Telegram has grown rapidly to become one of the most popular messaging platforms due to its focus on speed, privacy, and versatility. With its wide array of features and cross-platform functionality, users frequently rely on the Telegram Desktop app for managing their communications on PC. A common task that users seek to accomplish is selecting multiple chats simultaneously — whether for organizational, deletion, or archiving purposes. Unfortunately, Telegram Desktop does not offer a very obvious or intuitive way of doing this, which can lead to confusion.
TL;DR: The Telegram Desktop app does not natively allow multiple chat selection for bulk actions such as deletion or archiving through right-click or standard selection mechanics. However, there are workarounds and structured steps users can follow depending on their objectives. Using folders, search functions, and message-specific actions may help manage chats in groups, albeit with some limitations. Caution is advised when using third-party solutions that promise extended chat control.
Understanding Telegram Desktop’s Interface Limitations
Telegram’s desktop application is designed with a sleek and minimal interface focused on single-chat interaction. Unlike typical file explorers or email clients, it lacks a check-box style or shift-click mechanism to select multiple conversations within the chat list. This design decision prioritizes responsiveness and simplicity, but it does constrain some bulk management capabilities.
Therefore, before attempting to select or manage multiple chats, it’s essential to understand what you want to accomplish — whether it’s deleting several chats, moving them into custom folders, or muting a group of them. Each of these objectives has different feasibility levels on Telegram Desktop.
Common Goals for Selecting Multiple Chats
Users often attempt to select multiple chats simultaneously for the following reasons:
- Deleting old or inactive conversations
- Archiving chats to reduce clutter
- Moving chats into folders for better organization
- Silencing notifications for a group of chats
Currently, Telegram Desktop allows users to perform some of these actions, though mostly on a one-by-one basis. Below, we break down how to accomplish each goal with practical steps and workarounds.
How to Delete Multiple Chats on Telegram Desktop
As of the latest updates, Telegram Desktop does not support batch deletion of chats through standard multi-selection. However, here’s how you can manage this manually with some efficiency:
- Open Telegram Desktop.
- Right-click on a chat you want to delete.
- Select Delete Chat from the dropdown menu.
- Confirm when prompted.
- Repeat for each chat you want to remove.
To speed up the process:
- Sort your chat list by unread status or pinned messages first.
- Use the search bar to find specific people or groups quickly.
Using Folders to Organize Chats
One of the more powerful features Telegram introduced in reaction to users’ needs for better chat management is Folders. While folders do not allow multi-selection during setup, they offer ongoing organization benefits.
Here’s how to create and utilize folders:
- Click the three-line hamburger menu (☰) on the top-left corner of Telegram Desktop.
- Click on Settings, then look for Folders.
- Click Create New Folder.
- Choose the type of chats to include: Groups, Channels, or Individuals.
- Add specific chats to the folder using Telegram’s search function.
It’s important to note: You must add chats one at a time while creating the folder, but once created, these folders act much like filters, helping streamline your viewing and prioritization of daily conversations.
Muting or Archiving Chats Efficiently
Though Telegram Desktop doesn’t allow for selecting multiple chats to mute or archive simultaneously, you can still mute or archive chats faster if you follow an ordered procedure:
Steps to Mute a Chat
- Right-click the chat in the list.
- Choose Mute Notifications.
- Select the mute duration (1 hour to forever).
Steps to Archive a Chat
- Right-click the chat in the list.
- Click Archive Chat.
Archived chats remain accessible at the top of your chat list under an expandable Archived Chats label. You can also unarchive them at any time by sending a message within the archived conversation or manually reversing the status.
Like deletion, doing this manually can be time-consuming. However, if you combine this task with folders, you can manage muted or archived content indirectly more efficiently.
A Workaround Approach Using Telegram Mobile
Interestingly, Telegram’s mobile version is a bit more flexible in certain cases. For instance, in the mobile app:
- You can long-press one chat and then tap to select multiple others for bulk actions like archiving or deleting.
If you’re heavily reliant on Telegram Desktop, using a synced mobile device to perform bulk chat management can simplify your workflow, after which the effects will automatically synchronize with the desktop client.
Are Third-Party Tools or Bots a Solution?
Various third-party tools and browser extensions claim to offer extended functionalities for Telegram, including chat management features. However, extreme caution is advised. Telegram’s encryption and privacy mechanisms do not support external automation or unauthorized access.
- Many browser extensions require session tokens, potentially compromising your account.
- Telegram bots have limited interface permissions and cannot delete or archive private chats from your end.
Unless a tool is officially sanctioned or built into the Telegram ecosystem (e.g., via open-source extensions listed in GitHub repositories with high reputation), it is recommended to avoid using them.
Future Possibilities: Requests and Feedback
Telegram developers frequently update the platform based on user feedback. As the user base grows and the demand for bulk actions becomes more common, there is a strong chance that multi-selection of chats will be introduced in future builds.
To support this development:
- Provide feedback through Telegram’s @suggestions channel.
- Engage in community forums and highlight this need.
Constructive, collective requests increase the likelihood that developers will prioritize this feature.
Conclusion
While Telegram Desktop currently lacks a native feature for selecting multiple chats simultaneously, users can still achieve similar results with methodical manual actions, the use of folders, and occasional reliance on the mobile version for batch operations. As the platform evolves, there’s hope for enhanced functionality in this regard. Until then, utilizing the tools available within Telegram responsibly and strategically can still yield effective chat management results without compromising your privacy or security.
