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Telegram’s Badge Counter setting controls what the number counts; it does not necessarily hide the badge on your phone or computer’s app icon. To count unread chats instead of individual messages, open Telegram → Settings → Notifications and Sounds → Badge Counter and turn off Count Unread Messages. To remove the icon badge entirely, switch it off in your device’s notification settings.
Change what Telegram counts
In Telegram, open Settings → Notifications and Sounds → Badge Counter. On some clients, labels or the placement of settings may vary slightly.
- Count Unread Messages on: the counter counts unread messages.
- Count Unread Messages off: Telegram shows the number of unread chats instead of the number of unread messages, according to Telegram’s setting description.
For example, if one conversation has several unread messages, a message-based count can represent those messages; a chat-based count represents the conversation as one unread chat. This setting changes the count, not necessarily whether an operating-system badge appears.
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Exclude muted chats, channels, or public groups
In the same Badge Counter section, turn off any of these options shown in your Telegram app:
#1 Best Overall
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
- Include Muted Chats: exclude muted conversations from Telegram’s counter.
- Include Channels: exclude channels where the control is available.
- Include Public Groups: exclude public groups where the control is available.
Muting a conversation and excluding it from the badge are separate choices. Telegram lists these as distinct Badge Counter controls in its official settings translations. Controls may differ by client or version; Telegram’s Badge Counter tip also describes changing what contributes to the count.
Hide the badge on the app icon
If you want no number or dot on Telegram’s icon, use the operating system’s badge control. This can usually be done without turning off message notifications, so banners, sounds, or lock-screen alerts can remain enabled.
iPhone and iPad
- Open the iOS Settings app.
- Tap Notifications, then Telegram.
- Turn Badges off.
To restore the icon badge, return to the same screen and turn Badges on. If the labels or path differ on your iOS version, search Settings for “Telegram” or “Badges.” This is an iOS control, separate from Telegram’s own counter rules.
Rank #2
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Tracfone plan required, activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- DISPLAY: Immersive viewing on a 6.7-inch super-bright 120Hz display with powerful stereo speakers and Bass Boost for cinematic entertainment.
- CAMERA SYSTEM: Advanced 50MP Quad Pixel camera captures sharp, detailed photos and videos in any lighting condition
- PERFORMANCE: Lightning-fast 5G connectivity paired with a powerful processor and RAM Boost for smooth multitasking.
- BATTERY LIFE: Long-lasting 5000mAh battery with TurboPower charging technology delivers hours of power in minutes.
Android
Badge controls vary by Android version, manufacturer, and launcher. Open Settings and look under Notifications or Apps for Telegram’s notification settings. Turn off the option named something like App icon badges, Notification dots, or Allow notification badges. The exact name and whether it controls dots, numbers, or both depend on the device. If you only want to change what Telegram counts, adjust its in-app Badge Counter settings instead.
Windows, macOS, and Linux
In Telegram Desktop, first check Settings → Notifications and Sounds for Badge Counter options. If a number or indicator remains on the taskbar, dock, or desktop panel, check the operating system’s notification or app-badge settings as well. The final icon presentation can depend on the operating system, launcher, dock, or desktop environment; there is no single universal desktop switch that works identically everywhere.
Rank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Turn the counter or badge back on
To count individual unread messages again, return to Telegram’s Settings → Notifications and Sounds → Badge Counter and enable Count Unread Messages. To show the app-icon badge again, turn on Badges, App icon badges, or the equivalent option in your device’s notification settings. These are separate controls.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Fix a badge that stays after chats appear read
A lingering number may reflect unread activity that is not visible in the current chat list, a muted chat included in the count, or a stale counter. Telegram’s bug tracker has documented cases where badge counts did not match the chats users could see as unread, including reports involving muted and secret chats (Telegram bug report; additional reports).
Rank #4
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
- Check the main chat list for unread markers, then open Archived Chats and inspect any custom folders, including an unread folder.
- Look for unread activity in muted conversations, channels, and groups. If relevant, turn off Include Muted Chats, Include Channels, or Include Public Groups in Badge Counter.
- Open chats with unread markers and mark them read. Check for unread activity you may have overlooked, such as mentions or replies.
- Fully close and relaunch Telegram. If the count remains, update Telegram through the official app store or Telegram’s official distribution channel, then restart the device.
- On iOS only, Telegram’s bug tracker documents a diagnostic workaround for a specific badge-counter issue: tap the Settings tab icon 10 times, then choose Reindex Unread Counters. This is a hidden troubleshooting gesture, not a standard setting, and should not be assumed to exist on Android or desktop.
Reinstalling is not a guaranteed fix and can disrupt local data or your session. Treat it as a last resort, and make sure you can access your account before considering it.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Carrier: This phone is locked to Tracfone, which means this device can only be used on the Tracfone wireless network. Activating is easy, just 3 steps.
- ACTIVATION Promotion: Includes 1500 min, 1500 texts & 1500 MB Data + add more as you need it
- CAMERA SYSTEM: 50MP Quad Pixel camera. Capture sharper, more vibrant photos day or night with 4x the light sensitivity.
- PERFORMANCE: Blazing-fast Qualcomm performance. Get the speed you need for great entertainment with a Snapdragon 680 processor and 4GB of RAM.
- 64GB built-in storage. Get plenty of room for photos, movies, songs, and apps. Made for US
Choose the right setting for your goal
| What you want | What to change |
|---|---|
| Count every unread message | Enable Count Unread Messages. |
| Count unread conversations instead | Disable Count Unread Messages. |
| Keep muted chats out of the count | Disable Include Muted Chats. |
| Reduce channel or public-group activity in the count | Disable Include Channels or Include Public Groups, if available. |
| Keep notifications but remove the icon number or dot | Disable Telegram’s app badge in the operating system’s notification settings. |
| Stop Telegram notifications entirely | Disable Telegram notifications at the operating-system level; this affects more than the badge. |
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