Bot API changelog

The Bot API is an HTTP-based interface created for developers keen on building bots for Telegram.
To learn how to create and set up a bot, please consult our Introduction to Bots »

You will find all changes to our Bot API on this page.

Recent changes

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2024

December 4, 2024

Bot API 8.1

November 17, 2024

Bot API 8.0

Bot API 8.0 introduces 10 powerful new features for Mini Apps - including the ability to enter full-screen mode, launch from home screen shortcuts, offer subscription plans and more. Check out all the details in our dedicated blog and Mini App documentation.

Star Subscriptions

  • Bots now support paid subscriptions powered by Telegram Stars - monetizing their efforts with multiple tiers of content and features.
  • Added the parameter subscription_period to the method createInvoiceLink to support the creation of links that are billed periodically.
  • Added the parameter business_connection_id to the method createInvoiceLink to support the creation of invoice links on behalf of business accounts.
  • Added the fields subscription_expiration_date, is_recurring and is_first_recurring to the class SuccessfulPayment.
  • Added the method editUserStarSubscription.
  • Added the field subscription_period to the class TransactionPartnerUser.

Full-screen Mode

  • Mini Apps are now able to become full-screen in both portrait and landscape mode - allowing them to host more games, play widescreen media and support immersive user experiences.
  • Added the methods requestFullscreen and exitFullscreen to the class WebApp to toggle full-screen mode.
  • Added the fields safeAreaInset and contentSafeAreaInset to the class WebApp, allowing Mini Apps to ensure that their content properly respects the device's safe area margins.
  • Further added the fields isActive and isFullscreen to the class WebApp.
  • Added the events activated, deactivated, safeAreaChanged, contentSafeAreaChanged, fullscreenChanged and fullscreenFailed for Mini Apps.

Homescreen Shortcuts

  • Mini Apps can now be accessed via direct shortcuts added to the home screen of mobile devices.
  • Added the method addToHomeScreen to the class WebApp to create a shortcut for users to add to their home screens.
  • Added the method checkHomeScreenStatus to the class WebApp to determine the status and support of the home screen shortcut for the Mini App on the current device.
  • Added the events homeScreenAdded and homeScreenChecked for Mini Apps.

Emoji Status

  • Mini Apps can now prompt users to set their emoji status - or request access to later sync it automatically with in-game badges, third-party APIs and more.
  • Added the method setUserEmojiStatus. The user must allow the bot to manage their emoji status.
  • Added the method setEmojiStatus to the class WebApp to let users manually confirm a custom emoji as their new status via a native dialog.
  • Added the method requestEmojiStatusAccess to the class WebApp for obtaining permission to later update a user's emoji status via the Bot API method setUserEmojiStatus.
  • Added the events emojiStatusSet, emojiStatusFailed and emojiStatusAccessRequested for Mini Apps.

Media Sharing and File Downloads

  • Users can now share media directly from Mini Apps - sending referral codes, custom memes, artwork and more to any chat or posting them as a story.
  • Added the class PreparedInlineMessage and the method savePreparedInlineMessage, allowing bots to suggest users to send a specific message from a Mini App via the method shareMessage.
  • Added the method shareMessage to the class WebApp to share media from Mini Apps to Telegram chats.
  • Added the method downloadFile to the class WebApp, introducing support for a native popup that prompts users to download files from the Mini App.
  • Added the events shareMessageSent, shareMessageFailed and fileDownloadRequested for Mini Apps.

Geolocation Access

  • Mini Apps can now request geolocation access to users, allowing them to build virtually any location-based service, from games with dynamic points of interest to interactive maps for events.
  • Added the field LocationManager to the class WebApp.
  • Added the events locationManagerUpdated and locationRequested for Mini Apps.

Device Motion Tracking

  • Mini Apps can now track detailed device motion data, allowing them to implement better productivity tools, immersive VR experiences and more.
  • Added the fields isOrientationLocked, Accelerometer, DeviceOrientation and Gyroscope to the class WebApp.
  • Added the methods lockOrientation and unlockOrientation to the class WebApp to control the screen orientation.
  • Added the events accelerometerStarted, accelerometerStopped, accelerometerChanged, accelerometerFailed, deviceOrientationStarted, deviceOrientationStopped, deviceOrientationChanged, deviceOrientationFailed, gyroscopeStarted, gyroscopeStopped, gyroscopeChanged, gyroscopeFailed for Mini Apps.

Gifts

Loading Screen Customization

  • Mini Apps can customize their loading screen, adding their own icon and specific colors for light and dark themes.
  • You can access these customization settings in @BotFather via /mybots > Select Bot > Bot Settings > Configure Mini App > Enable Mini App

Hardware-specific Optimizations

  • Mini Apps running on Android can now receive basic information about a device's processing hardware, allowing them to optimize user experience based on the device's capabilities.
  • This information includes the OS, App and SDK's respective versions as well as the device's model and performance class.

General

  • Added the field photo_url to the class WebAppUser for all bots, allowing Mini Apps to access a user's profile photo if their privacy settings allow for it.
  • Third parties (e.g., Mini App builders) that receive or process data on behalf of Mini Apps are now able to validate it without knowing the App's bot token.
  • Debugging options have been expanded to include full support for iOS devices. You can use these tools to find app-specific issues in your Mini App.

⚠️ WARNING! ⚠️
Starting December 1, 2024 messages with video that are sent, copied or forwarded to groups and channels with a sufficiently large audience can be automatically scheduled by the server until the respective video is reencoded. Such messages will have 0 as their message identifier and can't be used before they are actually sent.

October 31, 2024

Bot API 7.11

⚠️ WARNING! ⚠️
Starting December 1, 2024 messages with video that are sent, copied or forwarded to groups and channels with a sufficiently large audience can be automatically scheduled by the server until the respective video is reencoded. Such messages will have 0 as their message identifier and can't be used before they are actually sent.

September 6, 2024

Bot API 7.10

August 14, 2024

Bot API 7.9

  • Added support for Super Channels, allowing received channel messages to have users or other channels as their senders.
  • Added the ability to send paid media to any chat.
  • Added the parameter business_connection_id to the method sendPaidMedia, allowing bots to send paid media on behalf of a business account.
  • Added the field paid_media to the class TransactionPartnerUser for transactions involving paid media.
  • Added the fields subscription_period and subscription_price to the class ChatInviteLink.
  • Added the method createChatSubscriptionInviteLink, allowing bots to create subscription invite links.
  • Added the method editChatSubscriptionInviteLink, allowing bots to edit the name of subscription invite links.
  • Added the field until_date to the class ChatMemberMember for members with an active subscription.
  • Added support for paid reactions and the class ReactionTypePaid.

July 31, 2024

Bot API 7.8

  • Added the option for bots to set a Main Mini App, which can be previewed and launched directly from a button in the bot's profile or a link.
  • Added the method shareToStory to the class WebApp.
  • Added the field has_main_web_app to the class User, which is returned in the response to getMe.
  • Added the parameter business_connection_id to the methods pinChatMessage and unpinChatMessage, allowing bots to manage pinned messages on behalf of a business account.

July 7, 2024

Bot API 7.7

  • Added the class RefundedPayment, containing information about a refunded payment.
  • Added the field refunded_payment to the class Message, describing a service message about a refunded payment.
  • Added the field isVerticalSwipesEnabled and the methods enableVerticalSwipes, disableVerticalSwipes to the class WebApp.
  • Added the event scanQrPopupClosed for Mini Apps.

July 1, 2024

Bot API 7.6

June 18, 2024

Bot API 7.5

May 28, 2024

Bot API 7.4

May 6, 2024

Bot API 7.3

  • Added support for InlineKeyboardMarkup with url, login_url, and callback_game buttons for messages sent on behalf of a business account.
  • Added the field via_join_request to the class ChatMemberUpdated.
  • Added support for live locations that can be edited indefinitely, allowing 0x7FFFFFFF to be used as live_period.
  • Added the parameter live_period to the method editMessageLiveLocation.
  • Added the field question_entities to the class Poll.
  • Added the field text_entities to the class PollOption.
  • Added the parameters question_parse_mode and question_entities to the method sendPoll.
  • Added the class InputPollOption and changed the type of the parameter options in the method sendPoll to Array of InputPollOption.
  • Added the classes ChatBackground, BackgroundType, BackgroundFill and the field chat_background_set of type ChatBackground to the class Message, describing service messages about background changes.
  • Split out the class ChatFullInfo from the class Chat and changed the return type of the method getChat to ChatFullInfo.
  • Added the field max_reaction_count to the class ChatFullInfo.
  • Documented that .MP3 and .M4A files can be used as voice messages.

March 31, 2024

Bot API 7.2

Integration with Business Accounts

  • Added the class BusinessConnection and updates about the connection or disconnection of the bot to a business account, represented by the field business_connection in the class Update.
  • Added updates about new messages in a business account connected to the bot, represented by the field business_message in the class Update.
  • Added updates about message edits in a business account connected to the bot, represented by the field edited_business_message in the class Update.
  • Added updates about message deletion in a business account connected to the bot, represented by the class BusinessMessagesDeleted and the field deleted_business_messages in the class Update.
  • Added the method getBusinessConnection.

Working on Behalf of Business Accounts

Information about Business Accounts

Mixed-Format Sticker Packs

  • Removed the fields is_animated and is_video from the class StickerSet.
  • Added the field format to the class InputSticker.
  • Removed the parameter sticker_format from the method createNewStickerSet.
  • Added the parameter format to the method setStickerSetThumbnail.
  • Increased the maximum number of stickers in any regular and mask sticker set to 120.
  • Allowed to upload WEBM stickers using SendSticker.

Request Chat Improvements

  • Added the fields request_name, request_username, and request_photo to the class KeyboardButtonRequestUsers.
  • Added the fields request_title, request_username, and request_photo to the class KeyboardButtonRequestChat.
  • Added the class SharedUser and replaced the field user_ids in the class UsersShared with the field users.
  • Added the fields title, username, and photo to the class ChatShared.

Other Changes

  • Added the field is_from_offline to the class Message.
  • Added the field can_connect_to_business to the class User.
  • Added the field personal_chat to the class Chat.
  • Added the method replaceStickerInSet,
  • Added the class Birthdate and the field birthdate to the class Chat.
  • Added the field BiometricManager to the class WebApp.

February 16, 2024

Bot API 7.1

  • Added support for the administrator rights can_post_stories, can_edit_stories, can_delete_stories in supergroups.
  • Added the class ChatBoostAdded and the field boost_added to the class Message for service messages about a user boosting a chat.
  • Added the field sender_boost_count to the class Message.
  • Added the field reply_to_story to the class Message.
  • Added the fields chat and id to the class Story.
  • Added the field unrestrict_boost_count to the class Chat.
  • Added the field custom_emoji_sticker_set_name to the class Chat.

2023

December 29, 2023

Bot API 7.0

Reactions

  • Added the classes ReactionTypeEmoji and ReactionTypeCustomEmoji representing different types of reaction.
  • Added updates about a reaction change on a message with non-anonymous reactions, represented by the class MessageReactionUpdated and the field message_reaction in the class Update. The bot must explicitly allow the update to receive it.
  • Added updates about reaction changes on a message with anonymous reactions, represented by the class MessageReactionCountUpdated and the field message_reaction_count in the class Update. The bot must explicitly allow the update to receive it.
  • Added the method setMessageReaction that allows bots to react to messages.
  • Added the field available_reactions to the class Chat.

Replies 2.0

Link Preview Customization

  • Allowed to explicitly specify the URL that will be used for link preview generation in outgoing text messages.
  • Allowed to position link previews above the message text.
  • Allowed to choose media size in link previews.
  • Added the class LinkPreviewOptions and replaced the parameter disable_web_page_preview with link_preview_options in the methods sendMessage and editMessageText.
  • Replaced the field disable_web_page_preview with link_preview_options in the class InputTextMessageContent.
  • Added the field link_preview_options to the class Message with information about the link preview options used to send the message.

Block Quotation

  • Added support for “blockquote” entities in received messages.
  • Added support for “blockquote” entity parsing in “MarkdownV2” and “HTML” parse modes.
  • Allowed to explicitly specify “blockquote” entities in formatted texts.

Multiple Message Actions

  • Added the method deleteMessages to allow the deletion of multiple messages in a single request.
  • Added the method forwardMessages for forwarding of multiple messages in a single request.
  • Added the method copyMessages for copying of multiple messages in a single request.

Request for multiple users

  • Renamed the class KeyboardButtonRequestUser to KeyboardButtonRequestUsers and added the field max_quantity to it.
  • Renamed the field request_user in the class KeyboardButton to request_users. The old name will still work for backward compatibility.
  • Added the class UsersShared.
  • Replaced the field user_shared in the class Message with the field users_shared.

Chat Boost

Giveaway

  • Added the class Giveaway and the field giveaway to the class Message for messages about scheduled giveaways.
  • Added the class GiveawayCreated and the field giveaway_created to the class Message for service messages about the creation of a scheduled giveaway.
  • Added the class GiveawayWinners and the field giveaway_winners to the class Message for messages about the completion of a giveaway with public winners.
  • Added the class GiveawayCompleted and the field giveaway_completed to the class Message for service messages about the completion of a giveaway without public winners.

Web App Changes

  • Added the field SettingsButton to the class WebApp.
  • Added the fields header_bg_color, accent_text_color, section_bg_color, section_header_text_color, subtitle_text_color, destructive_text_color to the class ThemeParams.
  • Web Apps no longer close when the method WebApp.openTelegramLink is called.

Other Changes

  • Added support for the fields emoji_status_custom_emoji_id and emoji_status_expiration_date in the class Chat for non-private chats.
  • Added the fields accent_color_id, background_custom_emoji_id, profile_accent_color_id, and profile_background_custom_emoji_id to the class Chat.
  • Added the field has_visible_history to the class Chat.
  • Added the class MessageOrigin and replaced the fields forward_from, forward_from_chat, forward_from_message_id, forward_signature, forward_sender_name, and forward_date with the field forward_origin of type MessageOrigin in the class Message.
  • Improved documentation for the field message of the class callbackQuery and the field pinned_message of the class Message by adding the classes MaybeInaccessibleMessage and InaccessibleMessage.

September 22, 2023

Bot API 6.9

  • Added the new administrator privileges can_post_stories, can_edit_stories and can_delete_stories to the classes ChatMemberAdministrator and ChatAdministratorRights.
  • Added the parameters can_post_stories, can_edit_stories and can_delete_stories to the method promoteChatMember. Currently, bots have no use for these privileges besides assigning them to other administrators.
  • Added the ability to set any header color for Web App using the method setHeaderColor.
  • Added the field CloudStorage to the class WebApp.
  • Added the methods requestWriteAccess and requestContact to the class WebApp.
  • Added Web App events writeAccessRequested and contactRequested.
  • Added the fields from_request and from_attachment_menu to the class WriteAccessAllowed.
  • Added the fields added_to_attachment_menu and allows_write_to_pm to the class WebAppUser.

August 18, 2023

Bot API 6.8

  • Added the field story to the class Message for messages with forwarded stories. Currently, it holds no information.
  • Added the field voter_chat to the class PollAnswer, to contain channel chat voters in Polls. For backward compatibility, the field user in such objects will contain the user 136817688 (@Channel_Bot).
  • Added the field emoji_status_expiration_date to the class Chat.
  • Added the method unpinAllGeneralForumTopicMessages.
  • Increased to 512 characters the maximum length of the startapp parameter in direct Web App links.

April 21, 2023

Bot API 6.7

  • Added support for launching Web Apps from inline query results by replacing the parameters switch_pm_text and switch_pm_parameter of the method answerInlineQuery with the parameter button of type InlineQueryResultsButton.
  • Added the field web_app_name to the class WriteAccessAllowed.
  • Added the field switch_inline_query_chosen_chat of the type SwitchInlineQueryChosenChat to the class InlineKeyboardButton, which allows bots to switch to inline mode in a chosen chat of the given type.
  • Added the field via_chat_folder_invite_link to the class ChatMemberUpdated.
  • Added the ability to set different bot names for different user languages using the method setMyName.
  • Added the ability to get the current bot name in the given language as the class BotName using the method getMyName.
  • Added the ability to change bot settings from the bot's profile in official Telegram apps, including the ability to set animated profile photos.
  • Added the ability to specify custom emoji entities using HTML and MarkdownV2 formatting options for bots that purchased additional usernames on Fragment.

March 9, 2023

Bot API 6.6

February 3, 2023

Bot API 6.5

2022

December 30, 2022

Bot API 6.4

November 5, 2022

Bot API 6.3

August 12, 2022

Bot API 6.2

Custom Emoji Support

  • Added the MessageEntity type “custom_emoji”.
  • Added the field custom_emoji_id to the class MessageEntity for “custom_emoji” entities.
  • Added the method getCustomEmojiStickers.
  • Added the fields type and custom_emoji_id to the class Sticker.
  • Added the field sticker_type to the class StickerSet, describing the type of stickers in the set.
  • The field contains_masks has been removed from the documentation of the class StickerSet. The field is still returned in the object for backward compatibility, but new bots should use the field sticker_type instead.
  • Added the parameter sticker_type to the method createNewStickerSet.
  • The parameter contains_masks has been removed from the documentation of the method createNewStickerSet. The parameter will still work for backward compatibility, but new bots should use the parameter sticker_type instead.

Web App Improvements

  • Added the field isClosingConfirmationEnabled and the methods enableClosingConfirmation, disableClosingConfirmation, showPopup, showAlert, showConfirm to the class WebApp.
  • Added the field is_premium to the class WebAppUser.
  • Added the event popupClosed.

Other Changes

  • Added the field has_restricted_voice_and_video_messages to the class Chat to support the new setting.

June 20, 2022

Bot API 6.1

Media in Descriptions

  • Added support for photos and videos in the 'What can this bot do?' section (shown on the bot's start screen). Use BotFather to set up media.

Web App Improvements

  • Added the fields version, headerColor, backgroundColor, BackButton, HapticFeedback and the methods isVersionAtLeast, setHeaderColor, setBackgroundColor, openLink, openTelegramLink, openInvoice to the class WebApp.
  • Added the field secondary_bg_color to the class ThemeParams.
  • Added the method offClick to the class MainButton.
  • Added the fields chat, can_send_after to the class WebAppInitData.
  • Added the events backButtonClicked, settingsButtonClicked, invoiceClosed.

Join Requests & Payments

  • Added the fields join_to_send_messages and join_by_request to the class Chat.
  • Added the ability to process join requests which were created without an invite link. Bots will receive a “chat_join_request” update as usual.
  • Added the method createInvoiceLink to generate an HTTP link for an invoice.

Telegram Premium Support (more info)

  • The maximum value of the field file_size in the classes Animation, Audio, Document, Video, Voice, and File can no longer be stored in a signed 32-bit integer type. This change is necessary to support 4GB files uploaded by premium accounts.
  • Added the field is_premium to the class User.
  • Added the field premium_animation to the class Sticker.

Attachment Menu Integration

  • Added the field added_to_attachment_menu to the class User.
  • Bots integrated in the attachment menu can now be used in groups, supergroups and channels.
  • Added support for t.me links that can be used to select the chat in which the attachment menu with the bot will be opened.

Other Changes

  • Added the parameter secret_token to the method setWebhook.
  • As previously announced, only HTTPS links are now allowed in login_url inline keyboard buttons.

April 16, 2022

Bot API 6.0

⚠️ WARNING! ⚠️
After the next update, only HTTPS links will be allowed in login_url inline keyboard buttons.

January 31, 2022

Bot API 5.7

2021

December 30, 2021

Bot API 5.6

December 7, 2021

Bot API 5.5

  • Bots are now allowed to contact users who sent a join request to a chat where the bot is an administrator with the can_invite_users administrator right – even if the user never interacted with the bot before.
  • Added support for mentioning users by their ID in inline keyboards. This will only work in Telegram versions released after December 7, 2021. Older clients will display unsupported message.
  • Added the methods banChatSenderChat and unbanChatSenderChat for banning and unbanning channel chats in supergroups and channels.
  • Added the field has_private_forwards to the class Chat for private chats, which can be used to check the possibility of mentioning the user by their ID.
  • Added the field has_protected_content to the classes Chat and Message.
  • Added the field is_automatic_forward to the class Message.

Note: After this update it will become impossible to forward messages from some chats. Use the fields has_protected_content in the classes Message and Chat to check this.

Note: After this update users are able to send messages on behalf of channels they own. Bots are expected to use the field sender_chat in the class Message to correctly support such messages.

Note: As previously announced, user identifiers can now have up to 52 significant bits and require a 64-bit integer or double-precision float type to be stored safely.

November 5, 2021

Bot API 5.4

⚠️ WARNING! ⚠️
User identifiers will become bigger than 2^31 - 1 before the end of this year and it will be no longer possible to store them in a signed 32-bit integer type. User identifiers will have up to 52 significant bits, so a 64-bit integer or double-precision float type would still be safe for storing them. Please make sure that your code can correctly handle such user identifiers.

June 25, 2021

Bot API 5.3

Personalized Commands

  • Bots can now show lists of commands tailored to specific situations - including localized commands for users with different languages, as well as different commands based on chat type or for specific chats, and special lists of commands for chat admins.
  • Added the class BotCommandScope, describing the scope to which bot commands apply.
  • Added the parameters scope and language_code to the method setMyCommands to allow bots specify different commands for different chats and users.
  • Added the parameters scope and language_code to the method getMyCommands.
  • Added the method deleteMyCommands to allow deletion of the bot's commands for the given scope and user language.
  • Improved visibility of bot commands in Telegram apps with the new 'Menu' button in chats with bots, read more on the blog.

Custom Placeholders

And More

  • Improved documentation of the class ChatMember by splitting it into 6 subclasses.
  • Renamed the method kickChatMember to banChatMember. The old method name can still be used.
  • Renamed the method getChatMembersCount to getChatMemberCount. The old method name can still be used.
  • Values of the field file_unique_id in objects of the type PhotoSize and of the fields small_file_unique_id and big_file_unique_id in objects of the type ChatPhoto were changed.

⚠️ WARNING! ⚠️
After one of the upcoming Bot API updates, user identifiers will become bigger than 2^31 - 1 and it will be no longer possible to store them in a signed 32-bit integer type. User identifiers will have up to 52 significant bits, so a 64-bit integer or double-precision float type would still be safe for storing them. Please make sure that your code can correctly handle such user identifiers.

April 26, 2021

Bot API 5.2

  • Support for Payments 2.0, see this manual for more details about the Bot Payments API.
  • Added the type InputInvoiceMessageContent to support sending invoices as inline query results.
  • Allowed sending invoices to group, supergroup and channel chats.
  • Added the fields max_tip_amount and suggested_tip_amounts to the method sendInvoice to allow adding optional tips to the payment.
  • The parameter start_parameter of the method sendInvoice became optional. If the parameter isn't specified, the invoice can be paid directly from forwarded messages.
  • Added the field chat_type to the class InlineQuery, containing the type of the chat, from which the inline request was sent.
  • Added the type VoiceChatScheduled and the field voice_chat_scheduled to the class Message.
  • Fixed an error in sendChatAction documentation to correctly mention “record_voice” and “upload_voice” instead of “record_audio” and “upload_audio” for related to voice note actions. Old action names will still work for backward compatibility.

⚠️ WARNING! ⚠️
After the next Bot API update (Bot API 5.3) there will be a one-time change of the value of the field file_unique_id in objects of the type PhotoSize and of the fields small_file_unique_id and big_file_unique_id in objects of the type ChatPhoto.

⚠️ WARNING! ⚠️
Service messages about non-bot users joining the chat will be soon removed from large groups. We recommend using the “chat_member” update as a replacement.

⚠️ WARNING! ⚠️
After one of the upcoming Bot API updates, user identifiers will become bigger than 2^31 - 1 and it will be no longer possible to store them in a signed 32-bit integer type. User identifiers will have up to 52 significant bits, so a 64-bit integer or double-precision float type would still be safe for storing them. Please make sure that your code can correctly handle such user identifiers.

March 9, 2021

Bot API 5.1

Added two new update types

  • Added updates about member status changes in chats, represented by the class ChatMemberUpdated and the fields my_chat_member and chat_member in the Update class. The bot must be an administrator in the chat to receive chat_member updates about other chat members. By default, only my_chat_member updates about the bot itself are received.

Improved Invite Links

  • Added the class ChatInviteLink, representing an invite link to a chat.
  • Added the method createChatInviteLink, which can be used to create new invite links in addition to the primary invite link.
  • Added the method editChatInviteLink, which can be used to edit non-primary invite links created by the bot.
  • Added the method revokeChatInviteLink, which can be used to revoke invite links created by the bot.

Voice Chat Info

And More

  • Added the type MessageAutoDeleteTimerChanged and the field message_auto_delete_timer_changed to the class Message.
  • Added the parameter revoke_messages to the method kickChatMember, allowing to delete all messages from a group for the user who is being removed.
  • Added the new administrator privilege can_manage_chat to the class ChatMember and parameter can_manage_chat to the method promoteChatMember. This administrator right is implied by any other administrator privilege.
  • Supported the new bowling animation for the random dice. Choose between different animations (dice, darts, basketball, football, bowling, slot machine) by specifying the emoji parameter in the method sendDice.

⚠️ WARNING! ⚠️
After one of the upcoming Bot API updates, some user identifiers will become bigger than 2^31 - 1 and it will be no longer possible to store them in a signed 32-bit integer type. User identifiers will have up to 52 significant bits, so a 64-bit integer or double-precision float type would still be safe for storing them. Please make sure that your code can correctly handle such user identifiers.

2020

November 4, 2020

Introducing Bot API 5.0

Run Your Own Bot API Server

  • Bot API source code is now available at telegram-bot-api. You can now run your own Bot API server locally, boosting your bots' performance.
  • Added the method logOut, which can be used to log out from the cloud Bot API server before launching your bot locally. You must log out the bot before running it locally, otherwise there is no guarantee that the bot will receive all updates.
  • Added the method close, which can be used to close the bot instance before moving it from one local server to another.

Transfer Bot Ownership

  • You can now use @BotFather to transfer your existing bots to another Telegram account.

Webhooks

  • Added the parameter ip_address to the method setWebhook, allowing to bypass DNS resolving and use the specified fixed IP address to send webhook requests.
  • Added the field ip_address to the class WebhookInfo, containing the current IP address used for webhook connections creation.
  • Added the ability to drop all pending updates when changing webhook URL using the parameter drop_pending_updates in the methods setWebhook and deleteWebhook.

Working with Groups

  • The getChat request now returns the user's bio for private chats if available.
  • The getChat request now returns the identifier of the linked chat for supergroups and channels, i.e. the discussion group identifier for a channel and vice versa.
  • The getChat request now returns the location to which the supergroup is connected (see Local Groups). Added the class ChatLocation to represent the location.
  • Added the parameter only_if_banned to the method unbanChatMember to allow safe unban.

Working with Files

  • Added the field file_name to the classes Audio and Video, containing the name of the original file.
  • Added the ability to disable server-side file content type detection using the parameter disable_content_type_detection in the method sendDocument and the class inputMediaDocument.

Multiple Pinned Messages

  • Added the ability to pin messages in private chats.
  • Added the parameter message_id to the method unpinChatMessage to allow unpinning of the specific pinned message.
  • Added the method unpinAllChatMessages, which can be used to unpin all pinned messages in a chat.

File Albums

  • Added support for sending and receiving audio and document albums in the method sendMediaGroup.

Live Locations

Anonymous Admins

  • Added the field sender_chat to the class Message, containing the sender of a message which is a chat (group or channel). For backward compatibility in non-channel chats, the field from in such messages will contain the user 777000 for messages automatically forwarded to the discussion group and the user 1087968824 (@GroupAnonymousBot) for messages from anonymous group administrators.
  • Added the field is_anonymous to the class chatMember, which can be used to distinguish anonymous chat administrators.
  • Added the parameter is_anonymous to the method promoteChatMember, which allows to promote anonymous chat administrators. The bot itself should have the is_anonymous right to do this. Despite the fact that bots can have the is_anonymous right, they will never appear as anonymous in the chat. Bots can use the right only for passing to other administrators.
  • Added the custom title of an anonymous message sender to the class Message as author_signature.

And More

And Last but not Least

  • Supported the new football and slot machine animations for the random dice. Choose between different animations (dice, darts, basketball, football, slot machine) by specifying the emoji parameter in the method sendDice.

June 4, 2020

Bot API 4.9

  • Added the new field via_bot to the Message object. You can now know which bot was used to send a message.
  • Supported video thumbnails for inline GIF and MPEG4 animations.
  • Supported the new basketball animation for the random dice. Choose between different animations (dice, darts, basketball) by specifying the emoji parameter in the method sendDice.

April 24, 2020

Bot API 4.8

  • Supported explanations for Quizzes 2.0. Add explanations by specifying the parameters explanation and explanation_parse_mode in the method sendPoll.
  • Added the fields explanation and explanation_entities to the Poll object.
  • Supported timed polls that automatically close at a certain date and time. Set up by specifying the parameter open_period or close_date in the method sendPoll.
  • Added the fields open_period and close_date to the Poll object.
  • Supported the new darts animation for the dice mini-game. Choose between the default dice animation and darts animation by specifying the parameter emoji in the method sendDice.
  • Added the field emoji to the Dice object.

March 30, 2020

Bot API 4.7

  • Added the method sendDice for sending a dice message, which will have a random value from 1 to 6. (Yes, we're aware of the “proper” singular of die. But it's awkward, and we decided to help it change. One dice at a time!)
  • Added the field dice to the Message object.
  • Added the method getMyCommands for getting the current list of the bot's commands.
  • Added the method setMyCommands for changing the list of the bot's commands through the Bot API instead of @BotFather.
  • Added the ability to create animated sticker sets by specifying the parameter tgs_sticker instead of png_sticker in the method createNewStickerSet.
  • Added the ability to add animated stickers to sets created by the bot by specifying the parameter tgs_sticker instead of png_sticker in the method addStickerToSet.
  • Added the field thumb to the StickerSet object.
  • Added the ability to change thumbnails of sticker sets created by the bot using the method setStickerSetThumb.

January 23, 2020

Bot API 4.6

  • Supported Polls 2.0.
  • Added the ability to send non-anonymous, multiple answer, and quiz-style polls: added the parameters is_anonymous, type, allows_multiple_answers, correct_option_id, is_closed options to the method sendPoll.
  • Added the object KeyboardButtonPollType and the field request_poll to the object KeyboardButton.
  • Added updates about changes of user answers in non-anonymous polls, represented by the object PollAnswer and the field poll_answer in the Update object.
  • Added the fields total_voter_count, is_anonymous, type, allows_multiple_answers, correct_option_id to the Poll object.
  • Bots can now send polls to private chats.
  • Added more information about the bot in response to the getMe request: added the fields can_join_groups, can_read_all_group_messages and supports_inline_queries to the User object.
  • Added the optional field language to the MessageEntity object.

2019

December 31, 2019

Bot API 4.5

  • Added support for two new MessageEntity types, underline and strikethrough.
  • Added support for nested MessageEntity objects. Entities can now contain other entities. If two entities have common characters then one of them is fully contained inside the other.
  • Added support for nested entities and the new tags <u>/<ins> (for underlined text) and <s>/<strike>/<del> (for strikethrough text) in parse mode HTML.
  • Added a new parse mode, MarkdownV2, which supports nested entities and two new entities __ (for underlined text) and ~ (for strikethrough text). Parse mode Markdown remains unchanged for backward compatibility.
  • Added the field file_unique_id to the objects Animation, Audio, Document, PassportFile, PhotoSize, Sticker, Video, VideoNote, Voice, File and the fields small_file_unique_id and big_file_unique_id to the object ChatPhoto. The new fields contain a unique file identifier, which is supposed to be the same over time and for different bots, but can't be used to download or reuse the file.
  • Added the field custom_title to the ChatMember object.
  • Added the new method setChatAdministratorCustomTitle to manage the custom titles of administrators promoted by the bot.
  • Added the field slow_mode_delay to the Chat object.

July 29, 2019

Bot API 4.4

  • Added support for animated stickers. New field is_animated in Sticker and StickerSet objects, animated stickers can now be used in sendSticker and InlineQueryResultCachedSticker.
  • Added support for default permissions in groups. New object ChatPermissions, containing actions which a member can take in a chat. New field permissions in the Chat object; new method setChatPermissions.
  • The field all_members_are_administrators has been removed from the documentation for the Chat object. The field is still returned in the object for backward compatibility, but new bots should use the permissions field instead.
  • Added support for more permissions for group and supergroup members: added the new field can_send_polls to ChatMember object, added can_change_info, can_invite_users, can_pin_messages in ChatMember object for restricted users (previously available only for administrators).
  • The method restrictChatMember now takes the new user permissions in a single argument of the type ChatPermissions. The old way of passing parameters will keep working for a while for backward compatibility.
  • Added description support for basic groups (previously available in supergroups and channel chats). You can pass a group's chat_id to setChatDescription and receive the group's description in the Chat object in the response to getChat method.
  • Added invite_link support for basic groups (previously available in supergroups and channel chats). You can pass a group's chat_id to exportChatInviteLink and receive the group's invite link in the Chat object in the response to getChat method.
  • File identifiers from the ChatPhoto object are now invalidated and can no longer be used whenever the photo is changed.
  • All webhook requests from the Bot API are now coming from the subnets 149.154.160.0/20 and 91.108.4.0/22. Most users won't need to do anything to continue receiving webhooks. If you control inbound access with a firewall, you may need to update your configuration. You can always find the list of actual IP addresses of servers used to send webhooks there: https://core.telegram.org/bots/webhooks.
  • As of the next Bot API update (version 4.5), nested MessageEntity objects will be allowed in message texts and captions. Please make sure that your code can correctly handle such entities.

May 31, 2019

Bot API 4.3

  • Added support for Seamless Telegram Login on external websites.
  • Added the new object LoginUrl and the new field login_url to the InlineKeyboardButton object which allows to automatically authorize users before they go to a URL specified by the bot. Users will be asked to confirm authorization in their Telegram app (needs version 5.7 or higher) when they press the button:
TITLE

Also in this update:

  • Added the field reply_markup to the Message object, containing the inline keyboard attached to the message.
  • If a message with an inline keyboard is forwarded, the forwarded message will now have an inline keyboard if the keyboard contained only url and login_url buttons or if the message was sent via a bot and the keyboard contained only url, login_url, switch_inline_query or switch_inline_query_current_chat buttons. In the latter case, switch_inline_query_current_chat buttons are replaced with switch_inline_query buttons.
  • Bots now receive the edited_message Update even if only Message.reply_markup has changed.
  • Bots that have the can_edit_messages right in a channel can now use the method editMessageReplyMarkup for messages written by other administrators forever without the 48 hours limit.
  • Don't forget that starting in July 2019, webhook requests from Bot API will be coming from the subnets 149.154.160.0/20 and 91.108.4.0/22. Most users won't need to do anything to continue receiving webhooks. If you control inbound access with a firewall, you may need to update your configuration. You can always find the list of actual IP addresses of servers used to send webhooks there: https://core.telegram.org/bots/webhooks.

April 14, 2019

Bot API 4.2

  • Added support for native polls: added the object Poll, the methods sendPoll and stopPoll and the field poll in the Message and Update objects.
  • The method deleteMessage can now be used to delete messages sent by a user to the bot in private chats within 48 hours.
  • Added support for pinned messages in basic groups in addition to supergroups and channel chats: you can pass group's chat_id to pinChatMessage and unpinChatMessage, and receive the pinned group message in Chat object.
  • Added the field is_member to the ChatMember object, which can be used to find whether a restricted user is a member of the chat.
  • Added the field forward_sender_name to the Message object, containing name of the sender who has opted to hide their account.
  • Starting in July 2019, webhook requests from Bot API will be coming from the subnets 149.154.160.0/20 and 91.108.4.0/22. Most users won't need to do anything to continue receiving webhooks. If you control inbound access with a firewall, you may need to update your configuration. You can always find the list of actual IP addresses of servers used to send webhooks there: https://core.telegram.org/bots/webhooks.
  • Document thumbnails now should be inscribed in a 320x320 square instead of 90x90.

2018

August 27, 2018

Bot API 4.1

July 26, 2018

Bot API 4.0.

  • Added support for Telegram Passport. See the official announcement on the blog and the manual for details.
  • Added support for editing the media content of messages: added the method editMessageMedia and new types InputMediaAnimation, InputMediaAudio, and InputMediaDocument.
  • Added the field thumb to the Audio object to contain the thumbnail of the album cover to which the music file belongs.
  • Added support for attaching custom thumbnails to uploaded files. For animations, audios, videos and video notes, which are less than 10 MB in size, thumbnails are generated automatically.
  • tg:// URLs now can be used in inline keyboard url buttons and text_link message entities.
  • Added the method sendAnimation, which can be used instead of sendDocument to send animations, specifying their duration, width and height.
  • Added the field animation to the Message object. For backward compatibility, when this field is set, the document field will be also set.
  • Added two new MessageEntity types: cashtag and phone_number.
  • Added support for Foursquare venues: added the new field foursquare_type to the objects Venue, InlineQueryResultVenue and InputVenueMessageContent, and the parameter foursquare_type to the sendVenue method.
  • You can now create inline mentions of users, who have pressed your bot's callback buttons.
  • You can now use the Retry-After response header to configure the delay after which the Bot API will retry the request after an unsuccessful response from a webhook.
  • If a webhook returns the HTTP error 410 Gone for all requests for more than 23 hours successively, it can be automatically removed.
  • Added vCard support when sharing contacts: added the field vcard to the objects Contact, InlineQueryResultContact, InputContactMessageContent and the method sendContact.

February 13, 2018

Bot API 3.6.

  • Supported text formatting in media captions. Specify the desired parse_mode (Markdown or HTML) when you provide a caption.
  • In supergroups, if the bot receives a message that is a reply, it will also receive the message to which that message is replying – even if the original message is inaccessible due to the bot's privacy settings. (In other words, replying to any message in a supergroup with a message that mentions the bot or features a command for it acts as forwarding the original message to the bot).
  • Added the new field connected_website to Message. The bot will receive a message with this field in a private chat when a user logs in on the bot's connected website using the Login Widget and allows sending messages from your bot.
  • Added the new parameter supports_streaming to the sendVideo method and a field with the same name to the InputMediaVideo object.

2017

November 17, 2017

Bot API 3.5.

October 11, 2017

Bot API 3.4.

August 23, 2017

Bot API 3.3.

  • Bots can now mention users via inline mentions, without using usernames.
  • getChat now also returns pinned messages in supergroups, if present. Added the new field pinned_message to the Chat object.
  • Added the new fields author_signature and forward_signature to the Message object.
  • Added the new field is_bot to the User object.

July 21, 2017

Bot API 3.2. Teach your bot to handle stickers and sticker sets.

June 30, 2017

Bot API 3.1. Build your own robotic police force for supergoups with these new methods for admin bots:

May 18, 2017

Introducing Bot API 3.0.

NEW Payment Platform

See Introduction to Bot Payments for a brief overview. If you're not a developer, you may like this user-friendly blog post better.

NEW Video Messages

  • As of Telegram v.4.0, users can send short rounded video messages, using an interface similar to that of voice notes.
  • Added the sendVideoNote method, the new field video_note to Message, the fields record_video_note or upload_video_note to sendChatAction.

NEW Multilingual Bots

  • The User object now may have a language_code field that contains the IETF language tag of the user's language.
  • Thanks to this, your bot can now offer localized responses to users that speak different languages.

More power to admin bots

  • unbanChatMemeber now also works in channels!
  • New method deleteMessage that allows the bot to delete its own messages, as well as messages posted by other in groups and channels where the bot is an administrator.

Minor Changes

  • Replaced the field new_chat_member in Message with new_chat_members (the old field will still be available for a while for compatibility purposes).
  • Inline keyboards with switch_inline_query and switch_inline_query_current_chat can no longer be sent to channels because they are useless there.
  • New fields gif_duration in InlineQueryResultGif and mpeg4_duration in InlineQueryResultMpeg4Gif.

2016

December 4, 2016

Introducing Bot API 2.3.1, a nifty little update that will give you more control over how your bot gets its updates.

  • Use the new field max_connections in setWebhook to optimize your bot's server load
  • Use allowed_updates in setWebhook and getUpdates to selectively subscribe to updates of a certain type. Among other things, this allows you to stop getting updates about new posts in channels where your bot is an admin.
  • deleteWebhook moved out of setWebhook to get a whole separate method for itself.

November 21, 2016

Bot API 2.3

  • Modified bot privacy mode for the sake of consistency.

  • Your bot can now get updates about posts in channels. Added new fields channel_post and edited_channel_post to Update.

  • You can now update high scores to a lower value by using the new force parameter in setGameScore. Handy for punishing cheaters or fixing errors in your game's High Score table.

  • Starting today, messages with high scores will be updated with new high scores by default. Use disable_edit_message in setGameScore if you don't want this.
  • The edit_message parameter from setGameScore is no longer in use. For backward compatibility, it will be taken into account for a while, unless disable_edit_message is passed explicitly.
  • Added the new field forward_from_message_id to Message.
  • Added the new parameter cache_time to answerCallbackQuery. Will eventually work in Telegram apps — somewhere after version 3.14, maybe 3.15.
  • Renamed hide_keyboard to remove_keyboard in ReplyKeyboardRemove for clarity. hide_keyboard will still work for a while for backward compatibility.

October 3, 2016

Bot API 2.2. Introducing a new Gaming Platform! See this introduction for a brief overview.
If you're not a developer, you may like this user-friendly blog post better.

Other changes

  • New field all_members_are_administrators in the Chat object.
  • Certain server responses may now contain the new parameters field with expanded info on errors that occurred while processing your requests.

May 25, 2016

May 22, 2016

May 12, 2016

May 6, 2016

  • Added the field emoji to the Sticker object. Your bot can now know the emoji a sticker corresponds to.
  • Added the field forward_from_chat to the Message object for messages forwarded from channels.

April 9, 2016

Introducing Bot API 2.0. Check out this page for a review of this major update.

Inline bots

  • Added support for all content types available on Telegram. 19 types of InlineQueryResult objects are now supported.
  • Inline bots can now substitute all kinds of content with text. Added 4 types of InputMessageContent objects.
  • Your inline bot can also ask users for permission to use their location. Added the new Botfather command /setinlinegeo, added field location to the InlineQuery object, added fields location and inline_message_id to the ChosenInlineResult object.
  • Added an easy way to switch between inline mode and a private chat with the bot – useful for settings, establishing external connections and teaching users how to use your bot in inline mode. Added parameters switch_pm_text and switch_pm_parameter to the method answerInlineQuery.

Miscellaneous

February 20, 2016

  • Added the disable_notification parameter to all methods that send messages or any kind.
  • Removed backward compatibility from the method sendAudio. Voice messages now must be sent using the method sendVoice. There is no more need to specify a non-empty title or performer while sending the audio by file_id.

January 20, 2016

  • By the way, you can use both HTML-style and markdown-style formatting in your bot's messages to send bold, italic or fixed-width text and inline links. All official Telegram clients support this. See Formatting options for details.

January 14, 2016

  • You can now collect feedback on which results provided by your inline bot get chosen by the users. Added the setinlinefeedback command for Botfather, new type ChosenInlineResult, new field chosen_inline_result to the Update object.

January 4, 2016

2015

November, 2015

  • Added support for supergroups. The Type field in the Chat object can now contain 'supergroup'.
  • New optional fields added to the Message object: supergroup_chat_created, migrate_to_chat_id, migrate_from_chat_id and channel_chat_created.

October 8, 2015

  • Added initial channel support for bots (no Telegram clients support this at the moment, please wait for updates):
  • The Chat field in the Message is now of the new type Chat.
  • You can now pass a channel username (in the format @channelusername) in the place of chat_id in all methods (and instead of from_chat_id in forwardMessage). For this to work, the bot must be an administrator in the channel (and that's exactly what Telegram clients don't support yet — adding bots as administrators coming soon).

September 18, 2015

  • Bots can now download files and media sent by users.
  • Added getFile and File.

September 7, 2015

  • You can now pass parameters using application/json (please note that this doesn't work for file uploads: use multipart/form-data to upload files).
  • Added very basic markdown support. New field parse_mode added to sendMessage. For the moment messages with markdown will be displayed correctly only in Telegram for Android. Other official apps will catch up soon.

August 29, 2015

  • Added support for self-signed certificates: upload your certificate using the certificate parameter in the setWebhook method.
  • You can now make new requests when responding to webhook updates.

August 15, 2015

  • Added new type Voice and new method sendVoice for sending voice messages.
  • Earlier Audio and sendAudio should now be used for sending music files. Telegram clients will show such files in the in-app music player. If you were using sendAudio for your bot to send voice messages, please use sendVoice instead.
  • Added optional fields performer, title to the Audio object and sendAudio method.
  • Added optional field voice to the Message object.

July 2015

  • The thumb field is now optional for Video, Sticker and Document objects
  • The API now supports both video and photo captions. The caption field has been removed from the Video object and added to the Message object instead.
  • caption and duration optional fields have been added to the sendVideo method.
  • Fixed typo: user_id in the Contact object is now correctly labeled as Integer, not String

June 24, 2015

The bot platform is officially launched.

Back to the Bot API Manual »

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