How to Use Telegram When It's Blocked in Russia, Iran or Pakistan

Can't open Telegram where you live?

Messages stuck on "Connecting…", photos that never load, calls that don't go through?

I first wrote this guide in 2018, when Russia and Iran had just blocked Telegram. A lot has changed since then.

Russia lifted its ban in 2020, then started blocking Telegram again in 2025.

Iran never lifted its ban at all. So I've rewritten the whole guide.

Telegram's built-in proxy is the simplest fix, and it needs no extra app.

A VPN is the better choice when you need calls to work. In this guide, I'll show you where Telegram is blocked and how to get around it.

Also Read: How to Install Tor on Android and iPhone (The Safe Way)

TL;DR

• Telegram's built-in proxy: the simplest fix, and it's free. Add it under "Settings" → "Data and Storage" → "Proxy Settings".
• VPN: better when you need calls or every app on your phone to work. Pick a company you can identify.
• Calls: the hardest part to keep working. In Russia, Telegram calls have been blocked since August 2025.
• Know your local laws first. In some countries, a proxy or VPN can get you into trouble. Skip Turbo VPN.

What Is Telegram?

Telegram is a messaging app where you can chat with people without sharing your phone number. You just give them your username.

It was started in 2013 by Pavel Durov, who also founded VK, Russia's biggest social network.

There are apps for Android, iPhone, Windows, Mac, Linux and the web.

That's a big reason I like Telegram on my Android. There are thousands of meme channels, and lots of groups where people talk about their phones or build new custom ROMs.

Is Telegram End-to-End Encrypted?

In 2018, I told you Telegram is end-to-end encrypted and no government can read your chats. That was only half true.

• Secret Chats are end-to-end encrypted. Only you and the other person can read them, and they stay on that one device.
• Normal chats and groups (Telegram calls them cloud chats) use server-client encryption. They're stored encrypted on Telegram's servers, so you can open them on any device.

Telegram's privacy policy also says it may share your IP address and phone number with authorities if it gets a valid court order about a criminal suspect.

If privacy is the reason you use Telegram, start a Secret Chat for the conversations that matter.

Where Is Telegram Blocked?

Telegram is blocked in Russia, Iran and Pakistan, and in a few other countries too. The table shows where things stand.

Russia

Russia first blocked Telegram in April 2018, a month before I wrote this post. The block failed, and Russia lifted it in June 2020.

Then it came back:

• August 2025: Russia's internet regulator, Roskomnadzor, blocked Telegram voice and video calls.
• February 10, 2026: Roskomnadzor confirmed it was slowing Telegram down across the country.
• April 2026: On April 10, measurements from the OONI research project showed signs of blocking in 95% of tests, Meduza reported.

In June 2026, Meduza wrote that Telegram was still reachable through VPNs and proxies. Many people were giving up, though, because it had become too much hassle.

As I write this, I haven't seen any news of Russia lifting the block.

Iran

Iran blocked Telegram in May 2018, and it's still blocked. In December 2024, Iran unblocked WhatsApp and the Google Play Store, but Telegram stayed blocked.

Iran also cut off the internet almost completely for weeks at a time, starting in January 2026.

During a blackout like that, no proxy or VPN will help, because there's no internet to connect through.

Pakistan

In November 2017, PTCL, Pakistan's biggest internet provider, confirmed it had blocked Telegram on instructions from the PTA, the telecom regulator. The Digital Rights Foundation later found the block on other networks too.

In April 2021, the PTA also briefly blocked Telegram, WhatsApp, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and TikTok during protests.

I couldn't find any official notice that the 2017 block was ever lifted. Reports don't agree on whether Telegram works there without a workaround, so check it on your own network.

Other Countries

China blocks Telegram, and Vietnam ordered it blocked in 2025.

Some countries also block it for a few days during protests, then lift the block.

Know Your Local Laws First

Before you try anything below, please check the rules where you live.

In some countries, using a blocked app, a VPN or a proxy can get you into trouble. Iran, for example, has tried to ban VPNs and other tools for getting around its filter.

I can show you how these tools work. Whether you should use them is your call.

Proxy vs VPN: Which One Should You Use?

You can get Telegram working with either a VPN or a proxy. The table compares the two.

A VPN sends all of your phone's internet traffic through another server. Every app goes through it.

A proxy in Telegram only carries Telegram's traffic. The rest of your phone uses your normal connection.

I liked the proxy in 2018 because you set it up once inside Telegram and forget about it. You don't have to connect to a VPN every time you want to check a message.

That's still true. The best part is that it's built into Telegram, so you don't need to install another app.

What Is a Proxy Server?

Let me give you the same simple example I gave in 2018.

My name is Xaif, and I like a girl named Mia.

Xaif is too afraid to ask Mia if she loves him, so he asks his friend Logan to ask her for him.

Xaif never talks to Mia directly. Logan carries the question and brings back the answer.

A proxy server is Logan.

Your phone talks to the proxy, and the proxy talks to Telegram's servers. Your internet provider only sees you connecting to the proxy, not to Telegram.

Telegram's own proxy type, called MTProxy, also scrambles the traffic so it's harder to spot as Telegram.

How to Use Telegram's Built-in Proxy

Here's what you need, and then the two ways to add a proxy.

Requirements

• The official Telegram app from Google Play, the App Store or telegram.org. Don't download it from random APK websites.
• A working proxy: a server, a port and a secret (for MTProxy), or a proxy link.

You might be wondering where the free proxy I shared in 2018 went. It's long gone, because public proxies get blocked within days.

That's exactly why I don't post proxy addresses here anymore. Get one from someone you trust, or set up your own (I'll show you how below).

Method 1: Tap a Proxy Link

This is the easiest way.

A Telegram proxy link looks like this: t.me/proxy?server=…&port=…&secret=…

1. Tap the link on your phone.
2. Telegram opens and shows you the proxy details.
3. Tap "Connect Proxy".

Telegram connects through the proxy right away.

Method 2: Add the Proxy by Hand

1. Open Telegram and go to "Settings".
2. Tap "Data and Storage".

3. Scroll to the bottom and tap "Proxy Settings".

4. Tap "Add Proxy" and choose "MTProto Proxy".
5. Type in the server, port and secret, and save it.
6. Make sure "Use Proxy" is turned on.

On other devices, the proxy settings are here:

• iPhone: "Settings" → "Data and Storage" → "Proxy"
• Telegram Desktop (Windows and Linux): "Settings" → "Advanced" → "Connection type"
• Mac: "Settings" → "Data and Storage" → "Use Proxy"

Once a proxy is on, you'll see a small shield icon at the top of your chat list. Tap it to jump back to your proxy settings.

If you add more than one proxy, turn on "Auto-Switch Proxies". Telegram will move to the next one in your list when the current one stops working.

What the Proxy Owner Can and Can't See

According to Telegram's MTProxy page, the person running the proxy can't read your messages or see your chat list. But they can see your IP address.

Some proxies also pin a sponsored channel at the top of your chat list. That's how free proxy owners pay for their servers.

It doesn't give them access to your chats.

Still, Telegram's own advice is to only use proxies from a source you trust, or to ask a friend to set one up for you.

Set Up Your Own Proxy

Do you have a friend abroad, or a cheap server in another country?

Then you can run your own MTProxy. Telegram publishes the official code and a ready-made Docker container on its MTProxy page.

Once it's running, register it with @MTProxyBot in Telegram to get your proxy link and usage stats. A private proxy that only you and your friends use is much less likely to get blocked than a public one.

How to Use a VPN With Telegram

A VPN works too, and sometimes it works better.

In 2018, I told you to use Turbo VPN. Please don't.

In 2025, researchers linked it to Qihoo 360, a Chinese company under US sanctions. I explained why in my post on the worst Android apps to avoid.

If you go with a VPN:

• Pay for one from a company you can identify.
• On Google Play, look for the "Independent security review" badge in the app's Data safety section. It's not a guarantee, but it's a good sign.
• Or build your own on a server outside your country.

Also Read: How to Create Your Own VPN: The Definitive Guide

Final Thoughts

When I wrote this in 2018, my Russian friends told me the proxy trick worked fine, with no slow messages.

Years later, Russia is blocking Telegram again, so the trick is useful again. The proxy setting is still right there in Telegram, and it's still free.

Get a proxy from someone you trust, or run your own. Keep a VPN as a backup, and know your local laws before you use either.

FAQs

The proxy isn't working. What should I do?

Proxies get blocked all the time. Try another proxy from a trusted source, turn on Auto-Switch Proxies, or switch to a VPN.

Can I use a VPN instead of a proxy?

Yes. A VPN covers every app on your phone, not just Telegram.

Which country should I connect to?

Pick any country where Telegram isn't blocked. A nearby country is usually faster.

Is this safe?

I can't promise that.

A proxy or VPN owner can see your IP address, and in some countries using these tools can break local rules. Use trusted servers and know your local laws.

What about voice and video calls?

Calls are the hardest part. In Russia, Telegram calls have been blocked since August 2025, so if you need calls, I'd try a VPN rather than a proxy.

Still stuck? Tell me through the contact page.