How to Create a Telegram Bot With BotFather
Send /newbot to @BotFather, pick a name and a username ending in bot, and keep the token safe. The commands that matter, privacy mode, limits and managed bots.
To create a Telegram bot, open @BotFather in Telegram, send /newbot, and pick a name and a username that ends in "bot." BotFather then sends you a token, the key your code uses to control the bot. It's free. Telegram says its bot platform "hosts more than 10 million bots and is free for both users and developers."
We read Telegram's bot docs, its tutorial and the Bot API changelog on October 24, 2026.
About 49,500 people search "telegram bot" each month, 22,200 search for "botfather," and 6,600 ask how to create a Telegram bot.
How do you create a bot with BotFather?
- Open @BotFather in Telegram and tap Start.
- Send /newbot.
- Pick a name. It's what people see in contact details and elsewhere, and you can change it later.
- Pick a username. It needs 5 to 32 characters: Latin letters, numbers and underscores. Case doesn't matter, and it must end in "bot," like tetris_bot or TetrisBot.
- Save the token. BotFather sends it right after.
Don't rush the username. "Unlike the bot's name, the username cannot be changed later," Telegram's guide says.
Treat the token like a password. It's a string of digits, a colon, then a long run of letters and numbers. "Keep your token secure and store it safely, it can be used by anyone to control your bot," Telegram warns. If it leaks or you lose it, send /token to BotFather for a new one.
How do you use the token?
You can test it in a browser first. Paste this into the address bar, with your token where the brackets are:
https://api.telegram.org/bot<YOUR_BOT_TOKEN>/getMe
If it's working, Telegram answers with your bot's details. Every request goes to that address. "All queries to the Telegram Bot API must be served over HTTPS," the docs say, and the word "bot" goes right before your token.
Your code can get messages in one of two ways. Either it asks Telegram for new ones with getUpdates, or Telegram sends them to your server through a webhook. You can't use both at once. Updates wait on Telegram's servers until your bot collects them. "They will not be kept longer than 24 hours," the docs add.
Telegram's own tutorial builds a first bot in Java. It also links the same examples in C#, Python, Go and TypeScript.
Which BotFather commands matter?
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
| /newbot | Creates a bot and its token |
| /mybots | Opens settings for your bots, including transfer of ownership |
| /token | Makes a new token if yours leaked or got lost |
| /setcommands | Sets the commands users see when they type / |
| /setdescription | Sets the "What can this bot do?" text, up to 512 characters |
| /setabouttext | Sets the short bio on the bot's profile |
| /setuserpic | Changes the profile picture |
| /setprivacy | Chooses which group messages the bot gets |
| /setjoingroups | Allows or blocks adding the bot to groups |
| /setinline | Turns inline mode on or off |
| /deletebot | Deletes the bot and frees its username |
Telegram, "Telegram Bot Features," read October 24, 2026.
Two of these come with a warning you shouldn't skip. /deletebot "Cannot be undone," Telegram says. And a transfer through /mybots is permanent. You can only hand a bot to someone who's used it at least once, and they'll get full control, including its messages.
Prefer buttons to commands? BotFather also has a Mini App with the same settings in a newer layout.
What does a bot see in a group?
Less than you'd think. "By default, all bots added to groups run in Privacy Mode and only see relevant messages and commands," Telegram says. That covers commands meant for the bot, replies to its messages and messages sent through it.
Admins are the exception. "Bot admins always receive all messages." You can switch privacy mode off with /setprivacy. The bot then has to be re-added to the group. Telegram only recommends that when it's "absolutely necessary for your bot to work."
Can a bot create other bots?
Yes, since April 3, 2026. "Telegram allows bots to create and manage other bots on behalf of their owners," the docs say. Turn on Bot Management Mode for your bot in BotFather's Mini App. Then share a t.me/newbot link with the new bot's suggested name.
The person who opens the link confirms the details, and the bot gets made. Your manager bot can then fetch the new bot's token and run it through the API. Telegram pitches this for "personal AI agents, business bots, games, custom productivity tools and more."
How fast does the Bot API change?
It's fast. Telegram shipped 12 Bot API versions between February 2025 and August 2026.
| Bot API version | Released |
|---|---|
| 8.3 | February 12, 2025 |
| 9.0 | April 11, 2025 |
| 9.1 | July 3, 2025 |
| 9.2 | August 15, 2025 |
| 9.3 | December 31, 2025 |
| 9.4 | February 9, 2026 |
| 9.5 | March 1, 2026 |
| 9.6 | April 3, 2026, with managed bots |
| 10.0 | May 8, 2026 |
| 10.1 | June 11, 2026 |
| 10.2 | July 14, 2026 |
| 10.3 | August 24, 2026 |
Telegram, "Bot API changelog," read October 24, 2026.
If you're using a library, check that it supports the version you need. Telegram suggests following @BotNews, since "All limits may be subject to change in the future."
What are the Bot API's limits?
- Downloads: "The maximum file size to download is 20 MB."
- Sending files: up to 50 MB.
- Your own server: running Telegram's Local Bot API Server lets a bot upload files "up to 2000 MB."
- Waiting updates: kept for up to 24 hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to make a Telegram bot?
Yes. Telegram says the bot platform is free for users and developers.
Can I change my bot's username?
No. The name can change any time. The username is permanent.
What do I do if my bot token leaks?
Send /token to BotFather for a new one. The old one stops working for whoever had it.
How do I delete a Telegram bot?
Send /deletebot to BotFather. That frees the username, and it can't be undone.
Can I give my bot to someone else?
Yes, through /mybots. They need to have used the bot at least once, and the transfer is permanent.
Do I need to code to make a bot?
For your own bot, yes. Manager bots can also create bots for people, since Telegram added managed bots in April 2026.
Running a channel? See our guides to Telegram channels, Telegram Stars and how to make money on Telegram. Hclout sells Telegram members, so weigh our advice the way you'd weigh any seller's.
Sources
- Telegram, "Bots: An introduction for developers," "From BotFather to 'Hello World'" and "Telegram Bot Features," read October 24, 2026
- Telegram, "Telegram Bot API" and "Bot API changelog," read October 24, 2026
- A web search for BotFather guides, October 24, 2026
- Google Ads Keyword Planner, worldwide, read October 24, 2026
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