Telegram Messenger has disappeared from Apple’s App Store across multiple countries, preventing new downloads and reinstalls on iPhones and iPads, while existing users continue to access the messaging service as normal. Neither Apple nor Telegram has publicly explained the removal, leaving millions of users awaiting answers as industry observers closely monitor the situation.
Telegram Messenger has been removed from Apple’s App Store worldwide, making the popular messaging application unavailable for download on iPhones and iPads across multiple regions. Independent monitoring services have reported that the official listing is no longer accessible, while users attempting to visit the App Store page have encountered messages indicating that the app is unavailable or that the page cannot be found. Despite the removal, existing installations appear to remain fully functional, and neither Apple nor Telegram has issued a public explanation at the time of writing.
Data published by Apple Censorship, an independent project that tracks App Store availability, indicates that Telegram’s official application is currently unavailable across all 175 App Store storefronts it monitors. The organisation reported that the official app listing for Telegram Messenger is no longer accessible, with availability showing as 100% unavailable worldwide.
Users attempting to download or reinstall the application have reported receiving notifications stating that the app is not available in their country or region, while others have found the App Store listing returning a page-not-found style error.
Importantly, the removal does not appear to have disrupted Telegram’s messaging service itself. Reports from users indicate that those who already have the application installed on their devices are continuing to send messages and access chats without interruption.
Because Telegram stores conversations in its cloud infrastructure, existing accounts and chat histories remain accessible through devices where the application is already installed.
No official explanation yet
Neither Apple nor Telegram has publicly commented on why the app has disappeared from the App Store or whether the removal is intended to be temporary.
Apple removes applications from its marketplace for a range of reasons, including potential policy breaches, legal or regulatory requirements, security concerns or prohibited content. However, no evidence has been provided to indicate which, if any, of those factors applies in this case.
The lack of an official statement has fuelled widespread speculation online, although no confirmed reason for the removal has emerged.
Previous App Store removal
This is not the first time Telegram has been removed from Apple’s digital storefront.
In 2018, Apple temporarily removed both Telegram and Telegram X after concerns were raised over the distribution of child sexual abuse material through the platform. The applications were restored after Telegram introduced additional content moderation measures.
There is currently no indication that the latest removal is connected to those earlier events, and Apple has not suggested that the circumstances are similar.
Earlier reports during 2026 involving the disappearance of Telega, an unofficial Telegram client for Russian users, were unrelated to the official Telegram Messenger application.
What it means for users
The removal primarily affects people who need to download Telegram for the first time or reinstall it after deleting the application from an Apple device.
Users who already have Telegram installed are generally advised not to remove it while it remains unavailable through the App Store, as it cannot currently be downloaded again on iOS devices.
Telegram continues to be accessible on Android smartphones, desktop applications and its web-based client, subject to local availability.
With hundreds of millions of active users worldwide relying on Telegram for private messaging, public channels, business communications and news distribution, the disappearance of the app from Apple’s marketplace represents a significant development in the technology sector.
Industry observers are now awaiting official clarification from either Apple or Telegram regarding the reason behind the removal and whether the application will return to the App Store. Should it be restored, users would once again be able to download the app normally, while existing accounts and cloud-based chat histories would remain unaffected.
