Telegram ends SMS codes: Sign in now with a login link or authenticator app

Table of Contents

• Understanding Telegram's Security Shift Away from SMS Codes

• How to Sign In Using Login Links

• Setting Up Authenticator Apps for Telegram Access

• Why This Change Matters for Your Account Security

• Comparing Login Methods: What Works Best

• Finding the Right Telegram Client for Better Experience

Telegram has made a significant move by phasing out SMS-based authentication codes. This change affects how millions of users access their accounts. Instead of relying on text messages, you now have two main options: using login links sent directly to your email or setting up an authenticator app. Understanding these new methods ensures you maintain secure access to your account while taking advantage of improved security features.

Understanding Telegram's Security Shift Away from SMS Codes

Telegram decided to eliminate SMS codes because text messages present a significant security risk. Hackers can intercept SMS messages through various methods, including SIM swapping and network-level attacks. By moving away from this authentication method, Telegram protects users from common threats that have plagued mobile messaging services for years.

The shift represents a broader industry trend toward stronger authentication mechanisms. Major tech companies have already recognized that SMS codes create security vulnerabilities. Telegram's decision aligns with best practices recommended by security experts and organizations like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), which has discouraged SMS-based two-factor authentication for critical accounts.

This transition also improves the user experience in several ways. You no longer wait for text messages to arrive, which sometimes face delivery delays. The new methods work instantly, providing faster access while maintaining stronger security protocols.

How to Sign In Using Login Links

Login links represent the simplest replacement for SMS codes. When you attempt to log into Telegram, the app sends a secure link directly to your registered email address. This method proves more reliable than SMS because email delivery is generally faster and more consistent.

Here's how the login link process works step by step:

First, you open Telegram or access the Telegram web version and enter your phone number. The system immediately sends a login link to your email. You click this link, and your account grants access automatically. The entire process takes less than a minute under normal circumstances.

Login links come with built-in security features. Each link expires after a set time period, preventing unauthorized access if someone gains access to your email account. The link only works once, meaning reusing the same link becomes impossible. Telegram also shows you the device attempting to log in, allowing you to reject suspicious login attempts before they succeed.

For users who frequently switch devices or travel internationally, login links offer significant advantages over SMS codes. You don't depend on receiving text messages, which may fail when roaming internationally or when networks experience congestion.

Setting Up Authenticator Apps for Telegram Access

Authenticator apps provide the strongest authentication method available for Telegram accounts. These apps generate time-based codes that change every 30 seconds, making them extremely difficult to compromise. Popular authenticator options include Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator, and Authy.

To enable authenticator-based authentication on Telegram, follow these steps:

Open Telegram and navigate to Settings, then Security. Look for the Two-Step Verification section and select Enable. You'll be asked to set a password as your recovery method. This password proves essential because if you lose access to your authenticator app, it becomes your only way to recover your account.

Once you've set your password, Telegram displays a QR code. Open your authenticator app and scan this code. The app links to your Telegram account and begins generating codes automatically. From that point forward, logging in requires entering a code from your authenticator app in addition to your phone number.

Authenticator apps work offline, which means you don't need an internet connection to generate codes. This reliability makes them ideal for users in areas with unstable connections. The time-based codes refresh automatically, and you simply enter the current code when prompted during login.

It's crucial to save your recovery codes when setting up an authenticator. Telegram provides a list of backup codes that work if you lose your authenticator app. Store these codes in a secure location separate from your phone, such as a password manager like 1Password or LastPass.

Why This Change Matters for Your Account Security

The move away from SMS codes directly impacts your account security and personal safety. Telegram users store sensitive communications, important files, and private conversations. Protecting these assets requires strong authentication mechanisms that prevent unauthorized access.

SMS codes became vulnerable because phone numbers can be compromised through various attack vectors. SIM swapping, where attackers convince your mobile carrier to transfer your number to a new SIM card, grants them access to all SMS messages. Telegram users who relied on SMS codes faced heightened risk from this attack type.

Login links and authenticator apps eliminate this vulnerability class. Your email account and authenticator app exist on your devices, making them far more difficult to compromise remotely. Even if someone obtains your phone number, they cannot access your Telegram account without also compromising your email or authenticator app.

This change also demonstrates Telegram's commitment to security standards. The platform positions itself as a privacy-focused alternative to mainstream messaging apps, and this authentication update reinforces that positioning. Users choosing Telegram gain reassurance that the company actively implements security best practices.

Comparing Login Methods: What Works Best

Both login links and authenticator apps provide strong security, but they suit different user needs and preferences. Understanding the differences helps you choose the method that works best for your situation.

Login links require active email access during login. This method works well if you regularly check your email and have access to your registered email account. The process feels intuitive because you simply click a link, similar to password reset flows on other websites. Login links don't require additional app installations or complex setup procedures.

Authenticator apps require setup but offer superior security for long-term account protection. Once configured, they work without needing email access. If an attacker compromises your email account, they still cannot access Telegram without your authenticator app. For users handling sensitive business communications or those with high-profile accounts, authenticator apps provide the extra security layer necessary.

Some users employ both methods as a redundancy strategy. You set up both login links and an authenticator app, ensuring you can access your account even if one method becomes temporarily unavailable. Telegram supports this dual-method approach, allowing you to maintain multiple authentication pathways.

For frequent travelers, login links prove more convenient because they don't depend on installing apps on borrowed or temporary devices. You simply access your email and click the login link. Authenticator apps require downloading and setting up apps beforehand, making them less practical for spontaneous travel situations.

Finding the Right Telegram Client for Better Experience

While the official Telegram app handles authentication changes seamlessly, third-party clients offer enhanced features that improve your overall messaging experience. Turrit represents a premium Telegram client that extends functionality while maintaining Telegram's security standards.

Turrit supports the new authentication methods and adds valuable features that the official app doesn't include. The client provides advanced translation capabilities with 99% accuracy AI translation, allowing you to translate messages before sending or view entire chats in your preferred language. This feature proves invaluable for users communicating across language barriers.

The translation features in Turrit include real-time chat translation with up to 95% accuracy, page translation for links opened in the app, and AI calibration for translated messages using models like Claude and Gemini. You get up to 30 calibrations daily, ensuring consistent accuracy across your conversations.

Turrit includes performance enhancements that make downloading faster and more efficient. Upload and download speeds reach up to 20x faster than standard connections, and you enjoy unlimited cloud storage for your files. These features matter when you work with large files or maintain extensive chat archives.

The client offers enhanced content discovery through Channel Flow and Video Flow features. Channel Flow lets you browse the latest updates from subscribed channels, while Video Flow creates a TikTok-like scrolling experience for video content. You can save favorite videos and download them 20x faster to your saved files.

Turrit provides comprehensive privacy controls that go beyond the official app. Privacy Detection checks your account's privacy score and lets you enhance it with a single click. You can set keyword blocking for advertising messages, filter user messages in groups, and control various privacy-related settings.

For power users managing multiple accounts, Turrit supports logging into 10 different accounts simultaneously. This capability proves essential for business users, community managers, or anyone handling multiple identities. The interface lets you pin 10 chats across folders, keeping your most important conversations immediately accessible.

Turrit customization options let you personalize your experience. You can switch between side navigation and bottom navigation layouts, choose from different app icons, adjust sticker sizes, and set video quality preferences. The client remembers your settings and applies them across all your devices.

Advanced video playback features in Turrit include gesture controls for volume and brightness adjustment. Swipe up or down to control volume and brightness, swipe left or right to adjust video progress, and tap to switch between videos. These gesture controls eliminate the need to exit the video player and adjust phone settings manually.

Content search capabilities in Turrit help you discover new groups, channels, and bots. The improved search function includes an Explore section that surfaces relevant results based on your interests and search history. Channel owners can submit their communities for better discoverability.

Setting up authentication in Turrit works identically to the official app. You proceed through the same login link or authenticator setup process, and your authentication settings sync across all Telegram clients. The new authentication methods work seamlessly with third-party clients that maintain Telegram's protocol compatibility.

For group administrators, Turrit offers group remarks that remain visible only to you. This feature helps you keep track of why you joined certain groups or what purpose they serve without cluttering your chat list. Combined with the ability to manage multiple accounts, this feature simplifies coordinating across different groups and channels.

The simplified design and interface of Turrit makes navigation intuitive even for users new to third-party Telegram clients. The layout closely mirrors the official app while adding advanced features in logical locations within settings and menus.

When you transition to Turrit, you maintain full access to all Telegram's core features including the new authentication methods. The client simply adds layers of functionality that enhance productivity, security, and personalization without compromising the reliable messaging platform you depend on.