Before Telegram's 13th birthday update, greeting new members in a Telegram group meant adding a bot. Now groups and channels have built-in welcome messages that only new members can see.
This guide shows how to set up a Telegram welcome message in under a minute. It also gives you eight Telegram welcome message examples to copy, and explains when a Telegram welcome bot is still the better choice.
What's New in Telegram Welcome Messages
A welcome message is a private greeting that only the new member sees.
- Only the person joining sees it. The main chat stays clean, with no wall of "Welcome, Alex!" posts.
- Works in groups and channels.
- Send several messages at once, including photos, videos and files.
- Rich formatting from Telegram's text editor: bold text, links, tables and inline media.
- No bot required. It's built into Telegram.
How to Set a Telegram Group Welcome Message
Here's how to set a welcome message in a Telegram group or channel. You need to own the group or channel, and the steps take about a minute.
- Open your group or channel and tap its name at the top to open the profile.
- Tap Edit.
- Select Welcome Message.
- Write the message, or several, that new members should see. Add photos, videos or files if you want. For bold text, links or tables, write more than three lines, then tap the ⛶ icon to open the full text editor.
- Test it. Join with a second account, or ask a friend, to see what a new member actually sees.
8 Telegram Welcome Message Examples
A good Telegram welcome message does three things: it says what the group or channel is for, sets the rules, and tells people what to do first. Copy any of these examples and swap in your details.
1. Community Group
Welcome to [Group name]! 👋
This is the place to [what people do here].
Quick rules:
• Be kind, no spam or self-promotion
• Stay on topic
• Search before asking, your question may already be answered
Start here: introduce yourself in one line!
2. News or Updates Channel
Thanks for subscribing to [Channel name].
You'll get [topic] updates [how often], with no noise.
Turn on notifications so you don't miss breaking posts. Want to discuss? Join our chat: [link]3. Crypto or Trading Signals Channel
Welcome to [Channel name].
Here's how it works:
• Signals are posted as [format: pair, entry, targets, stop-loss]
• Market updates go out [schedule]
• Results are tracked in [link]
Nothing here is financial advice. Trade at your own risk and never risk more than you can lose.4. Customer Support Group
Hi, and welcome to [Product] support!
Before posting, check our help center: [link]
When you ask for help, include:
1. What you were trying to do
2. What happened instead
3. A screenshot if possible
Our team replies [hours/time zone].5. Course or Study Group
Welcome to [Course name]! 🎓
Everything you need:
📄 Syllabus: [file]
📅 Live sessions: [day and time]
❓ Questions: post them here, anyone can help
First step: watch lesson 1 and share one takeaway in the chat.6. Local or Regional Group
Welcome to [City/Region] [Group name]!
This group is for [events / buy and sell / local news].
Please keep posts local, no ads without admin approval, and use #tags like #event or #forsale so people can search.7. Paid or Private Community
You're in. Welcome to [Community name]! 🎉
Here's what your membership includes:
• [Benefit 1]
• [Benefit 2]
• [Benefit 3]
Pinned at the top: our start-here guide. Questions about billing? Message [admin].Running a paid community? Our guide on how to make money with Telegram covers membership bots, pricing and more ways to earn from your channel.
8. Multilingual Channel Network
Welcome to [Brand] English! 🇬🇧
Prefer another language? We post the same updates in:
🇧🇷 Português: [link]
🇩🇪 Deutsch: [link]
🇪🇸 Español: [link]
Pick the one you like best, the content is identical.Tip: attach your rules or a getting-started PDF directly to the welcome message. Telegram now lets you place files inside the text, so new members get everything in one place.
Built-in Welcome Message vs. Telegram Welcome Bot
For most groups and channels, the built-in welcome message is enough. Keep a Telegram welcome bot such as Rose only if you need verification or extra automation around new members.
| Feature | Built-in welcome message | Telegram welcome bot |
|---|---|---|
| Only the new member sees it | Yes | Depends on the bot |
| No extra setup or admin rights | Yes | No, the bot needs admin rights |
| Several messages, media and files | Yes | Usually |
| Rich formatting | Yes | Varies |
| Captcha or human checks | Not in Telegram's release notes | Yes, with most moderation bots |
| Greet people by name | Not in Telegram's release notes | Yes, with variables like {first} |
| Join logs and auto-deleting old greetings | Not in Telegram's release notes | Yes, with most moderation bots |
If your group gets spam bots, use both: the built-in welcome message for the greeting, and a moderation bot for checks.
Bonus: Buttons and Files Inside Messages
The same update added two features that make welcome messages more useful.
- Buttons inside messages (for developers). Bots can now place several buttons inside a message's text in groups and channels. Because only one person sees the welcome, you can build an onboarding quiz, a survey, or a "pick your topics" menu as part of their first step. This one needs code; Telegram's announcement links to the developer docs.
- Files inside text (for everyone). In the text editor you can place documents, files and music anywhere in a message. Put your rules PDF or starter guide right next to the line that mentions it.
Running Several Channels? Keep Them in Sync
Welcome messages are set per group or channel. If you run a network with regional groups, language versions, or a free channel plus a VIP one, each gets its own greeting. Keeping the posts in sync across all of them is the harder part.
That's what Telefeed does. It automatically sends new posts from one channel or group to others, so you publish once and every community gets the update. You can filter which posts go where, and translate them on the way for language versions like the network in example 8.
Set a custom welcome message in each community, then let Telefeed keep the content flowing. Try Telefeed free.
FAQ: Telegram Welcome Messages
Who can create or edit a Telegram welcome message?
You must own the group or channel to set the built-in welcome message. Open the profile, tap Edit, and choose Welcome Message.
What should a strong welcome message include?
It should say what the group or channel is for, set the key rules, and give the new member a first action, such as introducing themselves, reading a pinned guide, or joining a discussion chat.
Can existing members see the welcome message?
No. Only the person who just joined sees it. That's the main advantage over posting a greeting in the chat.
Does the welcome message work in channels too?
Yes. Both groups and channels support it, and you set it the same way under Edit → Welcome Message.
Can I add images or files to a Telegram welcome message?
Yes. You can send several messages with photos, videos and files, and place documents inside the text with the editor.
Do I still need a Telegram welcome bot?
Only if you need captcha checks, personalized greetings by name, or join logs. For a simple greeting and rules, the built-in feature is enough.
What's the difference between a Telegram group and a channel?
In a group, members can talk to each other. In a channel, only admins post and subscribers read. Many communities use a channel for updates and a group for discussion, and now each can have its own welcome message.
Can I run the same content in several channels?
Yes. A forwarding tool like Telefeed can copy new posts from one channel or group to others automatically.
Should every group or channel in a network use the same welcome message?
Not always. Welcome messages are set separately, so you can fit each one to its audience, language, region or membership level. Use Telefeed to keep the regular posts in sync.