Telegram isn't available everywhere. In some countries and regions, access to the app may be restricted by governments or internet service providers. For example, after Telegram was banned in Russia, you could no longer rely on a VPN alone to keep using it. A Telegram proxy can help hide your IP address and get around those limits, making it easier to use Telegram with more privacy.
In This Article, You’ll Learn
Understand the difference between SOCKS5 & MTProto for Telegram.
Learn how to choose the right proxy provider for Telegram.
Learn how to set up a Telegram proxy on Android, iPhone, PC, and Mac.
Learn how to check whether the proxy is working and how to turn it off.
A Telegram proxy acts as an intermediary between your device and the platform. Instead of connecting directly, your traffic goes through the proxy server first. This helps hide your real IP address and can make Telegram easier to access on networks where the app is blocked or restricted.
Telegram supports both SOCKS5 and MTProto proxy protocols. Here is a quick look at how they differ.
SOCKS5 Proxy | MTProto Proxy | |
Protocol Type | General-purpose proxy protocol | Telegram-native proxy protocol |
Traffic Support | Supports both UDP and TCP traffic | Optimized for Telegram traffic (TCP) |
Key Strengths | Good for bypassing firewalls and censorship | Built specifically for Telegram, with high compatibility and optimized speed |
Limitations | Authentication is not mandatory, so it may be less secure | Authentication can be a bit more complex; only works with Telegram |
What You'll Need | Server, Port (optional: Username, Password) | Server, Port, Secret |
Public MTProto proxies: Free yet Laggy
Free public MTProto proxies are easy to find, but most of them are unreliable. One may work today and fail tomorrow. A reliable proxy not only helps Telegram connect, but also keeps the connection more stable on restricted or shared networks.
Stable ISP from IPcook: Stable & Affordable
IPcook is a leading proxy provider with over 55 million residential IPs across 185+ countries. It offers both rotating residential proxies and static residential proxies, with SOCKS5 and HTTP support. You can get the proxy details you need for Telegram. For Telgram, we would recommend ISP.
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Complete your purchase and open your dashboard.
Copy your proxy details: Server, Port, Username, and Password.
Once you have those details, you are ready to add them to Telegram. In the next section, we will show you exactly how to do that on each device.
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To configure a Telegram proxy on different devices, the overall process is similar: find the proxy section, add your proxy details, then enable it.
On Android, you configure the proxy directly inside the Telegram app.
Open Telegram and tap the three-line menu in the top left.
Go to Settings > Data and Storage.
Scroll down and tap Proxy Settings.
Tap Add Proxy or turn on Use Proxy.
Choose SOCKS5 or MTProto.
Enter your proxy details: Server, Port, and either Username/Password for SOCKS5 or Secret for MTProto.
Tap Done to save and enable the proxy.
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On iOS, proxy settings are also inside Telegram, under Data and Storage.
Open Telegram and tap Settings.
Go to Data and Storage.
Scroll down to Proxy and tap Add Proxy.
Select SOCKS5 or MTProto.
Enter Server, Port, and either Username/Password for SOCKS5 or Secret for MTProto.
Tap Done, then turn on Use Proxy.
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On PC and Mac, you can set up a Telegram proxy from the desktop app settings.
Open Telegram Desktop and click the three-line menu in the top left.
Go to Settings > Advanced > Connection Type.
Choose Use custom proxy.
Pick the proxy type: SOCKS5, HTTP(S), or MTProto.
Enter your proxy details, including Server and Port.
Add any required credentials, such as Username/Password for SOCKS5 or a Secret for MTProto.
Save the settings to enable the proxy.
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Testing your Telegram proxy ensures it's active, fast, and masking your IP effectively.
Telegram shows a shield icon when the proxy is active.
Open Telegram and go to Settings → Data and Storage → Proxy Settings.
Make sure the proxy is turned on.
Return to your chat list and check whether the shield icon appears.
The easiest test is to use Telegram normally.
Open Saved Messages or any chat.
Send a short message.
Load a chat or channel with images.
If Telegram no longer gets stuck on Connecting, the proxy is likely working.
This step is most useful for Telegram Web or a browser proxy.
Open ipinfo.io before enabling the proxy.
Turn the proxy on.
Refresh the page and compare the IP.
If the IP does not change, your browser traffic is not going through that proxy.
💡 Want to quickly check if your proxy is active, private, fast, stable, and capable of bypassing geo-restrictions? Get the full guide: How to Test Proxies
Disabling a Telegram proxy returns your connection to direct internet access and is done via the same proxy settings menu.
Simply toggle off or delete the proxy in the app settings.
Open Telegram and go to Settings → Data and Storage → Proxy or Proxy Settings.
Turn Use Proxy off.
If you do not plan to use it again, delete the saved proxy entry.
Switch back to direct connection in advanced settings.
Open Telegram Desktop.
Go to Settings → Advanced → Connection Type.
Turn off the custom proxy or switch back to the default connection.
This guide covers Telegram proxies and how to set them up across mobile and desktop devices. Telegram's cross-platform support makes it ideal for business communication, but proxy quality directly impacts speed and reliability. A stable proxy can help you stay connected, avoid connection drops, and keep your Telegram setup running smoothly.
Ready for a better Telegram proxy experience? Get started with IPcook today!
