How SMS forwarding works
Each phone you connect gets its own device key. Each new text the phone receives is sent to the Telegram chat you choose. The footer of every message shows the device name, so you can tell phones apart. Blocked texts are never stored or sent.
Choose your phone
- iPhone: install the ready-made iCloud Shortcut with one tap, then paste your device key into it. Read the iPhone guide.
- Android: install the official app, sign in and connect the phone. Read the Android guide.
Rules for which texts pass
Rules match on the sender or on the message text. A rule can check whether the text contains a phrase, matches it exactly or starts with it. Matching is not case-sensitive. Rules run in order, and the first match decides whether a text is forwarded or blocked. If no rule matches, the default applies.
Privacy controls
- Keep text or not: choose whether message text is stored at all.
- Retention: choose how many hours history is kept before it is deleted.
- Revoke a device: revoke a lost or sold phone at once, which stops its key from sending messages.
- Rotate a key: issue a new key for a device if the old one may have been exposed.
- History and test: check recent texts and send a test message to confirm the route works.
Before you forward anything
Anyone who can open the Telegram chat can read what is sent there. Think before you forward verification codes, banking messages or other sensitive texts. Keep your device key secret, and only use the add-on for messages from your own phone, within the terms you accept.
Set it up in four steps
- Open the SMS add-on in your Web App dashboard and accept the terms.
- Add a device and give it a clear name, such as "Work iPhone".
- Connect the phone using the iPhone or Android guide.
- Send yourself a text, check that it arrives, then add your rules.
Related guides
- Keyword filter forwarding for Telegram posts
- Clean and replace messages before they are sent
Frequently asked questions
Is SMS forwarding included in every plan?
No. SMS forwarding is an add-on. See the add-ons page for how it is sold, and the pricing page for plan limits.
Can I forward texts from several phones?
Yes. Each phone has its own device key and can be renamed, tested, rotated or revoked on its own. How many devices you can add depends on your add-on and plan limits.
Are texts received before setup forwarded?
No. Forwarding starts with new incoming messages after the device is connected.
Where are my forwarded texts sent?
To the Telegram chat you connect for the add-on. Check the add-on page in the Web App for the bot and chat options available to you.