# How to set up a proxy in Telegram: SOCKS5 on every device

Every Telegram app has a proxy setting built in. Point it at a SOCKS5 proxy and the app reaches Telegram's servers through the exit you choose, without a VPN on the rest of the device.


## What you need

- A SOCKS5 server and port, a username and a password. Telegram has no field for IP whitelisting, so use credentials.
- A **sticky session**, so the exit does not change while the app holds its connection open. On HodlProxy, add `-sid-` and `-ttl-24h` to the username.
- An exit in a country where Telegram works normally, ideally close to you for lower latency.

- **Server**: res.hodlproxy.com (rotating pool) or your dedicated IP
- **Port**: 9001 on the gateways, 8001 on dedicated addresses
- **Username**: USER-cc-nl-sid-tg1-ttl-24h (country NL, session tg1, held 24 hours)
- **Password**: PASS, from your dashboard


## Android

1. Open Telegram, tap the menu, then **Settings → Data and Storage → Proxy**.
2. Tap **Add Proxy** and choose **SOCKS5**.
3. Fill in server, port, username and password, then save.
4. Switch **Use Proxy** on. The shield icon in the chat list turns blue once connected.


## iPhone and iPad

1. Open **Settings → Data and Storage → Proxy**.
2. Tap **Add Proxy**, choose **SOCKS5** and enter server, port, username and password.
3. Tap **Done**, then select the proxy in the list to activate it.


## Windows, macOS and Linux

In Telegram Desktop, open **Settings → Advanced → Connection type**, choose **Use custom proxy**, then **SOCKS5**, and enter the same four values. In the native macOS app the setting sits under **Settings → Data and Storage → Proxy**, as on the iPhone.


## Share it as a link

Telegram opens proxy links directly: anyone who taps one gets the setting pre-filled. Keep links with credentials private, since anyone holding them can spend your traffic.

```text
https://t.me/socks?server=res.hodlproxy.com&port=9001&user=USER-cc-nl-sid-tg1-ttl-24h&pass=PASS
```


## SOCKS5 or MTProto?

|  | SOCKS5 | MTProto proxy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Protocol | A standard proxy protocol | Telegram's own protocol with a secret key |
| Works for | Telegram and any other app | Telegram only |
| Authentication | Username and password | A shared secret |
| Typical source | Paid providers, your own server | Volunteers and sponsors, often with a promoted channel |

HodlProxy provides SOCKS5 and HTTP(S), not MTProto. A paid SOCKS5 exit is private to your account, which public MTProto servers are not.


## Keep the connection stable

- Use a long sticky session (`-ttl-24h`): Telegram keeps a connection open, and a changing exit forces reconnects.
- For an always-on proxy, a dedicated [ISP](https://hodlproxy.com/isp-proxies) or [datacenter](https://hodlproxy.com/datacenter-proxies) address never changes and carries unlimited or pooled traffic, which suits media-heavy chats.
- Leave **Use proxy for calls** off: voice and video calls need UDP, and HodlProxy relays TCP only, so calls connect directly instead.
- An idle connection is closed after 60 seconds without traffic; Telegram reconnects on its own.


## Troubleshooting

| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stuck on "Connecting…" | Wrong port or protocol | SOCKS5 on 9001 (gateways) or 8001 (dedicated), not 9000/8000 |
| Proxy unavailable | Credentials rejected | Re-copy username and password; check for spaces |
| Reconnects every few minutes | No sticky session | Add -sid-NAME-ttl-24h to the username |
| Media loads slowly | Distant exit | Pick a country closer to you, or a dedicated ISP address |


## Questions

**Is it legal to use a proxy with Telegram?**

Telegram supports proxies natively in every app, and using a proxy is legal in most countries. You remain responsible for complying with the laws that apply where you are.

**Does a proxy hide my phone number?**

No. A proxy changes the IP address Telegram's servers see; your account, phone number and contacts are unchanged. Privacy settings inside Telegram control who sees your number.

**Can I use one proxy on several devices?**

Yes. The same credentials work on every device, and HodlProxy does not limit concurrent connections. Use a different session ID per device if each should keep its own exit.

**Which HodlProxy network is best for Telegram?**

A dedicated ISP or datacenter address for an always-on setup with lots of media, since traffic is unlimited or pooled; a sticky residential session if you only need the app occasionally.

Source: https://hodlproxy.com/guides/telegram-proxy