Step 1: Open the Telegram mobile application.
Step 2: Go to Settings and select "Data and Storage".
Step 3: Scroll to the very bottom and select "Proxy Settings" on Android or "Proxy" on iOS.
Step 4: Click "Add Proxy" and a page will open where you can add a proxy.
Step 5: Enter the data for the SOCKS5 proxy. If you do not yet have a proxy and do not know what information to enter, refer to the last section of this article.
Please note that you can add both SOCKS5 and MTProto proxies. We need SOCKS5 (set as the default), since at the moment all proxy providers support this protocol.
Done! You have added a proxy, and now Telegram will try to establish a connection with the proxy you added. If the connection is successful, congratulations, you have added a proxy to Telegram!
Desktop application (Windows/macOS/Linux)
Step 1: Open the Telegram desktop application.
Step 2: Open Settings.
Step 3: Select "Advanced".
Step 4: Select the first item, "Connection Type".
Step 5: Select "Use Custom Proxy".
Step 6: Enter the proxy data. There are three protocols to choose from: SOCKS5, HTTP, and MTProto. MTProto is Telegram’s own protocol, and it is difficult to find a proxy that supports it. This leaves SOCKS5 and HTTP, and you can use either one. If you do not know what data to enter, refer to the last section of this article.
By the way, in the desktop version you can add not only IPv4 but also IPv6 proxies. IPv6 proxies are cheaper because there are many more of them. You can check out the proxy providers that offer IPv6 in our rating by selecting IPv6 instead of IPv4 in the filter.
Done! You have added a proxy, and now Telegram will try to establish a connection with the proxy you added. If the connection is successful, congratulations — you have added a proxy to Telegram!
Browser Version of Telegram
If you are looking for a way to add a proxy to the web version of Telegram (web.telegram.org), we regret to inform you that at the moment it is not possible to add a proxy to the web version.
Where to get a proxy?
The most optimal option is to purchase proxies from a proxy provider. We recommend ProxySeller, or you can choose another proxy provider from our proxy provider rating. It is best to choose static ISP proxies with payment per IP address (around $3 per month). This way, you get stable proxies with unlimited traffic, which is ideal for Telegram. If you are looking for cheaper proxies, you can consider purchasing datacenter proxies (IPv4) with payment per IP address (around $1.7 per month). This will be a great alternative to ISP proxies.
There are also free proxies, but they are usually very unstable and have low speed, so we do not recommend using them. In practice, it is almost impossible to find good free proxies, and it is easier to pay a couple of dollars per month to purchase proxies than struggle with searching for free ones. If you are looking for free proxies, you can use our proxy checker, which allows you to check the functionality of these proxies before adding them to Telegram.
Important: SOCKS5 is not a proxy type but a protocol. Proxies with the SOCKS5 protocol will be available after purchasing proxies. The same applies to IPv4 proxies, which is also a protocol, not a proxy type. The proxy types that are best suited for Telegram are ISP proxies or datacenter (server) proxies.
Conclusion
Telegram has made the process of adding proxies as convenient and simple as possible. With the help of our guide, you can easily add a proxy to Telegram on a smartphone, laptop, or computer. If you do not know where to get proxies for Telegram, you first need to purchase proxies from a proxy provider. Of course, you can find free proxies, but they are very unstable and low quality, so before adding such proxies to Telegram, we recommend checking their functionality using our proxy checker.
FAQ
- Why add a proxy to Telegram?
- Proxies in Telegram are used to bypass restrictions, hide your IP, and improve privacy. They help you connect to the messenger when network limitations exist and can sometimes improve connection stability when the internet is poor.
- Where can you get proxies for Telegram?
- You can find free proxies or purchase them from a proxy provider, for example from ProxySeller
- Are free proxies suitable for Telegram?
- Technically, yes, they are suitable. But in practice, we do not recommend using free proxies because they are very unstable and slow. It is easier to spend a couple of dollars per month on properly working proxies by purchasing them from ProxySeller than struggling with free proxies.
- Is it difficult to add a proxy to Telegram?
- No, it is not difficult at all. Just follow our simple guide on how to add a proxy to Telegram.
- Which is better, SOCKS5 or MTProto proxies?
- MTProto is considered better because it was developed specifically for Telegram, but the problem is that proxies with this protocol are almost impossible to find. That is why it is easier to choose SOCKS5, since it is also a good option.
- Where can you get SOCKS5 proxies?
- SOCKS5 is a protocol, not a proxy type. It will be provided to you after purchasing proxies.
- Which proxy type is best for Telegram?
- We recommend static ISP proxies, but static datacenter proxies (also called IPv4) should work as well.
Ваня
2026-02-18Thank you for the article! Everything is simple and clear. I was using free proxies before, and now I understand why nothing was working. I bought paid proxies, set them up, and everything works great.
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