Telegram Android UI Guide: Disable Liquid Glass and Enable Sidebar Layout

Table of Contents

• What Is Liquid Glass in Telegram Android

• Why You Might Want to Disable Liquid Glass

• Understanding Sidebar Layout Benefits

• Step-by-Step Guide to Disable Liquid Glass

• How to Enable Sidebar Layout

• Customizing Your Interface After Changes

• Troubleshooting Common Issues

• Exploring Better Telegram Client Options

When you use Telegram on your Android device, you encounter various interface design choices that affect how you interact with the app. One of these design elements is Liquid Glass, a visual effect that creates a frosted glass appearance in certain parts of the interface. Many users find that disabling this effect and switching to a sidebar layout improves their overall experience. This guide walks you through the process of turning off Liquid Glass and enabling the sidebar layout on your Android device.

What Is Liquid Glass in Telegram Android

Liquid Glass is a visual design element in Telegram that applies a frosted or blurred glass effect to certain interface components. This effect typically appears in the background of menus, chat headers, and other UI elements. The design creates a modern, sleek appearance by layering semi-transparent elements over the background content.

The Liquid Glass effect uses your device's processing power to render these visual effects in real-time. While this creates an aesthetically pleasing interface, it can impact performance on older devices or those with limited resources. The effect also changes how text and buttons appear against the background, which some users find less readable than traditional flat design.

Why You Might Want to Disable Liquid Glass

Several practical reasons exist for disabling the Liquid Glass effect on your Android device. First, performance improvement stands as the primary reason. Devices with lower specifications benefit significantly from removing visual effects that consume processing power. Your battery life extends when your device doesn't work as hard to render these effects continuously.

Second, readability matters for many users. The frosted glass effect sometimes makes text harder to read, especially in bright sunlight or on screens with lower contrast ratios. Disabling Liquid Glass creates a cleaner, more straightforward interface where text stands out clearly against solid backgrounds.

Third, personal preference plays a role. Some users simply prefer the minimalist aesthetic of a flat design without visual effects. The sidebar layout offers a more traditional navigation approach that feels familiar to users coming from other messaging applications.

Understanding Sidebar Layout Benefits

The sidebar layout in Telegram Android positions your navigation elements along the left or right edge of your screen. This layout style offers several advantages over the default bottom navigation approach. Your chats and folders appear in a vertical list that you can scroll through easily, keeping important conversations within constant view.

The sidebar layout maximizes your screen space for actual conversations. Instead of dedicating horizontal space at the bottom of your screen to navigation buttons, the sidebar uses a narrow vertical strip. This means your chat messages and media display in a larger area, improving readability and reducing the need to scroll.

Navigation becomes faster with the sidebar layout. You can quickly jump between chats by tapping items in the sidebar without waiting for animations or transitions. The layout also accommodates more information at once, showing chat previews and unread message counts more clearly.

Step-by-Step Guide to Disable Liquid Glass

Follow these steps to disable the Liquid Glass effect on your Telegram Android application:

Step 1: Open Telegram Settings
Launch the Telegram app on your Android device. Tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the bottom right corner of your screen. This opens the main menu where you access all settings options.

Step 2: Navigate to Appearance Settings
In the menu, select "Settings" and then look for "Appearance" or "Display" options. The exact naming depends on your Telegram version, but this section controls all visual elements of the interface.

Step 3: Find Visual Effects Options
Within the Appearance settings, scroll down to find options related to visual effects, animations, or interface style. Look for terms like "Liquid Glass," "Glass Effect," "Blur Effect," or "Visual Effects."

Step 4: Disable the Effect
Tap the toggle switch next to the Liquid Glass or glass effect option to turn it off. The switch changes color or position to indicate the effect is now disabled. Your interface immediately updates to remove the frosted glass appearance.

Step 5: Confirm Changes
Exit the settings menu by tapping the back arrow or swiping back. Your Telegram interface now displays without the Liquid Glass effect, showing solid backgrounds instead of frosted glass elements.

How to Enable Sidebar Layout

After disabling Liquid Glass, you can now enable the sidebar layout to complete your interface customization:

Step 1: Return to Settings
Open the Telegram app and access the Settings menu again through the hamburger menu in the bottom right corner.

Step 2: Access Layout Options
Look for "Chat Settings," "Interface," or "Layout" options within the Settings menu. Different Telegram versions may label this section differently, but it controls how your navigation elements arrange on screen.

Step 3: Select Sidebar Navigation
Find the option for "Navigation Layout" or "Chat Layout." You see options for "Bottom Navigation" and "Sidebar Navigation." Tap on "Sidebar Navigation" to select this layout style.

Step 4: Choose Your Sidebar Position
Some Telegram versions allow you to choose whether the sidebar appears on the left or right side of your screen. Select your preferred position based on how you hold your device and your personal comfort.

Step 5: Apply and Observe
The layout changes immediately. Your chat list now appears in a vertical sidebar instead of at the bottom of your screen. Navigation buttons and folder options display along this sidebar for quick access.

Customizing Your Interface After Changes

Once you disable Liquid Glass and enable the sidebar layout, you can further customize your Telegram interface to match your preferences:

Adjust Theme Colors
Navigate to Settings > Appearance and select from available themes. Telegram offers light, dark, and system-based themes. Choose the option that provides the best contrast and readability for your eyes.

Modify Font Sizes
In the Appearance settings, locate the font size adjustment slider. Increase or decrease the text size to match your reading preference. Larger fonts improve readability, while smaller fonts show more content on screen.

Customize Chat Backgrounds
Access Settings > Chat Settings to change your chat background. You can select solid colors, patterns, or upload custom images. A personalized background makes your Telegram experience feel more unique.

Configure Notification Settings
Go to Settings > Notifications and Sounds to customize how you receive alerts. You can set different notification sounds for different chats, enable or disable vibration, and configure do-not-disturb schedules.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sidebar Not Appearing
If the sidebar doesn't appear after enabling it, restart your Telegram application completely. Close the app from your recent apps menu and reopen it. If the issue persists, check that you have the latest version of Telegram installed from the Google Play Store.

Liquid Glass Still Visible
Some interface elements may retain a slight glass effect even after disabling the setting. This occurs because certain UI components use different rendering systems. The main effect should be gone, but minor visual elements might remain. This is normal behavior.

Performance Still Slow
If your device still runs slowly after disabling Liquid Glass, check for other performance-heavy settings. Disable animations in your Android system settings, close background apps, and ensure you have sufficient free storage space on your device.

Layout Reverting to Default
If your sidebar layout reverts to bottom navigation after closing the app, ensure you properly saved your changes. Return to Settings > Chat Settings and confirm the sidebar layout option is still selected. Some devices require you to restart the app for changes to persist.

Exploring Better Telegram Client Options

While the official Telegram app offers customization options, some users seek enhanced functionality and additional features. Third-party Telegram clients provide alternative interfaces and capabilities that the official app doesn't include.

Turrit represents a modern alternative Telegram client that builds upon the official app's foundation while adding powerful customization options. This client allows you to switch between sidebar and bottom navigation layouts with greater flexibility than the official app provides.

Turrit offers several advantages over the standard Telegram experience. The client includes advanced message filtering capabilities that let you block specific keywords and hide spam messages automatically. You can customize your app icon to match your home screen theme, choosing from multiple color options.

The Turrit client supports logging into up to 10 accounts simultaneously, compared to the official app's limit of 3 accounts. This feature proves invaluable for users managing multiple Telegram accounts for different purposes. You receive notifications from all accounts and can switch between them seamlessly.

Turrit includes real-time translation features that work across entire chats. The AI-powered translator achieves up to 99% accuracy and translates messages before you send them. You can also translate web pages opened in the in-app browser, making international communication effortless.

The client provides enhanced cloud storage capabilities with unlimited upload and download speeds. Store images, videos, music, and files in your cloud drive without worrying about storage limits or subscription fees. Share your cloud drive with others or access drives shared with you.

Turrit offers a music playlist feature that lets you enjoy your favorite songs directly within the app. Mark your favorite music files and add them to custom playlists. Set a playback timer to automatically pause after a specific duration, perfect for falling asleep to music or maintaining focus during work sessions.

The privacy detection feature in Turrit helps protect your personal information. Check your privacy score and boost your protection with one tap. The app prevents phone number leaks and blocks unwanted direct messages from strangers, keeping your account secure.

Turrit includes a content search feature that helps you explore more groups, channels, and bots. The improved keyword search function makes discovering new communities easier. Channel owners can submit their groups and channels to increase visibility within the search results.

The video flow feature in Turrit works like scrolling through TikTok, letting you browse video content in a continuous stream. Download videos up to 20 times faster to your saved files. Use gesture controls to adjust volume and brightness by swiping up or down, or control video progress by swiping left or right.

For users who want maximum control over their Telegram experience, Turrit provides the customization and features that go beyond what the official app offers. The combination of enhanced layout options, advanced filtering, multi-account support, and innovative features makes Turrit an excellent choice for power users and those seeking a more personalized messaging experience.

Whether you choose to customize the official Telegram app by disabling Liquid Glass and enabling sidebar layout, or you explore alternative clients like Turrit, the goal remains the same: creating a messaging interface that works best for your needs and preferences. Take time to experiment with different settings and layouts to discover what feels most natural and productive for your daily communication.