While it is true, currently, Telegram is one of the most relevant instant messaging apps in the digital environment. Since, in a short time and thanks to its updates, it managed to reinvent itself to the point of outperform services like WhatsApp, in several respects.
Therefore, many people choose to use this platform to communicate with their family, friends and colleagues, constantly. However, for certain reasons, they are likely to stop using Telegram for a while.
Because of that, these users they worry about what will happen to their data in that time, especially, due to the latent risks of falling into the hands of third parties. However, this can be avoided thanks to the self-destruct function of Telegram accounts that, we will teach you how to use it here.
What will happen to my files if I stop using my Telegram account for a period of time?
By default, Telegram starts with device startup automatically, as long as you don’t explicitly avoid this. Whereby, It is difficult for your account to be considered inactive in its entirety for a significant period of time. Which is why, if you keep the application installed, there are not many risks of losing your files and / or data stored there.
However, if you are one of the undecided users who try the app from time to time and even choose to uninstall it, things change. Since, the service indicates that, to have the disk space necessary to host the history of its users, periodically, they have to delete files owned by the most inactive accounts.
Consequently, if you stop using your account Telegram for a long period of time, your files hosted in the application will be deleted for sure. That is to say, all your messages, photos, audios, videos, documents, contacts and any other information stored on the servers of this platform. So when you log in again, you will do it as if you were a new user (This will be notified to all your contacts, in due course).
Meanwhile, the groups you have created will be the only elements that will remain in your Telegram account, under this condition of inactivity:
Are they also deleted in other people’s chats?
Given this, you will surely wonder if the files that you have shared with other Telegram users will also be deleted in their chats, in case your account remains inactive. Which, as well as the groups are preserved intact, These may also remain in the accounts of other people.
Since, these elements are only deleted in your account and in your backup copies, unlike the chats of the recipients that they will be able to continue seeing old messages regardless of whether the sender’s account has expired. Which means that ultimately your files will not be deleted in other people’s chats.
Learn step by step to configure the “Self-destruct” time of your Telegram account on any device
Naturally, most services have an expiration date on each of their accounts, as is the case with WhatsApp. Considering that, this application, choose to delete accounts that have not been used for 45 consecutive days and, above all, if the associated phone number has been activated on another computer.
In this sense, although Telegram also manages an expiration date for accounts, this platform differs from the rest by provide greater control by the user over the expiration time of their account.
Thus, although it is not optional for it to expire, the truth is that each person you will have the power to select the downtime you require. For its part, this option is possible thanks to the self-destruct function that Telegram has designed. Therefore, through it, each user can configure and / or adjust the self-destruction or expiration time of their account directly from any device.
Reason why, here we will introduce you to each procedure to follow to do it correctly from the mobile app and with the desktop version:
On Android
If you want to define when your account Telegram and all the content saved in your cloud will disappear completely, from your Android mobile or tablet.
Here we explain what you should do:
- Of course, initially, you have to access your Telegram account making use of the mobile app compatible with Android.
- After that, on the main page, go to the upper left corner and press the icon of the three horizontal lines that is there.
- Then click on “Settings” among the entire list of options.
- Now, starting from the Settings section, you must touch on “Privacy and security”.
- After that, look for the section that says “Control your sessions on other devices” and there in Delete my account, select the expiration time from the Account Self-Destruct box. Either 1 month, 3 months, 6 months (checked by default) or 1 year.
- Finally, once you choose the time you want to set, automatically, it will be saved in your account settings.
On iOS
In the case of iPhone and iPad, the process to follow through the Telegram app is very similar to that of Android when you need to set the time interval to self-destruct your account.
Therefore, you will have to follow the step by step indicated here:
- Starts with enter your Telegram account using the mobile application compatible with the operating system iOS.
- Secondly, press the icon of the three horizontal lines found in the upper left corner from the main window.
- After that, you have to select the option that says “Settings”.
- Later, it is time to access the “Privacy and security” section, from the Settings section.
- Next, in Privacy and security, Look for the Delete my account section and tap on “If I’m out” to be able to choose the self-destruction time of your account (1 month, 3 months, 6 months or a year).
- Finally, once you select the time interval you require, you have to click on “Save” and that’s it.
On PC and MacOS
If you prefer to manage your account Telegram through your computer (Windows or MacOS) and you want to configure or set the self-destruction time of it from there, you also have the possibility to do it easily.
In this case, the step by step to execute is:
- To start, you must log into your account Telegram through the platform’s desktop application. This version, you can get it for free on its official website.
- Next, proceed to click on the three horizontal lines icon. Which is in the upper left corner.
- Once you see the main menu in the left sidebar, it’s time to select the option “Settings”.
- Now, in the third position of the list, you will find “Privacy & Security” you have to choose to access that section.
- After this, go to the bottom of the new menu and there, you can get the section of “Delete my account”. In it, click on “If I’m out …” and define the time you want your account to delete itself.
- Finally, in order to save the adjustment made, just click on “Save”.