Here’s where Telegram saves files on your Mac and how to delete them:
When it comes to Telegram files on your Mac, all the files will be saved in a few locations.
Most are in the following location:
~/library/Group Containers/6N38VWS5BX.ru.keepcoder.Telegram.
If you want to delete things, you can move them from that folder to the trash, or you can delete downloaded items from the downloads folder.
So if you want to learn all about Telegram’s files on a Mac, then this article is for you.
Let’s get started!
What Is the Deal With the Telegram App?
Telegram is a hybrid between a messaging app and a social media app.
It allows for many forms of direct communication between users (like chats, sharing videos, etc.), and it has resources for large-scale outreach (similar to the Twitter experience).
A few things make Telegram appealing to a lot of users.
One is the commitment to privacy.
According to Telegram, the company has never shared private data with any third party.
That’s a pretty big statement in the world of social media and major tech companies.
Another is security. Telegram offers encrypted services, basically vowing to protect your conversations and data as rigorously as possible without sacrificing the user experience.
It’s hard to say that Telegram is more secure than other messaging apps, but it definitely doesn’t skimp on security.
Ultimately, Telegram is easy to use, fast, secure, and private. That’s enough for the many millions of users who participate on the platform.
Understanding Telegram File Storage
Telegram’s file storage system is designed to help users store and manage various types of files, including images, videos, documents, and more. When you download a file from Telegram, it is stored in a designated folder on your device, and the location of this folder can vary depending on your operating system and device settings.
On a Mac, Telegram caches files in the ~/Library/Group Containers/6N38VWS5BX.ru.keepcoder.Telegram directory. T
his is where you’ll find most of the operational and user-specific data that Telegram saves automatically. For Android devices, the files are stored in the /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/org.thunderdog.challegram/files directory.
Understanding these storage paths can help you locate and manage your Telegram files more effectively, regardless of the operating system you are using.
How Does Telegram File Saving Work on Mac’s Download Folder?
Now that you know a little more about Telegram, we can get into some of the technical details of how it works.
Like any app, it has to save files on your Mac in order to function.
On top of that, it allows you to manually or automatically download content from the platform so that you can access it as you see fit.
As an example, if someone sends you a picture or other media files that you like, you can download them.
When you do, you gain access to that picture even if your Mac is offline. To understand file saving through Telegram, we have to look at these functions separately.
When it comes to system files and automatic saves, Telegram looks a lot like any other app on your Mac. It will create a folder in your System Library that houses most of the critical, operational software.
It will also create a folder in your user library that houses your preferences.
Automatically saved information will also be in the Telegram folder in your user library.
If, however, you manually download information, then things are a little different.
By default, Telegram will put these files in your downloads folder
So, this will be like downloading anything else from the internet.
You can highlight a picture (or any other files) and choose to save it. When you do, it will go to the downloads folder, and you can access it as you like.
You can also change where Telegram saves these items. To do that, you’ll need to access the preferences in the Telegram app.
Specifically, load Telegram.
While it is the active app (it should say “Telegram” next to the Apple symbol in the top left of your screen), you can click on “Preferences.”
From there, you are looking for “Data and Storage.” Depending on your Telegram version, you might have to go through “Advanced” before you will see “Data and Storage.”
In the Data and Storage settings, you will have multiple options. Among these, you can choose how Telegram saves files (I’ll be coming back to this a little later).
Finding and Managing Downloaded Files
Finding and managing downloaded files on Telegram is essential for keeping your digital space organized. Here’s how you can locate your downloaded files on different devices:
On Android: Open the Telegram app, tap on the three horizontal lines in the top left corner, and select “Settings.” From there, tap on “Data and Storage” and look for the “Download folder” option. This will show you where your downloaded files are stored.
On iOS: Open the Files app, tap on the “Browse” tab at the bottom, and select the “On My iPhone” option. Look for the “Telegram” folder to access your downloaded files.
On PC: Open the Telegram Desktop app, click on the three horizontal lines in the top left corner, and select “Settings.” Then, click on “Data and Storage” and look for the “Download folder” option to find where your files are saved.
Customizing your download settings can also help you manage your files better. For instance, you can set a specific download path on both desktop and mobile devices, making it easier to keep track of your downloaded files and maintain an organized digital space.
Customizing File Downloads in Telegram
Customizing file downloads in Telegram can help you control data usage and prevent your device’s storage from becoming overloaded. Here are some ways to customize your file downloads:
Adjust Auto-Download Settings: You can control data usage by adjusting your auto-download settings. For example, you can set Telegram to download files only when you’re connected to Wi-Fi or set a specific download limit to avoid using too much data.
Set the Download Path on Desktop Devices: On desktop devices, you can choose a specific folder or drive to store your downloaded files. This can be done through the “Data and Storage” settings in the Telegram Desktop app.
Set the Download Path on Mobile Devices: Similarly, on mobile devices, you can select a specific folder or drive to store your downloaded files. This helps in keeping your files organized and easy to find.
Manage Files Within the Telegram App: To keep your digital space tidy, you can delete or move files to a different folder directly within the Telegram app. This can free up storage space and make it easier to manage your files.
Troubleshooting Telegram File Storage Issues
If you’re experiencing issues with Telegram file storage, here are some troubleshooting tips to help you resolve them:
Check Your Download Folder Settings: Ensure that your files are being stored in the correct location by checking your download folder settings in the Telegram app.
Clear Your Telegram Cache: Free up storage space and improve app performance by clearing your Telegram cache. This can be done through the “Data and Storage” settings in the app.
Check Your Device’s Storage Space: Make sure you have enough room to store files by checking your device’s storage space. If you’re running low on space, consider deleting unnecessary files or moving them to an external storage device.
Restart the Telegram App or Your Device: Sometimes, simply restarting the Telegram app or your device can resolve technical issues and improve file storage performance.
By following these tips, you can effectively manage your Telegram file storage and ensure a smooth user experience.
How Do You Delete the Telegram Files? (2 Things)
We’ve covered Telegram and how it manages files pretty well at this point.
Moving forward, I’ll show you how you can actually delete things that you don’t want to keep on your Mac.
Before that, it’s probably important to explain how Telegram uses the cloud.
By default, all Telegram conversations are saved on cloud servers (there are exceptions for secret chats, but those aren’t currently available on Macs). You can also use the saved messages feature to store and access important files easily.
So, if you delete things from your Mac, they will still be saved on the cloud.
Deleting things from the Telegram cloud servers requires you to use the Telegram app.
Here’s how:
Open the Telegram app on your phone.
Go to the chat where you want to delete the media from.
Tap and hold the media you want to delete.
Tap on the trash bin icon in the top right corner of the screen when the checkmark on the left side of the file is green.
Select Also delete for … (name of the contact), if you wish to delete the file for both of you.
Tap Delete.
It’s also possible to delete a single message when it comes to media by tapping on the three-dot icon in the top right corner of the file or simply tapping on it.
You’ll see a pop-up window.
Tap Delete to confirm.
When it comes to deleting files from your Mac, you want to clear the Cache or manually delete them from your downloads folder.
#1 Clear the Cache to Remove Downloaded Files
One way to control Telegram files is to clear your cache.
You can do this from the preferences you were managing in an earlier section.
Among the “Data and Storage” settings, there is an option to “manage local storage.” This pulls up a checklist that you can manually control.
Anything on this list with a checkmark next to it will be cleared out when you finalize the process.
You can clear everything or some things as you see fit.
Doing this eliminates a lot of automatically saved Telegram data, making it easier to manage storage space and prevent unauthorized users from finding files on your Mac.
You can also manually clear the cache.
To do this, you need to navigate to your user library. This library is hidden by default on a Mac, so there’s a trick to it.
Open up Finder (it should say “Finder” next to the Apple at the top left of your screen).
Click on “Go” on the menu bar at the top of your screen.
This should bring down the menu. If you look at the menu, you won’t see an option that says “Library.”
That’s because it’s still hidden.
To reveal the library on this list, you need to hold the “option” key.
If you hold it and then let go, you will see the library appear and disappear according to how you use the key.
So, holding the option key down, click on the library choice in this menu. This will open a Finder box with your user library.
There’s going to be a lot of stuff here.
You’re looking for something called “group containers.”
Open that folder, and you’ll see a new long list of folders.
You want one that ends with “Telegram.”
The first part of the folder name will be a serial number. You can ignore that.
If it ends with “Telegram,” it’s the right one.
You can open that folder, and then you’ll see more content.
You can manually delete anything in this folder, or you can delete all of it.
Anything you want to remove can be dragged into the trash.
That’s all it takes.
#2 Delete the Old-Fashioned Way from the Telegram Folder
When it comes to your individually downloaded items, you have to manage those yourself.
So, open up your downloads folder.
You can do this through the Finder app, or you can click on “downloads” at the bottom right of your screen.
Either way, this will pull up all of your downloads.
You’ll have to browse through them to find any telegram downloads you want to delete.
If you see anything you want to get rid of, simply drag it into the trash
By doing this, you can manage your downloads and get rid of stuff you don’t want.
