Universal messaging: how to connect WhatsApp and Telegram

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If you use messaging apps daily, you've probably found yourself switching between WhatsApp and Telegram more than once to avoid missing any messages . One is the undisputed king in Spain, while the other offers advanced features, channels, and a much more user-friendly experience, especially on a computer. The question is clear: is there a way to connect them so you don't have to keep switching apps?

Although there's no magic button to merge them into a single app, there are several ways to use WhatsApp and Telegram together, coordinate them, and even create automatic bridges between channels and groups. Furthermore, a major shift is underway in Europe: regulations are forcing WhatsApp to open up to other platforms, which will bring true interoperability with Telegram and other messaging apps in the coming years.

Use WhatsApp and Telegram on your computer comfortably

Before getting into advanced bridges and automations, it's worth understanding how to get the most out of WhatsApp Web and Telegram Web on your computer , because it's the easiest way to have everything in view and type without struggling with your mobile keyboard.

The web and desktop versions of both apps are ideal if you spend many hours in front of your PC or laptop . It's faster to reply using a physical keyboard, you can view conversations in a larger format, and it's much more convenient to write large blocks of text, review files, or manage multiple chats simultaneously without constantly reaching for your phone.

Furthermore, for many people it's an accessible solution: reading messages on a large screen is much easier on the eyes , allows for larger font sizes, and reduces eye strain compared to staring at a phone all day. And for those who use these apps at work, having them on their computer is almost essential.

How to use WhatsApp on your computer: browser and desktop app

WhatsApp offers two official ways to use your account on your computer while keeping your chats synchronized with your mobile : from the browser (WhatsApp Web) or by installing the desktop application.

The quickest option is to access WhatsApp Web directly from your usual browser . Simply open https://web.whatsapp.com/ in Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or whichever browser you normally use. A QR code will appear on the screen, waiting for you to link it to your mobile device.

On your phone, open the WhatsApp application, go to Settings, and look for the "Connected devices" section . Tap "Link a device," and your camera will activate. Point it at the QR code displayed on your computer monitor, and in a matter of seconds, all your chats, groups, and contacts will appear on the big screen, ready to use.

From that moment on, you can send and receive messages, voice notes, photos, documents, or stickers just like on your mobile phone, but with the convenience of a physical keyboard and PC screen. The session usually remains active, so you won't have to repeat the process every time unless you log out or switch devices.

If you prefer not to rely on a browser, you can also install the official WhatsApp application for Windows or macOS . You can find it in your system's app store (Microsoft Store, macOS App Store) or on the official WhatsApp website. Once installed, the procedure is virtually identical: a QR code will be displayed; you'll need to scan it with your phone, and everything will sync in seconds.

In both cases, if you connect from a computer that isn't yours—for example, at a shared workplace, a library, or someone else's home—it's essential to log out of WhatsApp Web when you're finished . To do this, in the web or desktop version, click on the three dots or your profile menu and select "Log out." You can also disconnect all devices from your mobile phone in the "Connected devices" section.

Always keep in mind that when using WhatsApp on your computer, your messages can be easily seen if other people are nearby or if you're working in a shared environment . Large screens are a perfect opportunity for prying eyes and nosy people, so it's best to lock your computer when you get up or use the notification view discreetly.

How to use Telegram on your computer: web version and desktop app

Telegram is no slouch in this area either, and in fact, for many users, the desktop experience is even better than WhatsApp's . It's faster, more stable, and offers a very polished desktop application.

If you just want something immediate and without installation, open your browser and type web.telegram.org in the address bar . There you'll see the Telegram Web homepage. Depending on the version you choose, you can log in with your phone number and a code that you'll receive via message in the app itself or by SMS.

On your mobile device, open Telegram, go to Settings, enter the "Devices" section, and select "Link device ." Just like with WhatsApp Web, a camera will open to scan the QR code displayed on your computer screen. Doing so will activate your web session with all your chats, channels, groups, and contacts ready to use.

From Telegram Web you can read and send messages, manage channels, share large files, use stickers and GIFs , and practically everything you do on your mobile device. However, depending on the web version, some advanced features may only be available in the desktop application or the mobile app.

If you use Telegram extensively, it's recommended to install the official Telegram desktop app for Windows, macOS, or Linux . You can download it from their website or app stores, and it offers a very smooth experience, with fast searches, the ability to have multiple chats open, and near-instant synchronization with your mobile device.

Just like with WhatsApp, if you log in on someone else's computer, don't forget to log out of Telegram when you're finished . From your phone, you can see which devices have access and revoke access for any you don't recognize or no longer use. And again, remember that your conversations can be visible to anyone who walks by your screen if you're not careful.

Can WhatsApp and Telegram be connected directly?

Many users wonder if there's a way to send and receive WhatsApp messages from Telegram and vice versa using a single application, such as the Telegram desktop app. The reality is that, officially and directly, this native integration doesn't currently exist.

WhatsApp and Telegram are distinct platforms with different communication protocols and their own encryption systems . WhatsApp relies on Signal's protocol for end-to-end encryption, while Telegram uses its own MTProto technology. This makes connecting them technically complex without intermediary solutions.

Furthermore, WhatsApp has quite strict policies regarding third-party applications that interact with its service , precisely to prevent abuse, spam, and security issues. For example, it does not allow an unofficial app to connect to its servers as if it were a legitimate client, which further complicates Telegram's ability to "talk" directly to WhatsApp without a specific framework.

Even so, some users find the WhatsApp app on their computers unbearable : they consider the desktop application clunky, message searches don't work as well as they'd like, or it consumes too many resources. Many of them would prefer to manage everything from Telegram, which on PC is very lightweight, fast, and has an excellent search function.

For these types of cases, the current solution involves using bridges that act as intermediaries between Telegram and WhatsApp . These aren't official solutions from the apps themselves, but rather external services that allow you to forward messages from one platform to another, create channel mirrors, and generate some quite useful automations.

Create a bridge between Telegram and WhatsApp with WHAMetrics Bridge

One of the best-known tools for linking both platforms is WHAMetrics Bridge, a service that acts as a bridge between groups and channels . It's not a typical messaging client, but rather a solution designed primarily for community managers and content creators who want to be present on both apps without duplicating effort.

The idea is simple: you set up a bridge between a Telegram channel or group and a WhatsApp group or channel , and from then on, all messages posted in the original channel are automatically forwarded to the destination. For subscribers, the experience is similar to following the original channel, but from their preferred platform.

Imagine you've been running a Telegram channel for a while, sharing news, announcements, or educational content, and now you want to offer the same to an audience that only uses WhatsApp . Instead of manually copying and pasting each post, you simply create the bridge and let WHAMetrics replicate everything you publish.

The general process for setting up this mirror between Telegram and WhatsApp with WHAMetrics is usually something like this: First, you register and log in to WHAMetrics Bridge through its website. Then, you add the WhatsApp group or channel you want to use as the destination in the service's administration console.

Once you have the WhatsApp group set as the destination, select it and choose the "Telegram Bridge" option to link it to a channel or group on this second platform. To do this, you will usually need to enter the channel's public URL (such as t.me/channelname) or the invitation link if it is a private group.

From the bridge settings, you can define some very useful filters: for example, preventing messages containing certain keywords from being forwarded , limiting forwarding to specific times of day, or excluding particular types of content. This is great if you don't want to flood the WhatsApp group with irrelevant or very frequent messages.

Once you've finished configuring everything, confirm the settings and the bridge will be active. From that moment on, any message posted in the Telegram channel or group will also appear in the WhatsApp group you've chosen. You can verify that everything is working correctly by posting a test message in the Telegram channel and checking that it arrives in the WhatsApp group.

It's important to note that WHAMetrics needs permission to post to the WhatsApp group or channel it's using as the destination. If the group only allows administrators to post, you'll need to make WHAMetrics' number an administrator so it can forward messages correctly.

Types of possible connections between Telegram and WhatsApp

With these types of bridging services, you can create several interesting combinations, not just the typical Telegram channel to WhatsApp group. The idea is that you can mirror almost any type of space to another, always respecting its permissions.

For example, it's possible to connect a Telegram channel to a WhatsApp channel (the so-called WhatsApp channels, which function as one-way broadcast lists). The procedure is basically the same: you select the WhatsApp channel as the destination, point to the Telegram channel as the source, and configure the bridge so that everything you post is automatically replicated.

You can also mirror a Telegram group to a WhatsApp group . In this case, instead of entering the public URL of a channel, you use the Telegram group's invitation link as the source. The rest of the process remains the same: WHAMetrics listens to what happens in that group and plays the messages in the WhatsApp group.

The reverse connection is also possible: automatically forwarding messages from WhatsApp to Telegram . In this scenario, you define the WhatsApp group or channel as the source and choose a Telegram group or channel as the destination. Then you set the configuration to "WhatsApp to Telegram Bridge" so that the message flow goes in that direction.

For this to work, as before, you'll need to grant WHAMetrics the necessary publishing permissions in the Telegram group or channel that will serve as the destination. If it's a channel where only administrators can post, you'll need to add the bot or the number associated with the service as an administrator.

This allows for highly flexible setups, such as having multiple Telegram channels integrated into a single WhatsApp group , or using a WhatsApp group as the primary source that is then replicated across several themed Telegram channels. It all depends on how you organize your communities and the filters you set up.

Advanced statistics and message settings with WHAMetrics

Beyond serving as a bridge, WHAMetrics stands out because it offers detailed analysis of the behavior of your WhatsApp groups and channels , something that Meta's own app does not provide in such a complete way, especially in the case of groups.

While Telegram does display certain audience and performance data for channels (such as the number of views per post or subscriber growth), WhatsApp offers very limited information. With WHAMetrics, you can view growth, engagement, reactions, and activity charts for both users and messages.

It also allows you to see view counts, unique members across multiple groups, engagement trends, and other key metrics for those managing large communities or communication campaigns. For administrators who use WhatsApp professionally, having this comprehensive view makes a huge difference.

Another interesting point is that the service automatically adjusts messages to look good on WhatsApp . For example, if in Telegram you usually use text with embedded links (like "click here" with a link hidden behind the word), that format doesn't exist in WhatsApp, so WHAMetrics converts the message so that the link appears in plain text, like "click here https://example.com".

In addition, there are minor tweaks to ensure that the layout and content of messages are as legible as possible on WhatsApp , respecting line breaks, lists, and other elements within the platform's limits. All of this is aimed at preventing the message, even if it originates from Telegram, from appearing strange or poorly formatted.

Finally, you can add a standard signature to all forwarded messages , such as a "join group" link or a URL to your website or main channel. This is useful if you expect your content to be forwarded beyond the original group and want it to always include a call to action.

Interoperability: the big change coming for WhatsApp and Telegram in Europe

All of the above relies on external solutions, but a change is underway in Europe that, in the medium term, will transform how WhatsApp communicates with other messaging applications , including Telegram and Signal. This is where European regulations on so-called "gatekeepers" come into play.

The European Union has designated WhatsApp as one of its major guardians, which means the app is obligated to open up to interoperability with other platforms . In practice, this means it must allow messages to be sent from competing apps to WhatsApp and vice versa, without the user needing to have all of them installed.

In Europe, WhatsApp is a true giant, with usage figures approaching 90% among the Spanish population according to recent Statista data. Precisely because of this dominance, the EU wants to prevent it from becoming an insurmountable barrier and aims to make messaging function more like email: allowing you to contact someone even if you're using different services.

WhatsApp has been working on this interoperability for a couple of years now. According to Dick Brouwer, WhatsApp's Director of Engineering, the company began preparing this integration even before being officially designated as the access gatekeeper . The biggest challenge lies in maintaining end-to-end encryption when such different systems communicate.

Screenshots have been leaked for some time showing how WhatsApp will manage these third-party conversations in a secondary inbox . The idea is that if someone messages you from Telegram or Signal to your WhatsApp number, the message won't be mixed in with your regular chats, but will appear in a separate section, although you'll be able to reply as if it were a native conversation.

WhatsApp recommends that platforms wishing to connect adopt the Signal protocol to ensure end-to-end encryption . However, this will not be mandatory: those using other systems (such as Telegram with MTProto) will have to demonstrate that their server-to-server connections meet WhatsApp's security and privacy standards.

Meta will publish a technical sheet detailing the specific requirements for other messaging apps to integrate its service . Each developer will have to adapt their application if they want to offer compatibility with WhatsApp. In return, messages flowing between platforms can be viewed and managed from the WhatsApp interface without the user having to switch apps.

A key point is that interoperability will not be enabled by default for all users . Each person will have to decide whether they want to open their account to messages from other platforms. As Brouwer himself pointed out, leaving everything automatically open could become a huge source of spam and scams, so it will be optional.

If you try to contact someone from Telegram via WhatsApp and they haven't accepted the integration, your messages simply won't go through . In other words, the fact that the technical possibility exists for communication between apps doesn't mean everyone will be available from day one.

Key dates and possible apps that will integrate with WhatsApp

European regulations set fairly clear deadlines. WhatsApp must support communication with other applications in individual chats by March 6th of the year specified by the Commission. Group chats have more time: the deadline for their interoperability is September 2025, while calls and video calls are expected by September 2027.

So far, no major messaging platform has publicly announced its intention to immediately join WhatsApp's interoperability system . However, there are some obvious candidates. Signal, for example, uses the same encryption protocol as WhatsApp, so it would be very surprising if it didn't participate in the future.

Telegram is another key player: it's one of the most popular apps, and for many users, being able to communicate with contacts who only use WhatsApp without leaving Telegram would be a huge advantage . The problem is that its architecture and protocol are different, so we'll have to see how they resolve the technical differences and, above all, whether they're willing to adapt to Meta's requirements.

It's worth remembering that neither Telegram nor Signal, nor any other apps, are legally obligated to integrate with WhatsApp . Regulatory pressure falls on the gatekeeper, not on competitors. This means that some might decide the effort isn't worthwhile or that they disagree with the proposed technical and privacy terms.

In any case, the European Union's goal is that, over time, we can communicate with virtually everyone using a single app , regardless of which one each person uses. Whether this will ultimately translate into a truly open ecosystem, where WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, and others compete on a level playing field, remains to be seen.

Currently, until those changes arrive, the best way to "connect" WhatsApp and Telegram is to leverage their web and desktop versions to manage them together on your computer , and to use bridges like WHAMetrics if you need to mirror content between channels or groups. With a little organization and the right tools, it's possible to keep notification chaos under control and have much more control over your conversations without giving up either platform.