# Telegram (/en/docs/platform/features/alerting/channels/telegram)



A Telegram channel type sends each alert as a message from your own bot to one chat, group, or channel. It is the only chat destination here with no webhook; you supply a bot token and a chat id instead.

## Prerequisites [#prerequisites]

* The website **Manager** role in CentralCSP.
* A Telegram account.

## 1. Create a bot with BotFather [#1-create-a-bot-with-botfather]

1. In Telegram, open a chat with [@BotFather](https://t.me/botfather) (Telegram's official bot for creating bots).
2. Send `/newbot`, then follow the prompts to pick a display name and a username. The username must end in `bot`.
3. Copy the bot token from BotFather's reply. It looks like `1234567890:AAxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx`.

Telegram's reference is at [BotFather](https://core.telegram.org/bots/features#botfather). Treat the token as a secret; anyone holding it controls the bot. CentralCSP stores it and never returns it through the API.

## 2. Put the bot in the destination chat [#2-put-the-bot-in-the-destination-chat]

The Bot API only lets a bot message chats it belongs to:

* **Group**: add the bot as a member.
* **Channel**: add the bot as an administrator with permission to post.
* **Direct message**: open a chat with the bot and send it `/start`. A bot cannot message a user first.

## 3. Find the chat id [#3-find-the-chat-id]

For a **public group or channel**, the `@username` is the chat id; use it as-is.

For a **private group or a direct message**, the id is numeric:

1. Send any message in the destination chat (in a group, mention the bot or make it admin so it sees messages).
2. Open `https://api.telegram.org/bot<TOKEN>/getUpdates` in a browser, with `<TOKEN>` replaced by your bot token.
3. Read `chat.id` from the JSON response. A group id is negative and usually starts with `-100`.

## 4. Add the channel in CentralCSP [#4-add-the-channel-in-centralcsp]

1. In the dashboard, go to **Alerts** > **Configuration** > **Add channel**.
2. Name the channel, choose the **Telegram** type, and paste the **bot token** and the **chat id**.
3. Save.

Both fields are validated as you type: the token must match the `<bot id>:<secret>` shape, and the chat id must be a number or a public `@username`.

## 5. Test the channel [#5-test-the-channel]

Select **Test** on the new channel. A sample alert built from a fake CSP violation is sent immediately.

If the message does not arrive, the Bot API refused the send. A wrong chat id, a revoked token, or a bot that was removed from the chat all fail permanently; fix the destination and test again.

## Next steps [#next-steps]

* [Create a rule](/en/docs/platform/features/alerting/rules) that delivers to this channel.
* [Channels overview](/en/docs/platform/features/alerting/channels) for auto-disable behaviour and limits.
* [Delivery history](/en/docs/platform/features/alerting/deliveries) to audit what was sent.