What Is a t.me Link? Every Telegram Link Format Explained
A complete reference to Telegram's t.me link domain - every format, what each one opens, safety tips, and how to create your own.
What Is t.me?
t.me is Telegram's official short-link domain. Every Telegram username, group, channel, and bot has a t.me URL that opens directly in the Telegram app. On mobile, a t.me link deep-links into the Telegram app. On desktop, it opens a chooser asking whether to use Telegram Desktop or the web version at web.telegram.org.
t.me links are the standard way to share Telegram contacts, groups, and channels outside of the app - in email signatures, social bios, websites, QR codes, and print materials.
Every t.me Link Format
| Format | Opens | Example |
|---|---|---|
t.me/username | User, bot, channel, or public group | t.me/durov |
t.me/+15551234567 | Chat with a phone number (privacy-gated) | |
t.me/+AbCdEf123 | Private group/channel invite (hash) | |
t.me/username?text=... | Chat with pre-filled draft message | t.me/mybot?text=Hello |
t.me/joinchat/XXXX | Legacy invite (deprecated 2021, still resolves) | |
t.me/addstickers/... | Sticker pack install | t.me/addstickers/Animals |
t.me/proxy?... | MTProto proxy configuration |
Note: The t.me/+ prefix is ambiguous - phone numbers are all digits; invite hashes contain letters.
How to Get Your Own t.me Link
- Open Telegram → Settings → Username
- Choose a username (5 - 31 characters, letters, numbers, underscores)
- Your link is instantly live at
t.me/yourusername
To create a shareable link with a pre-filled message or HTML button, use our free Telegram Link Generator.
Is t.me Safe?
The domain is legitimate - t.me is owned by Telegram. However, scammers sometimes share malicious group invites through it. Before clicking a t.me link from an unknown source: check who sent it, hover to verify the URL, and review the group before sharing personal info.
t.me vs. telegram.me
telegram.me is an older domain. All telegram.me links redirect to t.me automatically. They are identical.
Why Doesn't My t.me Link Work?
- Username typo: Must be spelled correctly (case-insensitive)
- Deleted account: The user deleted their Telegram account
- Privacy settings: Phone links only work if "Who can find me by phone number" is set to "Everybody"
- Revoked invite: Group admins can revoke invite links
- Region block: t.me is blocked in some countries
- Old joinchat format: Legacy links may not resolve after migration
Create Your t.me Link
Use the free Telegram Link Generator to build a shareable t.me URL, get HTML button code, and download a QR code - all without signing up.