How to recover your Telegram account
The fix depends on what happened: a stolen phone, a lost number, or a forgotten two-step verification password. Here is each case, with the solution from Telegram itself.
Phone stolen — you have another device with Telegram
- On the other device: Settings → Privacy and Security → Two-Step Verification, and turn it on with a strong password.
- Settings → Devices (Active Sessions) → terminate the stolen phone's session.
- Contact your carrier to block the old SIM and issue a new one with the same number.
Phone stolen — no other device
Start with your carrier: block the old SIM and get a new one with your number. Then log in with the number, receive the code, and end every other session in Settings → Devices.
Change your number and keep everything
Settings → tap your number → Change Number. All your chats, contacts and media stay, according to Telegram.
Forgot the two-step verification password
If you added a recovery email when you set up two-step verification, request a recovery code to it from the password screen. If you didn't, nobody can bypass the password — contact Telegram through the official form.
FAQ
Can a deleted account be recovered?
No. Deletion permanently removes messages and contacts, according to Telegram.
Can someone recover my account for money?
Be careful: recovery only works through the official routes, and anyone asking for your code or money to recover an account is a scammer.