How to Invite Participants to a Telegram Video Call

Telegram offers more than one way to get people into a video call, and the method you use decides whether you need a link at all. A private call to one contact is started directly from the chat. A video chat inside a group or channel runs as a shared room, and that room can be shared with an invite link. Newer app versions may also let you create a standalone call link. This guide covers each route, how to check that video works, and what to do when an invitation fails.

Before you start

• Update Telegram on every device involved. Call features and menu wording have changed between versions, and the options described here may appear under slightly different names on Android, iOS, desktop and web.
• Calls run through Telegram's service and need an internet connection for everyone. Nothing is processed purely on your device, so the people you invite need a Telegram account and a working client.
• Grant camera permission and microphone permission to Telegram in your phone or computer settings. In a browser, the site must also be allowed to use the camera and microphone.
• To start a video chat in a group or channel, you normally need admin rights there. Regular members can join but usually cannot start one.
• Telegram does not charge for calls or video chats, but they use mobile data or Wi-Fi traffic, so check your data plan before long calls on a cellular connection.

Step-by-step instructions

Call one person directly

A private call does not use a link. Open the chat or profile of the person, tap the call button and choose a video call, or start a voice call and switch the camera on once connected. The other person receives a ringing call notification. In recent versions you may be able to add more contacts to an ongoing call; if the option is present on the call screen, use it to turn the private call into a group call.

Create a call link (newer versions)

Some recent Telegram releases let you create a call link without a group, typically from the Calls section of the app. If your version offers this, create the link, copy it and send it in any chat. Anyone with the link can request to join, so share it only with the intended people. If you do not see this option, your app version or platform may not support it yet; use a group video chat instead.

Invite people to a group video chat

• Open the group or channel where you are an admin.
• Open the group's menu or profile and choose the option to start a video chat. In older versions this was called a voice chat; channels may label it as a live stream.
• Start the chat immediately, or schedule it if you want members to be notified in advance.
• Inside the video chat, open the invite option. You can add members directly or copy an invite link to the video chat.
• If participants are muted by default, Telegram may ask whether the link should let people join as speakers or only as listeners. Choose the role that fits the call.
• Paste the link into a chat, or send it to the people you want to invite.
• Turn on your camera with the video button. On a phone you can switch between front and back cameras; on desktop, choose the selected camera in the call settings. Screen sharing is also available as an alternative capture source on supported platforms.

Who can actually join through a group video call link depends on the group. In a public group the link generally works for anyone with Telegram. In a private group, invitees outside the group may need to join the group first, so you may also have to share the group invite link.

Stop or undo the invitation

To stop people joining, end the video chat from its menu. If you shared a group invite link alongside it, revoke that link in the group's invite settings and create a new one if needed. For a standalone call link, look for a revoke or delete option next to the link in your version.

Check the output

• Open the link from a second device or account, or ask one invitee to confirm, before sending it widely. It should open the correct call, not just the group chat.
• Check your own camera preview in the call. If the preview is black or frozen, video is not reaching other participants either.
• Ask at least one participant whether they see and hear you clearly.
• Telegram adjusts resolution, frame rate and bitrate automatically based on the connection. The apps generally do not expose manual encoding settings, so improve quality by using a stable network, closing other bandwidth-heavy apps and improving lighting by facing a window or lamp rather than sitting with light behind you.
• For private calls, Telegram shows an emoji key that both people can compare to confirm end-to-end encryption. Do not assume group video chats have the same protection; check Telegram's current documentation for the call type you use.
• If an admin records a group video chat, the app offers its own recording format choices and indicates where the file is saved. Inform participants before recording.

Common problems and next steps

No option to create or copy a link

Private calls do not produce links, so open a group video chat or use a call link feature if your version has it. In groups, only admins usually see the start and invite options. If you are an admin and still cannot find them, update the app or try another platform, as menus differ between mobile and desktop.

The link opens but the person cannot join

The invitee may be using an outdated app, may not be a member of a private group, or the video chat may already have ended. Confirm the chat is still active, ask them to update Telegram, and share the group invite link if membership is required.

Participants join but cannot speak or show video

If the group mutes new participants by default or the link was created for listeners, they join without speaking rights. An admin can unmute them, or they can use the raise hand option. Video may also be limited by how many camera streams a video chat supports at once; check the current limit shown in the app if some cameras do not appear.

Black screen or wrong camera

Check that camera permission is granted to Telegram or the browser, close other apps that may be holding the camera, and on desktop confirm the selected camera in the call settings. External webcams sometimes need to be reconnected before the app detects them.

Is a Telegram video call link free to use?

Yes, creating and joining calls and video chats is part of the free app, and invitees do not pay to join. The only cost is the data the call consumes on your connection.