Telegram Data in the Desktop App: What’s Stored Locally?

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Telegram has earned a reputation for being a fast, secure, and cloud-based messaging platform. While its mobile app gets most of the attention, the desktop version of Telegram is also widely used, especially by professionals and community managers. One question that often arises is: what Telegram data is stored locally on the desktop app?

Understanding how Telegram handles data on the telegram data desktop can help users make informed decisions about privacy, storage, and performance. Here's a detailed look at what’s stored locally when you use Telegram Desktop.

1. Chat Cache and Media Files
Telegram Desktop stores cached versions of your chats and media files locally to improve performance and reduce data usage. When you view a message, photo, or video, the app saves a copy in a local folder. This allows the content to load faster the next time you open it without re-downloading it from the cloud.

These cached files are usually stored in:

Windows: C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Telegram Desktop

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Telegram Desktop

Linux: ~/.local/share/TelegramDesktop

Cached data includes:

Photos, videos, and audio messages

Stickers and GIFs

Partial message histories (especially recent messages)

2. Login and Session Data
When you log into Telegram on your desktop, the app creates a session that is stored locally. This session includes your authentication token, which allows you to stay logged in without entering a code every time. While Telegram’s cloud-based model means messages aren't permanently stored on your device, session data remains active unless you manually log out.

This local session data is encrypted, but if someone gains access to your computer and files, they may be able to hijack your session. For added security, it's wise to enable two-factor authentication and regularly check active sessions under Settings > Devices.

3. Settings and Preferences
Telegram Desktop stores your local settings and preferences, such as:

Theme and UI customizations

Notification preferences

Chat background images

Language and font settings

These settings are specific to the device and won't carry over if you log into your Telegram account on another computer.

4. Downloaded Files
If you manually download documents, images, or videos from Telegram chats, these files are stored permanently in your chosen download folder. Unlike cached files, these are not automatically cleared and remain until you delete them. You can change the default download location in the app’s settings.

5. What’s Not Stored Locally
It’s important to note that Telegram does not store your full message history locally. Instead, all messages and cloud-based media are saved on Telegram’s servers. This is why you can access your entire chat history from any device instantly after logging in. Secret Chats, however, are device-specific and are not available on the desktop app.

Final Thoughts
Telegram Desktop balances local storage with its cloud-first approach. While cached media, login sessions, and preferences are stored on your device, your full chat history lives in the cloud. Knowing what data is kept locally can help you manage disk space, improve security, and better understand how Telegram functions on your desktop.