> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.cura.so/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Telegram

> Telegram is a quick, lightweight way for customers to reach you.

Telegram is a quick, lightweight way for customers to reach you. This guide connects a Telegram bot to Cura so the AI can answer messages and you can manage them from the Inbox.

By the end, messages sent to your Telegram bot will appear in your Cura Inbox, and your AI will be ready to reply.

## Before you begin

* A **Telegram account** to create the bot from.
* A few minutes with **BotFather** — Telegram's official tool for creating bots. It gives you a **bot token** (a long string that lets Cura send and receive on the bot's behalf).
* **Admin** access in Cura. Only an admin can add a new channel.

<Note>
  BotFather gives you one value — the **bot token**. You'll paste that into Cura, which is the only credential you need to provide. Cura generates a webhook secret for you automatically.
</Note>

***

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a bot in Telegram">
    * In Telegram, **open a chat with @BotFather** (the verified official account).
    * **Send the `/newbot` command** and follow the prompts to name your bot and pick a username.
    * **Copy the bot token** BotFather sends back. It looks like a long string of numbers and letters separated by a colon.

    <Warning>
      Treat the bot token like a password. Anyone with it can send messages as your bot. Don't share it outside Cura. If it ever leaks, ask BotFather to revoke and reissue it.
    </Warning>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start the connection in Cura">
    * Go to **Integrations → Channels**.
    * **Click Add channel** and choose **Telegram**.
    * Review the requirements screen, then click **Continue**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure and connect">
    On the **Configure Telegram** screen:

    * **Give the channel a name** so you can recognise it in your Inbox (e.g. "Telegram — Front Desk").
    * **Paste the bot token** into the **Bot Token** field. Cura checks the format as you go.
    * Leave the **Webhook Secret** as the value Cura pre-filled (you can regenerate it with **Generate**). Cura uses this to verify that incoming messages really came from Telegram.
    * Choose whether to **Enable AI Assistant** for this channel.
    * Click **Create & Connect**.

    Cura registers message delivery (the **webhook**) with Telegram automatically using your bot token — there's nothing to paste back into Telegram. The final screen confirms setup is complete and shows the webhook URL for reference.

    <Check>Telegram is connected. Cura can now receive and send messages on this bot.</Check>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test it">
    * From a different Telegram account, **search for your bot by its username and send it a message**.
    * **Open the Cura Inbox** — the message should appear within a few seconds, tagged as a Telegram conversation.
    * If **Master AI** is on for this channel, the AI will reply automatically. If not, reply manually to confirm the connection works both ways.

    <Check>You're live on Telegram.</Check>
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Configure how Telegram behaves

Once connected, fine-tune the channel under its per-channel settings:

* **Master AI** — turn the AI on or off for this channel.
* **AI schedule** — have the AI answer only during business hours.
* **Owner and notifications** — decide who owns the channel and who gets notified of new messages.

👉 See [Per-channel settings](/setting-up-cura/per-channel-settings) for the full list.

## Troubleshooting

* **Messages aren't arriving in Cura.** Re-check that the bot token was pasted correctly (watch for trailing spaces) and that the channel shows as connected. If needed, remove and re-add the channel to re-register the webhook.
* **"Invalid token" when saving.** Re-copy the token from BotFather; if in doubt, ask BotFather to reissue it and paste the fresh one.
* **The bot doesn't respond to a customer's first message.** Some Telegram clients require the customer to tap **Start** before the bot can reply — that's normal Telegram behaviour.

***

### Related articles

* [Connect LINE OA](/setting-up-cura/connect-line-oa)
* [How channels work in Cura](/setting-up-cura/how-channels-work)
* [Per-channel settings (owner, notifications, AI schedule)](/setting-up-cura/per-channel-settings)
* [Archiving and removing a channel](/setting-up-cura/archiving-a-channel)