Set up an MTProto proxy in Telegram Desktop for Windows
Use a proxy link to hand the server, port and secret to Telegram Desktop, or add the same details yourself in Connection type. Then confirm that chats load before you rely on the connection.
Open a proxy link on Windows
Install and open Telegram Desktop first. A t.me/proxy link can launch the desktop app from your browser; a browser permission prompt may appear before Telegram opens.
- Choose a server below and click Open in Telegram. If Windows asks which app should handle the link, choose Telegram Desktop.
- In the Telegram proxy dialog, compare the server and port with the row you selected, then choose Connect Proxy.
- Return to the chat list and wait for messages to load. A saved proxy can be changed later in Connection type.
These links come from the existing periodically refreshed MTProto snapshot. A successful check by our server does not guarantee that the server is reachable from your network.
Enter server details in Telegram Desktop
Manual entry helps when a browser refuses to pass the link to the app. An MTProto proxy needs a server, numeric port and secret. Copying only the server address is not enough.
- Open the Telegram Desktop menu ☰, then Settings → Advanced → Connection type.
- Select Use custom proxy, choose Add proxy, then select MTProto. Menu wording may differ slightly between desktop versions.
- Enter Server, Port and Secret from a trusted proxy link. Save, select that proxy, and enable the custom proxy connection.
Check the connection and switch servers
A working connection should show the proxy as connected with a ping in Connection type, and a recently updated chat should load. A ping alone does not prove that media or messages can reach Telegram through your network.
If the status stays Connecting or Unavailable, return to Settings → Advanced → Connection type and select another saved proxy. If direct Telegram access works, disable Use custom proxy to compare. Refresh the live list before trying another server.
Windows-specific problems
The link opens Telegram Web
Telegram Web cannot use an MTProto proxy. Install Telegram Desktop, then reopen the link or add its details manually.
The browser asks to open an external app
Allow it to open Telegram Desktop. If the prompt never appears, copy the link into a browser address bar or use manual entry.
A different Telegram app opens
Windows may associate tg:// links with another client. Use the t.me/proxy link or set up the proxy inside the Desktop app you actually use.
Connected, but chats do not update
Test a recent chat and try another server. Local firewalls, office networks or the server itself can interrupt traffic even when a status briefly appears healthy.
Proxy settings in Telegram Desktop affect Telegram, not all Windows traffic. A public proxy can see your IP address and connection metadata; choose an operator you trust.
See the full live proxy list · Check a proxy link · Telegram Desktop proxy errors · All proxy errors · Telegram’s official proxy instructions