How To Delete Contacts From Telegram

Telegram automatically syncs contacts from your phone for easy searching, but eventually, your contact list may be filled with unnecessary and outdated contacts. To remove contacts from Telegram, you can delete them from the Telegram app, which will remove the contact from your Telegram app contact list but not from your device’s native contact app. Until February 2026, you can delete contacts individually, in bulk, or all synced contacts at once.

Important Notes:

• Deleting a contact from Telegram does not prevent the user from accessing your account or remove any chat history—you can still send them messages using their username or number.
• Deleting contacts from Telegram removes them from all your devices because they are stored on Telegram’s servers.
• Make sure you have the latest version of Telegram installed for optimal functionality.

Deleting Individual or Multiple Contacts on Mobile (Android & iOS)

On Android

1. Open the Telegram app and click on the hamburger menu (three lines ☰) in the top left corner.

2. Click on Contacts from the menu.

1. Select a contact by long-pressing on it (for multiple, select others too).

2. Click on the trash icon or Delete at the top/bottom.

3. Click on the confirmation pop-up.

On iOS

1. Open Telegram and navigate to the Chats tab if you're not there already.

2. Click on the hamburger menu or search for the contact.

3. Tap the contact's name to enter the conversation, then tap their profile picture in the top.

4. Tap Edit (pencil icon) in the top-right corner, then Delete Contact at the bottom.

For multiple contacts: Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Contacts, but for multiple deletion, use the all-synced method below.

Deleting Contacts on Desktop (Windows/Mac/Web)

1. Open Telegram Desktop or Web.

2. Click the hamburger menu (three lines) in the top-left corner.

3. Click Contacts.

1. Right-click on a contact (or Ctrl-click on Mac) and select Delete Contact, or multiple and delete.

2. Confirm.

How to Delete All Synced Contacts at Once

This is a bulk process that removes all Telegram-synced contacts from your account on all devices, which is great for a clean start.

1. Open the Telegram app and navigate to Settings (located in the hamburger menu on Android, bottom tab on iOS, and menu on desktop).

2. Tap Privacy and Security.

3. Scroll down to the Contacts or Data Settings section.

4. Tap Delete Synced Contacts.

1. Click yes in the confirmation dialog box, which has no undo.

2. You can also turn off the Sync Contacts feature to avoid re-syncing from your phone.

Tips for Effective Contact Management

• Prevent Re-Syncing: After deleting contacts, turn off Sync Contacts in Privacy and Security settings to prevent automatic re-addition.
• Privacy Boost: Deleting contacts helps in lowering visibility in “People Nearby” or suggestions.
• What Happens Next: Even after deletion, contacts can be searched if you know their username. To completely sever ties, block them from their profile.
• Troubleshooting: If contacts reappear, check the permissions for Telegram on your phone or restart the Telegram app.
• Alternative: If you are a serious privacy enthusiast, you can unsync and add contacts manually that you want.

By following these tips, you can manage your Telegram contacts effectively. In case there are any changes to the interface with new updates, you can refer to the Telegram help guide.