How to find a Telegram chat ID (group and channel)

What is a Telegram chat ID?

Every Telegram chat has a permanent number. You never see it in the app, but bots and the Bot API use it to know where to send a message. It does not change when the title, username or photo changes.

The format tells you what kind of chat it is:

• Channels and supergroups: start with -100, for example -1001234567890. Almost every modern group is a supergroup.
• Basic groups: a shorter negative number, for example -123456789. These are older or very small groups that were never upgraded.
• Users and bots: a positive number, for example 123456789.

For a public channel you often don’t need the number at all: the Bot API also accepts @channelusername as the chat_id. Private channels and most bot integrations need the numeric ID.

Method 1: copy a message link (private channels and groups)

This is the fastest method and needs no bot.

1. Open the channel or supergroup and long-press (or right-click) any message.
2. Choose Copy Link. In a private chat the link looks like https://t.me/c/1234567890/15.
3. The number after /c/ is the short ID. Put -100 in front of it: -1001234567890. Or paste the link into the tool above.

In a public channel, Copy Link gives t.me/username/15 instead. In that case use @username or one of the methods below.

Method 2: use an ID bot

ID bots read the chat for you. Three that are widely used and still active:

• @getidsbot: add it to the group and it posts the group ID. Remove it afterwards.
• @RawDataBot: replies with the raw update. Forward a post from a channel to it and look for the chat id of the original channel.
• @userinfobot: best for user IDs, and also shows IDs for forwarded messages.

These are third-party bots, not run by Telegram or by us. Give a bot only the access it needs, and remove it from the group once you have the number.

Method 3: read it from Web Telegram

Open web.telegram.org in a browser and click the chat. The address bar ends with the ID:

• Web A (/a/): shows the full Bot API form, such as #-1001234567890.
• Web K (/k/): shows channels and supergroups without the 100, such as #-1234567890. Add 100 after the minus sign, or paste the whole address into the tool above.

Method 4: getUpdates for your own bot

If you are building a bot, add it to the group (or as an admin to the channel), send a message there, then open https://api.telegram.org/bot<TOKEN>/getUpdates in a browser. The response contains "chat":{"id":-100…}. Never paste your bot token into a website you don’t trust; this URL goes straight to Telegram.

Common mistakes

• Missing -100: the bot replies “chat not found” because it received the short ID. Use the full -100 form.
• Bot not in the chat: a bot can only post where it was added. For channels it must be an admin with permission to post.
• Group was upgraded: converting a basic group to a supergroup changes its ID. Update your bot settings with the new -100 number.
• Using the invite link: t.me/+AbCd… links are not IDs and cannot be converted.

Related guides and services

• Telegram user ID finder — find your own or someone else’s numeric ID.
• Public vs private Telegram channels — why private chats need numeric IDs.
• Telegram bot start service — get real starts for a new bot once it is live.