Complete guide to customizing your chat background on Telegram: tips and tricks

Last update: 8 May 2025
  • Telegram allows you to customize your chat background with your own photos, colors, patterns, and animated backgrounds for all or individual chats.
  • In addition to backgrounds, you can modify themes, bubbles, button colors, and font sizes for a completely personalized experience.
  • Advanced customization options include cross-device syncing and the ability to create and share your own themes.

How to change the chat background in Telegram

Telegram is one of the most popular messaging applications Thanks to its privacy options, advanced features, and customization capabilities. Although some users think Telegram is rigid in terms of aesthetics, the reality is that You can customize the background of your chats and modify the appearance of the application in very comprehensive ways.Whether you want to add a personal touch to your individual conversations or prefer to standardize all your chats with a single design, in this article, you'll learn all the methods and tricks to change your chat background in Telegram, and we'll delve into all the customization options the platform offers.

Options to change the chat background in Telegram

Customize Telegram chat background

Telegram allows change the chat wallpaper in different ways, both on Android and iOS devices and from the desktop version of your computer. You can choose from solid colors, gradients, patterns, backgrounds offered by the app, and, of course, images from your gallery. There's also the option to Customize backgrounds for an individual chat or for everyone the app's chats. You can even animate or blur the background for unique visual effects.

What background and theme options does Telegram offer?

Chat background options in Telegram

In Telegram you have a huge catalog of possibilities to customize the background:

  • Solid and gradient colors: You can choose from a palette of colors, combinations, and gradients, or if you prefer, select a custom color by entering the exact hexadecimal code.
  • Default backgrounds: Telegram includes a gallery of backgrounds and patterns that you can apply directly.
  • Backgrounds with patterns: You can add small shapes or drawings that elegantly repeat in the chat background. You can adjust the transparency of the pattern so it doesn't affect the readability of your messages.
  • Animated wallpapers: The app allows the background to scroll smoothly when you move the chat, creating an animated visual effect. This option is available for both images and colored backgrounds.
  • Custom images: You can select any photo from your gallery to be the background for your chats, edit it, set filters, blur it, move it, or crop it.
  • Different topics: Themes change not only the chat background but also the entire interface (buttons, bubbles, top bar, etc.). You can choose a general theme or create your own by modifying every element of the interface.

Step by step: How to change the chat background in Telegram

Trick to change the chat background in Telegram

The procedure for customizing your chat background varies slightly depending on your operating system and whether you want to apply the change to all chats or just a single conversation:

Change the background of all chats (Android, iOS, and desktop)

  1. Open the Telegram app.
  2. Access the main menu by tapping the three horizontal lines in the top left corner (on iOS, tap directly on Configuration Bottom right).
  3. Sign in Settings.
  4. Select option Cat (on iOS it could be called Appearance).
  5. Click on Change wallpaper o Chat background.
  6. Choose from Telegram clip art, colors, patterns or select Choose from gallery if you want to use a personal photo.
  7. Set the blur, motion, or pattern options as you prefer.
  8. Save the changes. All chats will adopt this new background.

Change the background of an individual chat

  1. Enter the chat whose background you want to change.
  2. Tap the three vertical dots icon (more options) at the top right.
  3. Choose Change background.
  4. Choose one of the suggested themes, colors, or images, or select a photo from your gallery.
  5. Decide whether you want to apply the background only to yourself or also to the other person (in private chats).
  6. Confirm your selection and the background will change for that chat only.

Note: Selecting the "Blur" or "Motion" option (for animated backgrounds) will give your conversations a more modern and dynamic visual effect.

Advanced customization: chat themes and colors

Themes and colors in Telegram

In addition to choosing a specific fund, Telegram allows you to customize the app themes, which includes Appearance of buttons, bubbles, top bars, text and chat colors. You can customize your own theme from:

  • Settings > Chats > Theme: Select from default themes (light, dark, night, among others).
  • Explore topics: Access more options and, if you want, create your own theme by choosing the exact colors using the color picker or by entering a hexadecimal code.
  • Dark mode: Activate it from settings or directly from the quick menu, convenient for low-light environments and to vary the aesthetics of your app.

You can easily switch between light and dark theme, and modify each color of the interface of buttons, messages, bubbles and background, previewing the result before applying it.

Custom backgrounds: unlimited photos and creativity

One of Telegram's main strengths is the ability to customize backgrounds using your own imagesYou can choose any photo (a landscape, your pet, an inspirational quote, digital art, etc.) and adjust it to your liking to create a unique background. You can also apply filters, blurs, or patterns to the image to give it more personality. Custom backgrounds allow you to:

  • Select and crop the image as you prefer.
  • Adjust the blur level to make messages more legible on light or dark backgrounds.
  • Apply Telegram patterns to your photo to add extra aesthetic details.
  • Enable the “Motion” effect to create an animated visual experience.
  • Decide if you want this background in all chats or just in a specific conversation.

Tip: To ensure your messages are legible, it's recommended to choose images with soft or low-saturation tones. Very dark or high-contrast backgrounds can make them difficult to read.

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What other customization options are available for Telegram chats?

Telegram isn't limited to chat backgrounds, you can also:

  • Change font size: Adjust the text size in Settings > Chats for better visual comfort.
  • Change the layout of message bubbles: Depending on the theme you choose, message bubbles and colors may vary significantly.
  • Turn automatic night mode on or off: Telegram detects the time or environment and switches from a light to a dark theme depending on the ambient light.
  • Synchronization between devices: All theme and background changes sync between mobile and desktop versions if you use the same account.

How to create your own theme on Telegram

Telegram gives the option to create a completely unique theme from scratch both on mobile and desktop versions:

  1. Accede to Settings > Chats > Theme.
  2. Press on Create new topic o Edit on an existing one.
  3. Choose the base colors for the background, bubbles, buttons, links, and other elements. You can do this using the color picker or by entering the exact hexadecimal code.
  4. Try different combinations with the real-time preview.
  5. Save and name your custom theme.
  6. Apply the theme so that it is reflected throughout the app interface.

Creating your own theme is ideal If you are looking for a unique visual experience, and you can export and import themes to share with friends or use across all your devices.

Customizing individual chats: a unique and collaborative feature

An advanced feature of Telegram is being able to customize a chat individuallyWhen you choose a background for a private conversation, you can decide whether the change is visible only to you or to the other participant as well. This way, both of you can enjoy an exclusive design for your personal conversations.When you make the change, Telegram sends an automatic message to the chat notifying you of the new look.

Differences between customization on Android, iOS, and desktop

The customization experience is very similar across all platforms, but some options may vary slightly by system:

  • On Android: The menus are located in Settings > Chats, and it's very easy to upload images from the gallery and toggle patterns and motion on/off.
  • On iOS: Use the section Appearance to modify the backgrounds, and you have all the options for patterns, colors and themes.
  • On desktop: You can apply backgrounds and themes from Settings > Chat Settings. Editing colors allows you to manually enter codes and further customize interface elements.

Advanced tips and tricks for achieving the perfect background

Customizing Telegram doesn't have to be just a matter of aesthetics, it can also improve the user experience.Here are some tips to get the most out of it:

  • Choose images that are not too distracting and that allow you to read your messages comfortably.
  • Use blur on multi-colored photos to improve text readability.
  • If you're someone who uses Telegram at night, combine dark mode with opaque backgrounds to protect your eyes.
  • Vary the background depending on the season or your mood, changing it as often as you like.
  • For special chats, use shared photos, private memes, or motivational quotes to give the chat its own unique meaning.

With all these options, Telegram becomes one of the most versatile and creative messaging appsAdvanced customization not only makes everyday use more enjoyable, it also helps identify important chats or add a personal touch to our favorite conversations. Now that you know all the methods and tricks, explore the possibilities and turn each chat into a unique visual experience. Share this article if you want your friends to also discover how to easily customize the chat background in Telegram.