> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.cekat.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.cekat.ai/en/ai-and-platform/connected-platforms/telegram-inbox.md).

# Telegram Inbox

Connect your Telegram bot to Cekat.AI to receive and manage private customer chats, with full text and media support, all from one inbox.

**Before you start**

Before you connect Telegram, make sure you have:

* An active Telegram account
* A Telegram bot created through **@BotFather**
* The bot's API token from BotFather

**Creating a bot with BotFather**

1. Open **@BotFather** in Telegram and tap **Start**.
2. Send the `/newbot` command, then follow the instructions to give your bot a name and username.
3. Copy the **API token** BotFather sends you. You'll paste it into the Cekat AI form in the next steps.

**Connecting Telegram**

1. Open the **Chat** product.

<figure><img src="https://3693109682-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZNZlvyOVkZXyd3pz2Cql%2Fuploads%2Ffpl2GPqhRblLPiIn3bYA%2FScreenshot%202026-09-29%20at%2010.09.32.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c07342e2-adbb-497e-aea6-232da51030c6" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

2. In the sidebar, choose **Connected Platforms**.

<figure><img src="https://3693109682-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZNZlvyOVkZXyd3pz2Cql%2Fuploads%2F91Uj2OslMGUfXlsD8Qjq%2FScreenshot%202026-09-29%20at%2010.11.54.png?alt=media&#x26;token=fe83a4de-9451-49e6-9ae8-ee5ab20c0ce6" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

3. Click **Add Channel**.

<figure><img src="https://3693109682-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZNZlvyOVkZXyd3pz2Cql%2Fuploads%2Fm8v9Lr1igfe67Jf8wOsy%2FScreenshot%202026-09-29%20at%2010.12.44.png?alt=media&#x26;token=c7b4c43e-4b31-4e68-a957-912333691a7d" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

4. Choose the **Telegram** channel.
5. In the **Connect Telegram Inbox** form, fill in:

<figure><img src="https://3693109682-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FZNZlvyOVkZXyd3pz2Cql%2Fuploads%2FGaFJrVTv3k6uP2RpTccI%2Fimage%20(1).png?alt=media&#x26;token=fb39ce07-b3a3-4605-ae4d-01f813309743" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

* **Telegram Bot Username**: your bot's username (up to 40 characters)
* **Bot API token**: the token you got from BotFather
* **Description** (optional): a short note about this inbox (up to 100 characters)

6. Click **Create Inbox**.

Once the inbox is created, your Telegram bot is connected and ready to receive customer chats in Cekat AI.

**Messaging rules**

Messaging follows Telegram's platform policies.

* **Bot tokens only**: only bots created through @BotFather can be connected. Personal Telegram accounts can't be used.
* **Customers start the conversation**: a bot can't send the first message. The customer needs to message first (usually with the `/start` command) before the bot can reply.
* **Reply window**: none. You can reply at any time.
* **Message limit**: there's no limit on how many messages you can send in a given period.
* **Supported formats**: text, images, video, audio, and documents or files.
* **Blocked by the customer**: if a customer blocks your bot, messages won't be delivered until they unblock it.
* **Message history**: messages sent before the integration was connected won't be imported into Cekat AI.