> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.crew.you/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.crew.you/messenger-channels/telegram.md).

# Telegram

Connect Crew to Telegram using your own personal bot. This gives you a dedicated AI assistant bot that only you can use.

## Setup Guide

### Step 1: Create a Bot on Telegram

1. Open Telegram and search for **@BotFather**
2. Send the command `/newbot`
3. Follow the prompts:
   * Choose a **name** for your bot (e.g., "My Crew Assistant")
   * Choose a **username** ending in `bot` (e.g., `my_crew_assistant_bot`)
4. BotFather will give you an **API token** — copy it (it looks like `123456789:ABCdef...`)

### Step 2: Connect the Bot to Crew

1. Go to **Messengers** in the Crew web app
2. Click **Connect** next to Telegram
3. Paste your **bot token** into the field
4. Click **Connect**

Crew will validate the token and automatically configure the bot's webhook.

### Step 3: Start Chatting

1. Open Telegram and find your bot (search for the username you chose)
2. Press **Start** or send any message
3. Your Crew assistant is now live on Telegram!

## Why Your Own Bot?

Unlike other channels where you chat with a shared Crew bot, Telegram uses a **personal bot model**:

* **Your bot, your branding**: Choose any name and profile picture
* **Full privacy**: The bot is exclusively yours — no shared infrastructure
* **Custom username**: Share the bot link with yourself across devices

## Usage Examples

> "Summarize my unread emails from today."

> "Create a PDF report with these bullet points: \[your content]"

> "What's happening in the tech world today? Give me the top 5 news stories."

> \[Send a voice message] "Remind me to call the dentist tomorrow at 3 PM."

## Features

* **Text messages**: Full rich responses with formatting
* **File sharing**: Send and receive images, documents, and audio files
* **Voice messages**: Automatic transcription of voice notes
* **Typing indicators**: See when Crew is processing your request
* **Long messages**: Automatically split into multiple messages if they exceed Telegram's 4,096 character limit

## Troubleshooting

### Bot not responding?

* Make sure you started the bot by pressing **Start** or sending `/start`
* Check the connection status on the Messengers page — it should show "Connected"
* Try disconnecting and reconnecting with the same token

### Lost your bot token?

* Go to @BotFather on Telegram
* Send `/mybots`, select your bot, then **API Token** to view it

## Disconnecting

To disconnect:

1. Go to **Messengers** in the Crew web app
2. Click **Disconnect** next to Telegram

The bot will stop responding. You can reconnect with the same or a different bot token anytime.