Telegram disappeared from the App Store
Wait, so Telegram actually disappeared from the App Store? Did they ban it or something? How are people supposed to download it now?
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Yes, Telegram was actually removed from the App Store in spring of this year. Apple explained it by saying that the developers didn't provide the necessary information about the app's content and didn't respond to the company's requests. Officially it's not a political ban, but there was total uncertainty around it - nobody really knows what actually happened.
You can download Telegram now in a few ways. If the app is already installed on your device, it'll keep working and updating. If you need to install it fresh, you can find it through Telegram's web version - there are download links there, though it's not super convenient. Some people use cloud storage or ask friends to share the app file.
Honestly, it's inconvenient, obviously. It used to be simple - you'd open the App Store, download it. Now you have to find workarounds. A lot of people just stick with the version they already have installed and hope the app comes back to the store someday.
I downloaded it before it was removed, so it updates and works fine for me. If someone wants to install it for the first time, they can use the web version, download it through TestFlight, or look on third-party services like AppAdvice - they often have cached versions of apps there.
If it's already installed, it just stays on your phone and updates normally through the App Store, even though it's been removed. But for new installations, you'll actually have to find alternatives: the web version works for urgent messages, and if you need a full app, there's Apple's TestFlight or third-party app stores.
Not exactly a ban in the classic sense - more of a conflict between Apple and the developers who aren't rushing to provide the required information. The main catch: if you reinstall iOS or switch phones, even if you've purchased the app, you won't be able to get it back from the App Store - you'll have to find a workaround through the web version or TestFlight. For those who already had Telegram installed, everything stays the same, updates work normally.
To put it briefly - by 2026 there are actually quite a few options. The web version works, TestFlight is available, and unofficial clients keep popping up in the App Store that pass moderation. The main thing is: even if installing a new version becomes difficult, the old copy on your phone will keep updating automatically, so people who already use it won't lose access.
The web version at web.telegram.org is the simplest way if you need to chat urgently without installing an app. Though it does have limitations and isn't super convenient for regular use on your phone. If you specifically want the app though, TestFlight really helps, you just need to ask the developers for an invite - or you could try looking in third-party app stores like AltStore, though there's always some risk with those sources.
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