Updating official Telegram is almost invisible — it happens through Google Play, in the background. Updating an unofficial client usually takes a bit more attention, especially if the app was installed via APK rather than from a store.
Why mod updates work differently
If a client is listed on Google Play, updates arrive automatically just like with any other store app. But many unofficial clients are distributed specifically as APK files, without automatic updates through Google Play. In that case, staying up to date is on the user: you need to manually check whether a new version is out, download it, and install it over the old one.
How to find out a new version is available
The simplest approach is to periodically check the client’s page in the catalog, or the project’s own official source — the developer’s website, a GitHub repository, or a Telegram channel if the project has one. These usually list the current version and the last update date — if that date is noticeably later than the one on your installed app, an update is available.
Some clients also show an in-app notification about a new version, but it’s worth not relying on that alone, especially if the project isn’t being actively maintained.
How to install the update
- Download the new version from the same source the current client was installed from.
- Check the APK for viruses — worth doing with every update, not just the first install, since the new file is technically a brand-new APK.
- Install it over the current version — Android will offer a standard update if the file’s digital signature matches the already-installed version.
- If the signature doesn’t match (for example, you downloaded the file from a different source), the system will ask you to uninstall the old version first. In that case, make sure your account is protected and remember that regular chats are stored in the cloud and don’t depend on reinstalling the app.
Why a new Telegram feature can show up in a mod later
When the Telegram team ships an update with a new feature, developers of unofficial clients need time to adapt the change to their own version of the app — especially if the client has reworked the interface significantly or layered its own features on top of the standard ones. A delay of a few days or weeks is normal practice, not a sign the project has been abandoned.
The real warning sign isn’t the delay itself, but how long it drags on: if a client hasn’t been updated in several months while Telegram has shipped a major update in the meantime, it’s worth checking the developer’s activity separately before continuing to use the old version.
The bottom line
Updating an unofficial Telegram client takes a bit more involvement than updating the official app through Google Play, but the process itself is simple: download the file from a trusted source, check it for safety, and install it over the current version. Checking for updates regularly is a good habit, especially for clients only distributed as APKs.