How to Export and Sync Telegram Contacts
All Telegram contacts are saved on the app’s servers in the cloud. However, some users who use Telegram for business and marketing may want to sync their phone contacts with Telegram. Others may want to export their Telegram contacts. Here’s how you can do both.
Table of Contents
Sync Telegram Contacts
The steps to sync Telegram contacts are the same on both Android and iOS but I will be using the latter for this guide.
1.Open Telegram on your phone, go toSettingstab at the bottom, and selectPrivacy and Securityoption. Android users must open thehamburger menu (three-line icon)to find Settings.
2.SelectData Settingsand then enableSync Contactsoption. Android users will find the Sync Contacts option directly under Security and Privacy menu.
It may take a few moments before phone contacts are synced to Telegram.
Must Read:How to Download Multiple Photos or Videos from Telegram
Delete Synced Telegram Contacts
The process of syncing phone contacts with your Telegram account is reversible. You can disable sync and also delete synced contacts from Telegram servers easily. Disabling will only stop syncing new contacts with your Telegram account. You must delete it.
Note:If Sync Contacts option is enabled, the contacts will re-sync automatically in the background again. To avoid that, disable Sync Contacts option first and then delete synced contacts to remove them from Telegram servers.
1.Go back toSettings > Privacy and Security > Data Settings. DisableSync Contacts
2.SelectDelete Synced Contactsoption below. Android users, again, will find this option in the Privacy and Security menu itself. Tap onDeleteto confirm.
Not sure what that icon means on Telegram? Here is alist of all icons and symbols on Telegram and what they mean.
Export Telegram Contacts
You could export contacts in different formats in older versions of Telegram. However, Telegram dev team decided to remove that feature. You can still export Telegram data, including contacts, from the desktop app though.
Note:This below method won’t work on the web app. It won’t work if you are using anall-in-one app manager like Ramboxeither.
1.Open theTelegram desktop appand download the setup file. Install Telegram on your computer. Sign in by scanning the QR code.
2.Click on thehamburger menu (three-line icon)and go toSettings > Advanced.
3.SelectSettingsfrom the sidebar menu.
4.Click onAdvanced.
5.Scroll to the bottom of the menu and click onExport Telegram data.
6.In the pop-up, you can choose what kind of data you want to export. SelectContacts listhere and then click onExportbutton at the bottom.
7.You will receive a message from the official Telegram account with details of data requested, IP address, device name, etc. Tap onAllowat the bottom of the message to approve request.
8.Once allowed, the HTML file will be saved to your computer’s default download folder.
9.Click onexport_results.htmlfile to open the local link in your default browser. From there, you’re able to view all your contacts.
10.This is how it looks. Just click onContactsto view.
That’s it.
Pro Tip:Where to Find Telegram Downloaded Files on Android, iPhone, and PC
- How to convert HTML to Excel format?
There are plenty ofweb toolsthat you can find online using Google to convert contacts saved from Telegram inHTML format to Excel. They are mostly free to use but require you to upload the file. The success will vary on the type and quality of the tool.
- Can you select which contacts to be exported?
No. It will export all the contacts in one go. Once the data is converted into a spreadsheet, you can easily manipulate it however you want.
Did you know you can nowuse ChatGPT right inside Telegram? You can also add the bot to your channel or group if you want. Learn how.
Gaurav Bidasaria
Gaurav is an editor here at TechWiser but also contributes as a writer. He has more than 10 years of experience as a writer and has written how-to guides, comparisons, listicles, and in-depth explainers on Windows, Android, web, and cloud apps, and the Apple ecosystem.
He loves tinkering with new gadgets and learning about new happenings in the tech world.
He has previously worked on Guiding Tech, Make Tech Easier, and other prominent tech blogs and has over 1000+ articles that have been read over 50 million times.
