Telegram

How to Customize Telegram Themes

Chris Thompson

· 7 min read

elegram, with its robust features and flexibility, has gained immense popularity as one of the most versatile messaging platforms. One of the standout features of Telegram is the ability to customize themes, allowing users to personalize their messaging experience to reflect their tastes. Whether you want a dark, minimalistic look or something vibrant and colorful, Telegram has the tools you need to create the perfect theme.

Why Customize Your Telegram Theme?

Customizing your Telegram theme is more than just an aesthetic choice; it’s about enhancing your user experience. The right theme can:

  • Reduce eye strain: Especially if you’re sensitive to bright screens, a dark theme can be easier on the eyes.
  • Reflect your personality: Colors and design elements that resonate with you can make your messaging experience feel more personal.
  • Improve readability: Adjusting font sizes and colors can make text easier to read, especially for those with visual impairments.
  • Break the monotony: A fresh look can make the app feel new again, keeping you engaged.

How to Customize Telegram Themes: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Using Built-In Themes

Telegram offers several built-in themes that are easy to switch between. Here's how you can change your theme using the default options:

  1. Open Telegram and go to the settings menu by tapping the three horizontal lines in the top left corner.
  2. Navigate to Settings > Chat Settings (or Appearance on iOS).
  3. You’ll see a few preset themes like Classic, Day, Night, and Arctic.
  4. Tap on any of these themes to apply it instantly.

These built-in themes are great, but if you’re looking for more customization, Telegram allows you to tweak these themes or create your own from scratch.

2. Creating a Custom Theme

Creating a custom theme in Telegram is straightforward. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Telegram and navigate to Settings > Chat Settings (or Appearance).
  2. Scroll down and tap on Create New Theme. You’ll be prompted to give your new theme a name.
  3. Once named, you’ll enter a customization mode where you can tweak various elements, such as:
    • Background color: Set the color or even add an image for your chat background.
    • Message bubbles: Change the color of sent and received messages.
    • Text color: Adjust the color of the text in the chat, ensuring readability against your background.
    • Link color: Customize how hyperlinks appear.
  4. After making your adjustments, tap Save to finalize your theme. You can also continue to tweak it by selecting Edit Current Theme from the theme menu.

3. Advanced Customization: Using Telegram Desktop

For those who want to go beyond the basic theme customization available on the mobile app, Telegram Desktop offers more advanced options. Here’s how you can take advantage of it:

  1. Download and Install Telegram Desktop from Telegram's official website.
  2. Open the application and log in with your Telegram account.
  3. Go to Settings > Appearance.
  4. Click on Create New Theme. A menu will open where you can edit various components of the interface, such as:
    • Window background
    • Chat background
    • Message bubbles
    • Fonts and text sizes
    • Notification styles
  5. Use the built-in color picker or input your own hex codes to get the exact colors you want.
  6. Once satisfied, click Save and give your theme a name.

Telegram Desktop allows you to be precise with your customizations, making it a powerful tool for those who want total control over their theme.

4. Exporting and Sharing Your Theme

One of the great features of Telegram is the ability to share your custom themes with others. Here’s how you can export and share your theme:

  1. On Mobile:

    • Once your theme is saved, go to Settings > Chat Settings.
    • Scroll down to your custom theme and tap the three dots next to it.
    • Select Export Theme. Telegram will generate a file link that you can share with others.

  2. On Desktop:

    • Navigate to Settings > Appearance and click on your custom theme.
    • Choose Export Theme and select a destination to save the theme file (.tdesktop-theme).
    • You can now share this file with others, and they can import it into their Telegram app.

5. Importing a Theme

If someone shares a theme with you or you find one online that you want to try out, importing it into Telegram is easy:

  1. On Mobile:

    • Open the link or file that was shared with you.
    • Telegram will automatically recognize it as a theme file and prompt you to apply it.

  2. On Desktop:

    • Go to Settings > Appearance.
    • Click Import Theme and select the theme file (.tdesktop-theme) from your computer.
    • The theme will be applied immediately.

6. Finding Themes Online

The Telegram community is incredibly creative, and there are many websites and groups dedicated to sharing custom themes. Here are a few places where you can find interesting themes:

When downloading themes from third-party sources, ensure they come from a reputable community to avoid any security risks.

7. Tips for Designing a Great Theme

Creating a visually appealing and functional theme requires a bit of planning. Here are some tips to help you design a theme that not only looks good but also enhances usability:

  • Contrast is Key: Ensure that there is enough contrast between text and background colors. This is crucial for readability.
  • Consistent Color Scheme: Stick to a color scheme that feels cohesive. Using too many different colors can make the theme look chaotic.
  • Mind the Brightness: Bright themes can be harsh on the eyes, especially in low-light conditions. Consider creating a dark mode variant.
  • Test Across Devices: If possible, test your theme on both mobile and desktop versions of Telegram. What looks good on one device might not on another.
  • Balance Aesthetics with Functionality: While it’s tempting to make everything flashy, remember that the primary purpose of the theme is to facilitate communication. Make sure the chat interface remains easy to use.

8. Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even though customizing Telegram themes is straightforward, you might encounter some issues along the way. Here are some common problems and how to fix them:

  • Theme Not Applying: If a theme isn’t applying correctly, ensure that you have the latest version of Telegram installed. Outdated versions might not support certain theme features.
  • Text Hard to Read: If text is hard to read after applying a theme, go back into the theme settings and adjust the contrast between text and background colors.
  • Performance Issues: Occasionally, highly customized themes can cause performance issues, especially on older devices. If this happens, consider simplifying your theme or reverting to a default option.
  • Theme Not Exporting: If you’re unable to export your theme, ensure that your app has permission to access storage. On mobile devices, you may need to grant Telegram access to your device’s storage.

9. Conclusion

Customizing Telegram themes is not only a fun way to personalize your messaging app, but it also allows you to create a more comfortable and engaging user experience. Whether you’re using built-in themes, creating your own, or importing themes made by others, the process is user-friendly and offers endless possibilities. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can easily transform your Telegram into a reflection of your style and preferences.

So, why settle for the default look when you can craft something unique? Dive into the world of Telegram themes and start customizing today!

10. Further Resources

For those who want to delve even deeper into Telegram customization, here are some additional resources:

  • Telegram API Documentation: If you’re interested in developing your own bots or further customizing your experience, the Telegram API documentation is an excellent resource.
  • Design Inspiration: Websites like Dribbble and Behance can provide inspiration for color schemes and design elements.
  • Telegram Beta: Join the Telegram Beta community to get early access to new features and test them out before they’re released to the public.

Customizing your Telegram theme is just the beginning of what you can do with this versatile platform. Keep exploring, and you’ll discover a world of possibilities that go far beyond messaging.