> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.verba.ink/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Telegram module

> Connect a BotFather bot token for Telegram DMs, groups, commands, media, and streamed replies.

## What the Telegram module supports

Telegram verbs support:

* Direct messages and group chats
* Text and photo understanding
* Image generation
* Web search, memory, and social auto-state
* Emoji reactions, relevant GIFs, stickers, custom emoji, and native polls
* Multi-message replies
* Edit-in-place response streaming on Ultra
* Slash commands registered with Telegram

## Before you connect

Create a bot with Telegram's `@BotFather` and copy its bot token. Treat that
token like a password: anyone holding it can control the Telegram bot.

## Connect the bot

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Telegram module">
    Open your verb, select **Modules**, then choose **Telegram**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste the BotFather token">
    Verba validates the token with Telegram before saving it. A token already
    connected to another verb cannot be connected twice.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Finish connection">
    Verba encrypts the saved token, configures a secret webhook, and registers
    the supported commands.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the bot to a group or open its DM">
    DMs are ready immediately. In groups, mention or reply to the bot, or use
    `/activate_channel` to let it answer without a mention.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Commands

| Command              | What it does                                          | Permission notes                         |
| -------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------- |
| `/help`              | Shows available Telegram commands                     | Everyone                                 |
| `/ping`              | Checks whether the bot is responding                  | Everyone                                 |
| `/dashboard`         | Opens the Verba dashboard                             | Everyone                                 |
| `/generate <prompt>` | Generates an image when image generation is enabled   | Everyone                                 |
| `/reset`             | Clears conversation history                           | Group admins in groups; available in DMs |
| `/activate_channel`  | Enables replies without mentions in the current group | Group admins                             |
| `/remove_channel`    | Returns the group to mention/reply routing            | Group admins                             |

## Reply routing

* In DMs, every incoming user message addresses the verb.
* In groups, the verb answers when it is mentioned, when somebody replies to
  it, or when the group has been activated.
* Messages are queued per chat and duplicate webhook updates are ignored.
* Very long responses are split into Telegram-safe chunks.

## Media and streaming

Photo messages can be passed to a vision-capable model. Image generation uses
the model selected in the Image Engine. On Ultra, enabling Response Streaming
lets Telegram receive an early partial reply that is edited into the final
answer.

## Telegram Expression Controls

The Telegram module includes controls for:

* Emoji Reactions
* GIF Follow-ups
* Stickers
* Custom Emojis
* Poll Creation
* Multi-Message Replies

These controls are enabled by default for newly connected bots and can be
disabled individually. GIFs and stickers are checked for conversational
relevance before they are sent. Polls are created for direct requests or a
strong group-choice moment, with duplicate and cooldown protection so ordinary
conversation does not turn into poll spam.

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The token is rejected">
    Copy a fresh token from `@BotFather`, remove spaces, and confirm it belongs
    to the intended bot. Revoke it in BotFather if it may have been exposed.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The bot works in DMs but not in a group">
    Mention it or reply to one of its messages. A group admin can also run
    `/activate_channel`. Check Telegram group permissions if commands fail.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="A photo was not understood">
    Select a vision-capable text model and retry with one clear image plus a
    specific question.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="The bot did not create a poll">
    Make sure Poll Creation is enabled. The bot creates a native poll when you
    ask clearly or when a real group decision fits the conversation; merely
    mentioning polls or discussing the feature does not force one.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Response streaming" icon="bolt" href="/guides/response-streaming">
    Learn how partial replies are edited in place.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Image generation" icon="image" href="/guides/image-generation">
    Choose models, prompts, and aspect ratios.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>