When it comes to instant messaging platforms, keeping group chats organized can feel like herding cats. With Telegram’s massive supergroups supporting up to 200,000 members, conversations can quickly spiral into chaos. Enter Telegram’s threaded chats—a duo of powerful features, threaded replies and Topics, designed to bring order to the madness.
As of June 2025, these tools have become indispensable for managing discussions, whether you’re coordinating a small team or running a sprawling online community. Here’s everything you need to know about Telegram’s threaded chats, how to use them, and how to set them up to supercharge your group communication.
What Are Telegram’s Threaded Chats?
Telegram’s threaded chats are two distinct but complementary features that tackle the clutter of group conversations:
Threaded Replies: When you reply to a specific message in a group, Telegram links the response to the original message, creating a thread. This keeps related replies neatly grouped, making it easier to follow discussions without wading through a flood of unrelated messages. Threads are identified by the original message’s ID and are accessible in any Telegram group, from small friend circles to massive supergroups.
Topics: Introduced in November 2022, Topics take organization to the next level. Designed for large groups (typically over 200 members, though admins can enable them for smaller ones), Topics create dedicated sub-chats within a group for specific subjects. Each topic operates like a standalone chat, complete with its own message history, shared media, and notification settings. Think of Topics as Discord-style channels, perfect for structuring conversations in bustling communities.
These features address the challenges of managing high-volume group chats, ensuring discussions remain focused and navigable. Whether you’re debating project deadlines or organizing a fan community, threaded chats make Telegram a powerhouse for collaboration.
How to use threaded replies
Threaded replies are Telegram’s lightweight solution for keeping responses on point, and they’re available in every group chat.
Here’s how to use them:
- Creating a Reply: On mobile (iOS or Android), swipe left on a message or tap and hold, then select “Reply.” On desktop, right-click the message and choose “Reply.” Type your response, and it’ll appear with a preview of the original message, linking it to the thread.
- Viewing Threads: Tap or click the original message to see a “View X Replies” option, which opens a dedicated view of the thread. You can also long-press (mobile) or right-click (desktop) and select “View Thread” to dive into the conversation.
- Navigating: Clicking the quoted message in a reply jumps to the original message, streamlining navigation. For advanced users, Telegram’s API (e.g., messages.search with the thread ID) lets bots or developers manage threaded replies programmatically.
Threaded replies shine in scenarios like project groups, where you might respond to a specific task update without derailing other discussions. They’re intuitive and require no setup, making them a go-to for casual and professional chats alike.
How to use Topics
For larger groups, Topics offer a more structured approach, turning a chaotic chat into an organized hub of sub-conversations.
Here’s how they work:
- Accessing Topics: In a group with Topics enabled, tap the group name or three-dot menu to see available topics. Switch between them to enter dedicated chat spaces, each with its own message history and media.
- Managing Topics: Right-click a topic to mark it as read, mute notifications, or customize alert tones. Each topic has its own shared media section, so you can quickly find relevant files or links.
- Use Cases: Topics are perfect for communities with diverse interests. For example, a gaming group might have topics for “News,” “Events,” and “Strategy Tips,” ensuring members can focus on what matters to them.
Topics feel like mini-chats within a group, offering flexibility and clarity for large-scale discussions.
Setting up Threaded Chats
Threaded Replies
No setup is needed for threaded replies—they’re automatically available in all Telegram groups. Simply ensure your app is updated to the latest version (as of June 2025) and encourage group members to use the reply function (swipe left or select “Reply”) for focused responses. Admins can pin messages to remind users to leverage threads for better organization.
Topics
Setting up Topics requires admin privileges and a few simple steps:
- Enable Topics: Open the group, tap the group name (mobile) or three-dot menu (desktop), and select “Edit” or “Manage Group.” Toggle the “Topics” option, typically available for groups with over 200 members (though admins can enable it for smaller groups).
- Create a Topic: From the group’s menu, select “Create Topic,” enter a title (e.g., “Project Updates”), choose an optional emoji or icon, and click “Create.”
- Set Permissions: In group settings, adjust who can create or manage topics. Restrict to admins or allow specific members to contribute.
- Manage Topics: Edit topic names, icons, or permissions, and delete or close topics as needed via the group or topic settings.
Admins can enhance Topics with pinned messages, polls, or bots to automate notifications and keep discussions on track.
