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How to uninstall Telegram on a Mac, and where its chats and media are kept

Telegram for Mac keeps chats and downloaded media in group containers that Terminal cannot read. Log out, remove the app, then clear those folders.

4 min read

How do I uninstall Telegram on a Mac?

  1. Log out, or end the session from your phone: Settings, Devices, then the Mac.
  2. Quit Telegram and move it from Applications to the Trash. Ours, version 12.10 from the App Store, was 315 MB.
  3. In Finder, press ⌘ ⇧ G, open ~/Library/Group Containers, and move the folders containing ru.keepcoder.Telegram to the Trash. Then do the same in ~/Library/Containers.

Where does Telegram store files on a Mac?

In group containers named like 6N38VWS5BX.ru.keepcoder.Telegram. Ours had three of them, and macOS would not let Terminal size them: they are protected for the app. Finder can still move them to the Trash with Telegram quit.

Which Telegram do I have?

The App Store version, ru.keepcoder.Telegram, is the one above. Telegram Desktop, a different app, keeps its data in ~/Library/Application Support/Telegram Desktop instead; ours did not have it.

Will uninstalling Telegram delete my chats?

No. Telegram keeps your chats in its cloud, so they are there when you sign in elsewhere. Secret chats exist only on the device they were made on, and are lost.

More: Telegram taking up space and uninstall WhatsApp.

Common questions

Does uninstalling Telegram on Mac delete my messages?

No. Normal chats are kept in Telegram's cloud. Secret chats are lost.

Where are Telegram files on Mac?

For the App Store version, in ~/Library/Group Containers folders containing ru.keepcoder.Telegram.

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