How to Block a Group in Telegram

Telegram’s famous group chats and fortress-like security are a magnet for both Gen-Z’ers and professional organizations alike. As good as it feels to message away securely, there’s one big issue that they haven’t solved: how to block a group.

Many unwanted groups run rampant on Telegram, and without insider knowledge it’s unclear how to stop them. Spammers not only distract the flow of a conversation but can pose a genuine security risk. This guide offers straightforward steps on how to block groups on Telegram.

How to Block a Telegram Group for Good

Say goodbye to the Telegram groups that are bothering you or that seem unsafe. To bid farewell to an unwanted Telegram group, the simplest approach is to block it:

1. Open the group chat you wish to block.
   
2. Click the name of the group you want to block.
   
3. Tap “Block Group.”
   

Not only will the groups you’ve blocked vanish from your chat list, but it will be impossible for them to ever message you again.

How to Report a Telegram Group

Maybe you just want to avoid a group you find annoying. In this case, blocking them should be more than effective enough. However, if you’re being cyberbullied or incessantly harassed by trolls, reporting is a more powerful option and will alert Telegram moderators to the troublemakers.

If you encounter anybody who’s breached Telegram’s terms of use, don’t hesitate to click the Report button.

To report a Telegram group, follow these steps:

1. Open the group chat you want to report.
   
2. Click on the three dots.
   
3. Tap “Report.”
   
4. Choose the reason for reporting the group.
   
5. Tap “Submit.”

Blocking will keep group chats off your feed forever, but the members that bothered you will get off scot-free. If you want to ensure that nobody else encounters the same problems, reporting a group will help get it kicked off the platform.

The Ascension of Unwanted Telegram Groups

It’s not just the viral marketers and trolls you need to worry about. As addictive as Telegram’s 200,000-person group chats can be, they’re often a Trojan horse for aspiring online criminals.

Hidden in meme groups and soccer group chats are hackers who use Telegram as a hunting ground. While Telegram has its own defenses in place, it pays to be proactive against scammers and digital pickpockets that have infiltrated the app.

Most prevalent on Telegram are phishing scams. Hackers will pose as one of your friends or an innocent meme distributor, sending innocuous links that allow access to your whole computer if opened.

Other Tips for Improved Telegram Group Management

Besides blocking and reporting unwanted Telegram groups, there are a couple ways to optimize which groups can add you to begin with.

Adjust Group Permissions

Telegram allows you to fine-tune group permissions, so you can control exactly who can add you to groups. With stricter group permissions, you can avoid being added to groups from outside of your network. Follow these steps to tighten up your defenses against unwanted group invitations:

1. Open Telegram
   
2. Click on “Settings.”
   
3. Choose “Privacy and Security.”
   
4. Continue to “Groups & Channels.”
   
5. Look closely at the section titled “Who Can Add Me.” Change “Everybody” to “My Contacts.”
   

This feature is a super powerful defense against groups that proliferate on Telegram by adding every name they see. Unless your friends are part-time spammers too, this will limit your time on Telegram to the groups you want to interact with.

Mute Notifications

Another strong method of taking control of your Telegram is to mute notifications for groups you’re not actively participating in. This is one step down from blocking, so you can remain in the group chat while being spared constant interruptions you don’t care about.

Leave Groups That Are No Longer Relevant to You

As life goes on, you probably don’t care about the same Soundcloud rappers and cryptocurrencies you did in 2016. Say goodbye to the group chats that feel irrelevant and you’ll have more space for the friends you actually care about on Telegram.

There are lots of unsavory actors sowing mischief or spreading malware through Telegram’s group chats. Blocking these groups will permanently remove them from your feed, so you won’t get notifications every day from an army of overeager sports fans.

Why Blocking Unwanted Telegram Groups Is Good for Everyone

Remember, while you’re blocking a group that seems suspicious, stay far away from any links they’ve posted. By sending these groups to the stratosphere, everyone will have a better time on Telegram and nobody will wake up with an infected computer.

A More Controlled Telegram Experience

By fine-tuning your group permissions, you can curate your Telegram journey and avoid being added to groups without your consent. You’ll be free to doom-scroll, video call, and do anything else you feel like on Telegram.

Have you been added to any unwelcome Telegram groups? Which group chats are you still a part of? Let us know in the comments section below.