Social Media Original APK
Telegram Original, with the privacy patches the official app refuses to ship.

Download Stories, hide read receipts, kill the sponsored feed. The Telegram client people actually want, packaged as an APK because Meta will not ship it on the Play Store.

  • Story Downloads
  • Ghost Mode
  • Ad-Free Feed
  • Version

    Latest tested build.

    v12.7.3
  • Download size

    On disk after install.

    39.3 MB
  • Installs

    Play Store installs.

    1B+

Telegram Original is an Android app designed for social media. This page covers the latest APK release with screenshots, key features, installation steps, compatibility details, and what to check before installing.

What is Telegram Original?

Telegram Original is the Android client for Telegram, a social media app where users share photos, videos, and short-form content with their followers. Posts, Stories, Reels, direct messages, Explore, Live broadcasts, and saved collections all work the same way they do on the official client.

The mod variant adds the privacy patches and media-download tools the official client deliberately leaves out. You can save photos, videos, and Stories directly from any post; hide read receipts and typing indicators on direct messages; and view Stories without notifying the poster (ghost mode).

Sign-in still works through your normal Telegram credentials. Your followers, saved posts, and conversation history all carry over. The patches do not change anything server-side; they change what your phone can do with the same data.

What does Telegram Original offer?

Telegram Original focuses on giving users more control than the official client offers. Save any photo, video, or Story directly from a post with one tap. Hide read receipts and typing indicators on direct messages. View Stories without notifying the poster (ghost mode).

The mod also strips sponsored posts and Reels from the feed, so what you see is content from the accounts you actually follow. Tracking and analytics endpoints are removed from the binary, reducing the telemetry the app sends back.

Account sign-in still works through your existing Telegram credentials, so your followers, library, and history carry over. The patches do not change anything server-side; they change what your phone can do with the same data.

Key features

Telegram Original ships with the same surface as the official client. Here is what users actually use the app for:

  • Posts and Stories: Share photos, videos, and 24-hour Stories with your followers.
  • Reels and short-form video: Create and watch short-form videos with effects and music.
  • Direct messages: Chat with photos, videos, voice notes, and reactions.
  • Explore and discovery: Browse trending posts and accounts by topic.
  • Live broadcasts: Stream live to your followers with comments and reactions.
  • Saved collections: Bookmark posts into private collections for later.

What's new in the latest version?

The latest build of Telegram Original (v12.7.3) focuses on stability, compatibility, and minor interface fixes on top of the upstream changes from the official client. The maintainer rebuilds against each new upstream release as it lands, so the modded build typically follows the official version by a few days.

  • Improved stability across newer Android versions, including Android 14 and 15
  • Faster loading and reduced memory footprint on lower-RAM devices
  • Bug fixes for reported playback, sync, or sign-in issues
  • Updated interface elements that match the official client's current design
  • Better support for foldable and tablet form factors
  • Patched mod modules rebuilt against the new base APK

Pros and cons

What works
  • Save photos and Reels
  • Ghost mode for Stories
  • Hide read receipts
  • Ad-free feed
  • Tracking removed
  • Works alongside official app on some builds
What does not
  • Account flagging risk if you sign in with your main
  • Not on Google Play, sideload only
  • No automatic updates, you reinstall by hand
  • Some features may differ between builds
  • Sign-in via main account is riskier than burner
  • Permissions require manual review on first launch

Good to know before installing

Modded APKs install via sideload, so Android will ask you to allow 'Install unknown apps' for your file manager or browser. This is normal. Only enable it for sources you trust.

Check the package name, version, and requested permissions before opening the app. If permissions do not match the app's purpose, hold off on installation.

App information

At a glance
The Telegram Original spec sheet
  • App name
    Telegram Original
  • Package name
    org.telegram.messenger
  • Version
    12.7.3
  • Updated
    Latest release
  • Android required
    5.0+ (Lollipop)
  • Developer
    Telegram FZ-LLC
  • Category
    Social Media
  • File size
    39.3 MB
  • Installs
    1B+
  • License
    Free / Freemium

How to install Telegram Original APK on Android

Install in five steps
Getting Telegram Original on your device
  • 1
    Tap the download button
    The Telegram Original APK file lands in your Downloads folder.
  • 2
    Allow unknown apps
    Grant the install-unknown-apps permission to your file manager when Android prompts.
  • 3
    Run the installer
    Accept the in-place update if a previous version is on the device.
  • 4
    Launch the app
    Complete first-run setup or sign in to your account.
  • 5
    Review permissions
    Open Settings inside the app and confirm permissions match the app's purpose.

Is Telegram Original safe?

Telegram Original is safest when downloaded from Google Play or the official developer source. APK files from unknown mirrors can be outdated, modified, or unsafe. Before installing, check the package name, version, file size, and requested permissions. If anything looks different from the official listing, do not install the APK.

The Telegram Original APK on this page is signed by the modder, not by the original developer. Google Play Protect will flag it on install because it is not from Google Play. That warning is expected for any sideloaded APK; you can dismiss it and proceed at your own discretion. The bigger question is what is inside the file, which is why we publish the package name, version number, and file size up top.

FAQ

  • Is Telegram Original free?
    Yes. The modded APK is free to install. You sign in with your existing account.
  • What does this Telegram mod offer?
    Media downloads, ghost mode for Stories, hide read receipts, and ad-free feed.
  • Will my account be flagged?
    Patched clients can be detected. If you are worried, sign in with a secondary account.
  • Can I install Telegram Original without Google Play?
    Yes. Download the APK and install via sideload.
  • Does Telegram Original update automatically?
    No. Pull a fresh build from this page when a new version drops.
  • What Android version does it require?
    Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or later for the latest builds.

Final verdict

Telegram Original is worth installing if you want more control over your social client on Android without the official client's restrictions. The build offers media downloads, ghost mode, and ad-free feed. Check compatibility, permissions, and the download source before installing the APK, and update from this page when a new build drops.

For your primary account, the Play Store version remains the safer install path because of Google's pre-install scanning and the auto-update channel. Use the modded build with a secondary or burner account where account integrity risk is lower. If you only use one account, weigh the convenience of the unlocks against the small but real risk that the upstream platform may flag patched clients.