What is a Telegram Deep Link?
A Telegram deep link is a specialized URL structure designed to interact directly with the
Telegram application. Unlike a standard webpage link, a deep link instructs the device's
operating system to bypass the web browser and instantly open the native Telegram app (on iOS,
Android, Desktop, or Web), taking the user to a specific destination or triggering a specific
action.
These are highly valuable for marketers, community managers, and bot developers because they
create a frictionless user experience. Instead of telling a user, "Open Telegram and search for
my channel," you simply provide a link that does the work for them.
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Understanding `t.me` vs `tg://`
When working with Telegram routing, you will encounter two primary schemas. It is crucial to
understand when to use which.
1. The Universal Web Link (`t.me`)
The https://t.me/... format is a web-based redirector hosted by Telegram. When a
user clicks this link, it opens a standard webpage in their browser. This webpage acts as a
"landing page" showing the name and logo of the channel, bot, or chat.
Why use it? It is the safest and most universally compatible link format. If
the user does not have Telegram installed, the webpage provides a convenient "Download Telegram"
button. It is the perfect choice for sharing on social media (Twitter, Instagram bio), embedding
in emails, or linking from external websites.
2. The Native App Protocol (`tg://`)
The tg://... format is a custom URI scheme registered by the Telegram app upon
installation. It bypasses the browser entirely.
Why use it? Speed. If you are 100% certain the user is already on a device with
Telegram installed (for example, you are building an inline web-app inside Telegram, or placing
a button inside a mobile app), clicking a tg:// link is instantaneous.
Warning: If a user clicks a tg:// link on a device without Telegram
installed, their browser will show an ugly "Unable to open link" error. Therefore, it is
generally not recommended for public-facing social media.
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Linking to Channels and Users
The most basic form of a deep link directs traffic to a public channel, a public group, or a
specific user's profile.
- Web:
https://t.me/username
- Native:
tg://resolve?domain=username
This is the lifeblood of Telegram community growth. By placing these links in your YouTube
descriptions, TikTok bios, and blog posts, you funnel external traffic directly into your
Telegram ecosystem where engagement rates are significantly higher than traditional email
newsletters.
Passing Parameters to Bots (The `?start=` Command)
For bot developers, deep linking is incredibly powerful thanks to the start parameter. When a
user clicks a bot deep link, it opens the bot's chat and pre-fills the "START" button. If a
parameter is provided, it is silently passed to the bot when the user clicks START.
- Web:
https://t.me/BotUsername?start=parameter
- Native:
tg://resolve?domain=BotUsername&start=parameter
Use Cases for Bot Parameters:
- Referral Tracking: Assign each user a unique ID. Generate a link like
?start=ref_12345. When a new user starts the bot, you know user 12345 invited
them.
- Deep Content Linking: Send a user directly to a specific product or article
within your bot (e.g.,
?start=product_99).
- Authentication: Bind an external web session to a Telegram account using a
secure, one-time token.
Note: Parameters are limited to 64 base64url characters (A-Z, a-z, 0-9, _, -).
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The Telegram "Share" Link
If you want users to promote your content, the Share link is your best friend. Instead of
linking to a specific destination, this link opens the user's Telegram app and prompts them to
select a chat, group, or channel to forward a message to.
- Web:
https://t.me/share/url?url=...&text=...
- Native:
tg://msg_url?url=...&text=...
You can provide a URL, text, or both. Both the URL and the text must be strictly URL-encoded
(which our generator handles automatically). Implementing a "Share on Telegram" button on your
blog using this structure is a highly effective way to create viral content loops within the
app.