How to Welcome New Members in a Telegram Group Automatically

To welcome new members in a Telegram group automatically, add a trusted welcome or moderation bot as an admin and set the message it sends when someone joins. A good welcome message is short, greets the person, points to the rules and tells them where to start. Set it to delete itself after a while so the chat does not fill up with greetings.

This guide covers the options, what to write, and how to avoid the common problems with welcome messages.

Why a welcome message matters

The first minutes in a new group decide whether someone stays. Without guidance, newcomers often:

• Post in the wrong place or the wrong topic.
• Break a rule they did not know about.
• Ask a question that is answered in a pinned message.
• Leave because they do not know what to do.

A welcome message solves these problems at the right moment. It is also a chance to warn people about scams before anyone contacts them privately.

Your options for automatic welcomes

Option 1: A welcome or moderation bot

This is the most common approach. Standard Telegram groups do not offer a fully custom automatic welcome message in their settings, so admins usually use a bot. Check your current app in case this has changed.

Many moderation bots include a welcome feature alongside spam filters and verification. A bot can usually:

• Send a message when someone joins, often mentioning them by name.
• Include buttons that link to the rules or a topic.
• Delete the welcome after a set time.
• Combine the welcome with a verification step, so new members prove they are a person before posting.

Option 2: Your own bot

If you want full control, you can create your own bot with @BotFather and connect it to a simple tool or a few lines of code. This takes more effort but means you know exactly what the bot does. See how to create a Telegram bot with BotFather.

Option 3: A pinned message plus manual greetings

In a small group, a pinned "Start here" message and a friendly hello from an admin may be enough. This does not scale, but it feels personal.

Step by step: setting up a welcome bot

The details depend on the bot you choose, but the process is usually similar.

1. Choose a bot carefully. Pick one from a source you trust, with a clear owner and documentation. Our list of useful bots for Telegram channel admins is a starting point.
2. Add the bot to your group. You can add it like any member, usually from the group's member list or the bot's profile.
3. Make it an admin with limited rights. A welcome bot usually needs to send and delete messages. If it also handles verification, it may need to restrict members. Do not give it the right to add new admins.
4. Open the bot's settings. Most bots are configured by sending commands in a private chat with the bot or through a menu it provides.
5. Write your welcome text. Use the guidance below.
6. Set auto-delete, if the bot supports it, so old welcomes disappear.
7. Test it by joining the group with a second account.
8. Check it again after updating your rules or topics, so links stay correct.

What to write in a welcome message

Keep it short

Most people read the first line or two and skip the rest. Aim for a message that fits on a phone screen without scrolling.

Include these parts

• A greeting, ideally with the person's name.
• What the group is for, in one sentence.
• Where to start, such as a topic for introductions or questions.
• A link to the rules.
• A scam warning, saying admins never ask for money, passwords or login codes.

Example

Here is an example for a fictional group about learning languages:

"Welcome, Maria! This group is for people learning Spanish together. Please read the pinned rules, then say hello in the Introductions topic. Our admins will never message you first asking for money, passwords or codes. If someone does, report them."

That is enough to orient a new member, without overwhelming them.

Use buttons where possible

If your bot supports buttons, add one for "Rules" and one for the most useful topic. Buttons are easier to tap than links in text.

Combining welcomes with verification

Spam accounts often join large groups. A welcome bot that also asks new members to press a button or answer a simple question can stop many of them before they post.

Keep the verification simple. If real people get stuck, they leave. Test it on a phone, in the language your members use.

For more ways to protect your group, see how to stop spam bots in Telegram groups.

Welcomes in groups with topics

If your group uses topics, decide where welcomes appear. Many admins send them to the general thread. Some prefer an introductions topic, so new members can reply and be greeted by others there.

Mention the main topics in the welcome so newcomers know where to go.

Welcomes for join requests

If your group uses join requests, a person is approved before they can post. Some bots can send a message to applicants, such as a short question or the rules, before an admin approves them. Check whether the bot you use supports this.

Join requests and welcome messages work well together: the request filters out bad accounts, and the welcome orients the good ones.

Going beyond the automatic message

An automatic welcome is a start, not a community. A few human touches help a lot:

• Reply when a new member introduces themselves.
• Answer first questions kindly, even if the answer is in the pinned message.
• Invite newcomers into an ongoing conversation or a poll.

Small, consistent gestures like these turn new members into regulars.

Common mistakes

• Very long welcome messages. People skip them. Keep the essentials only.
• Not deleting old welcomes. In a busy group, greetings bury real conversation.
• Giving the welcome bot too many rights. It only needs what its features require.
• Broken links. After changing rules or topics, update the welcome.
• No scam warning. New members are often targeted by fake admins right after joining.
• Confusing verification. If newcomers cannot work out how to pass it, they leave.

FAQ

Does Telegram have a built-in welcome message for groups?

Standard groups have not offered a fully custom welcome message in their settings, which is why admins use bots. Telegram adds features regularly, so check your group's settings in the current app.

Can a welcome message mention new members by name?

Many welcome bots can insert the new member's name into the message. Check your bot's documentation for how to do this.

Should welcome messages be public or sent privately?

Bots generally cannot start a private chat with someone who has not messaged them first, so welcomes are usually posted in the group. Use auto-delete to keep the chat tidy.

Is it safe to add a welcome bot to my group?

It can be, if the bot comes from a trusted source and has limited admin rights. Read are Telegram bots safe? before adding one.

Can I welcome new subscribers to a channel?

Channels do not show who joins in the same way groups do, and bots have limited options there. Many owners pin a "Start here" post instead.

Summary

The simplest way to welcome new members automatically is a trusted bot with admin rights limited to what it needs. Write a short message with a greeting, the group's purpose, where to start, a rules link and a scam warning. Set old welcomes to delete, test with a second account, and update the message when your rules or topics change.

When your group is welcoming and well organised, you can submit it to TGDirectory so more people can find it.