Topics: one group, many threads
What it is
Topics split one group into threads, like a forum. Each topic has its own chat history, shared media and notification settings, and any group can turn them on, whatever its size. The General topic keeps service messages and the history from before topics; admins can rename or hide it, but nobody can delete it. Since June 2025 topics can show as tabs, in a wide side bar or a slim top bar, and anyone can switch to View as Messages to read everything as one chat.
How to do it
- Open the group's settings. iOS: tap the group photo › Edit. Android: tap the… Open the group's settings. iOS: tap the group photo › Edit. Android: tap the group name › pencil icon. Desktop: … › Manage group.
- Switch on Topics.
- Back in the group, create a topic: a name of up to 128 characters and an icon.
- Decide who may start topics: Permissions › Create topics covers members, while admins need the Manage topics right.
- Pin up to 5 key topics, and use Close topic when a thread should take no new messages.
Watch out
- Deleting a topic deletes all of its messages.
- The colour of a default topic icon can't be changed once the topic exists.
- Topics can't be switched on in a group linked to a channel for comments.
- A basic group has to become a supergroup first; Telegram does that automatically.
With Gem
Gem does nothing with topics today. Nearby, in a connected group it answers questions it knows from your knowledge with a link to the article; when it doesn't know, it stays silent and the question lands in your Unanswered list.
Sources
- https://telegram.org/blog/ultimate-privacy-topics-2-0
- https://telegram.org/blog/direct-to-channel-trim-voice-and-more
- https://core.telegram.org/api/forum
- https://core.telegram.org/method/channels.toggleForum