Telegram publishes no proxy list of its own, and public proxy addresses die quickly, so a copied list is the weakest option. Working connections come from a tg://proxy link supplied by an operator you trust, a paid private proxy, or a server you run yourself (Telegram MTProxy page).
Telegram’s apps accept two proxy types. MTProto needs a server, a port, and a secret. SOCKS5 needs a server and port, plus a username and password, only if the provider requires them. Add one under Settings > Data and Storage > Proxy Settings on Android, Settings > Data and Storage > Proxy on iOS, or Settings > Advanced > Connection Type on desktop. Switch it on, and a shield icon appears at the top of the chat list while it is connected.
What is the difference between MTProto and SOCKS5 proxies?
| Type | Credentials | Secret prefix | What it does | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTProto (classic) | Server, port, secret | None (32 hex characters) | Obfuscates traffic so it is harder to identify as Telegram (Telegram) | Some ISPs detect it by packet size (MTProxy README) |
| MTProto + padding | Server, port, secret | dd | Adds random padding to packets | The client must request it via the prefix |
| MTProto + Fake TLS | Server, port, secret | ee | Makes the connection resemble a TLS 1.2 session to a named domain (Telegram-iOS walkthrough) | The domain is embedded in the secret, so changing it breaks existing links |
| SOCKS5 | Server, port, optional username/password | None | General-purpose proxy | Proxies generally add no encryption; only MTProxy adds obfuscation |
A proxy link follows the pattern tg://proxy?server=SERVER&port=PORT&secret=SECRET. Opening one makes Telegram show a dialog with the fields pre-filled.
Where do Telegram proxy lists come from?
Telegram says operators publish credentials openly, and users find them through search or trusted channels. In practice, lists come from three places:
- Aggregator repositories. The Argh94 Proxy-List repo refreshes hourly and keeps MTProto entries in
mtproto.txt. It states that entries are scraped from public sources, uptime varies, and proxies should be tested before sensitive use. - Live directories. ECHO Proxy claims to test every proxy every 30 seconds. That figure is self-reported, and no independent measurement turned up.
- Paid private proxies. Sellers say that shared public MTProto endpoints deliver media slowly and vanish without notice. One reseller reports public servers lasting 10–15 minutes. Both are vendor claims, not tests.
Are free Telegram proxies safe?
They cannot read your messages, but they can see who is connecting. Telegram’s FAQ says an MTProxy operator cannot read messages or see a username or account ID, but can record the connecting IP address, connection times, and the fact that the IP is using Telegram.
Also Read
| The operator can see | The operator cannot see |
|---|---|
| Your IP address | Message content |
| When you connect | Username or account ID |
| That you are using Telegram | Your chat list and activity |
An unfamiliar channel appearing in your chat list is normal. Operators promote a channel to cover server costs (Telegram). Telegram advises layering a trusted VPN on top if authorities could tie your IP to your identity. A proxy you do not control is a trust decision, not a privacy tool.
Why does a Telegram proxy stay on “Connecting” or keep dropping?
A status that never leaves “Connecting” points to wrong credentials, a wrongly pasted secret, or a dead host. Re-paste the secret exactly and save several proxies. Telegram’s Auto-Switch Proxies option moves to the next saved proxy when the current one disconnects. If a network detects plain MTProxy by packet size, dd and ee secrets are designed to avoid that.
What is still uncertain?
- Uptime. Every reliability figure for free lists comes from a vendor or the list itself.
- Logging. Whether a specific free operator keeps logs cannot be checked from the client side. Telegram’s only guidance is to pick operators you trust.
- Longevity against blocking. Amnezia’s analysis says Telegram proxies on wired connections in Russia still work for now, but reports DNS and RTC request leaks.
- Block duration. India ordered Telegram blocked from 16 June 2026 until 22 June under Section 69A, tied to the NEET-UG re-exam (TechPolicy), and restoration afterwards was uneven. In Russia, Roskomnadzor confirmed throttling on 10 February 2026, and the restrictions were still in place in June.
Which Telegram proxy should you use?
- Short block, messaging only: save two or three MTProto links from different sources before a block hits, and turn on Auto-Switch Proxies. Once you are on a restricted network, reaching proxy providers gets harder.
- Voice and video calls: use SOCKS5 or a VPN. Telemt’s documentation says MTProxy does not carry calls.
- A network that fingerprints MTProxy: choose links with a
ddoreesecret. - Long-term reliability: run your own MTProxy or pay for a private endpoint. The official MTProxy README marks its Docker image as outdated, though Telegram’s page still recommends it. Community servers such as MTG and TeleMT support Fake TLS.
- Sensitive use: avoid scraped public proxies and layer in a trusted VPN, as Telegram advises.
Community Discussion
Join the conversation. Ask questions, share solutions, and help others.
Be the first to start the discussion!
