MTProto vs SOCKS5 proxy for Telegram
Telegram apps accept two main proxy types. MTProto is Telegram’s own and is built to get past blocking. SOCKS5 is a general standard used by many apps. They fail for different reasons, so knowing which one you have is the first troubleshooting step.
| MTProto | SOCKS5 | |
|---|---|---|
| What you enter | Server, port and secret | Server, port, and a username and password if the proxy has a login |
| Link | tg://proxy or t.me/proxy | tg://socks or t.me/socks |
| Disguise | dd adds random padding; FakeTLS imitates an ordinary HTTPS connection to a website | None: the SOCKS5 handshake is easy to recognise |
| Typical source | Free public servers shared in channels and lists | Paid proxies that also serve browsers and other apps |
| Sponsored channel | Can add a “Proxy sponsor” channel to your chat list | Never |
| Other apps | Telegram only | Any app that supports SOCKS5 |
| Your messages | Still encrypted by Telegram | Still encrypted by Telegram |
Which one to use
- Telegram is blocked and you need a free option: MTProto with a FakeTLS or dd secret.
- You already pay for a SOCKS5 proxy and it is not blocked on your network: SOCKS5 works fine.
- Other apps are blocked too: neither covers them. Use a VPN: proxy or VPN.
How to tell which one you have
- Look at the link.
proxy?…&secret=… is MTProto. socks?…&user=…&pass=… is SOCKS5.
- Look at what you were given without a link.
A long string of letters and digits called a secret: MTProto. A login and password: SOCKS5, or HTTP, which only Telegram Desktop accepts.
- Choose the same type under Add Proxy.
Android: MTProto Proxy or SOCKS5 Proxy. iPhone: MTProto or SOCKS5. Telegram Desktop: pick the type in the Add proxy window.
Try a server that passed our last check
These servers passed a full MTProto handshake from our checker. List built 1 November 2026 at 11:33 UTC; it is rebuilt every 20 minutes. A server that works for our checker can still be blocked on your network.
- All 200 servers in our live list are MTProto: 7 FakeTLS, 77 dd and 116 plain.
- On 9 October 2026, FakeTLS made up 5% of the 200 working proxies we analysed and dd 38%. What 200 working proxies look like.
Questions
Is an MTProto proxy safer than SOCKS5?
Neither can read your messages, because Telegram encrypts them. Both owners see your IP address. MTProto is better at hiding that you use Telegram at all.
Why do free proxies use MTProto?
It is built into every Telegram app, needs no login, and lets owners show a sponsored channel that pays for the server. Is a free proxy safe?
Can I turn a SOCKS5 proxy into an MTProto one?
No. They are different server programs. You need a server that runs an MTProto proxy.