> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.bubblav.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Telegram

> Connect a Telegram bot to add AI chatbot capabilities to your customer support over DMs

Transform your Telegram customer support with an intelligent AI chatbot that answers questions from your knowledge base automatically, 24/7.

## Why Connect Telegram?

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Instant AI Responses" icon="zap">
    Customers get immediate answers based on your website's knowledge base
  </Card>

  <Card title="24/7 Availability" icon="clock">
    AI responds day and night, even when your team is offline
  </Card>

  <Card title="Human Takeover" icon="users">
    Support agents can jump into any conversation from the dashboard
  </Card>

  <Card title="No OAuth Required" icon="lock">
    Connect in under a minute with a bot token from @BotFather — no app review
  </Card>

  <Card title="Multi-Language" icon="globe">
    AI supports 100+ languages for international customers
  </Card>

  <Card title="Knowledge-Powered" icon="brain">
    Answers based on your website's content and documentation
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What Can the Telegram Bot Do?

### Answer Customer Questions Instantly

Your customers can ask questions about your products, services, or content directly in a private chat with your bot:

**Example Questions:**

```text theme={null}
What are your business hours?
How do I track my order?
Tell me about your return policy
What payment methods do you accept?
```

### Provide 24/7 Support

* Responds instantly to common questions
* No waiting for business hours
* Reduces support ticket volume
* Consistent, accurate answers

### Search Your Knowledge Base

The bot uses your website's content to provide accurate answers:

* Product information
* Help articles
* FAQ sections
* Pricing details
* Shipping information

### Human Agent Handoff & Unified Inbox

Telegram DMs appear in your **Live Support** unified inbox alongside website widget and other platform conversations. Each conversation shows a Telegram badge so you always know the source platform.

<Note>
  The Telegram bot responds to **private (1:1) messages only**. Messages sent in groups or channels are ignored. Only text messages are handled today; media (photos, files, voice) receive a prompt asking the customer to type their question.
</Note>

**How agent replies work:**

1. Go to **Live Support** in your dashboard
2. Find the Telegram conversation (look for the Telegram badge)
3. Click to open and type your reply
4. Your message is sent directly to the customer's Telegram chat
5. The AI remains paused while you're active in the conversation

The AI resumes automatically when you leave the conversation.

## Prerequisites

* A **Telegram bot token** from [@BotFather](https://t.me/BotFather)
* Active BubblaV account with a website
* Website with knowledge base content (crawled pages)

## Setup Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a bot with @BotFather">
    On Telegram, open [@BotFather](https://t.me/BotFather), send `/newbot`, choose a name and username, and copy the bot token it gives you.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Navigate to Integrations">
    Go to **Dashboard** → **Your Website** → **Integrations** and find the Telegram card.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click Connect">
    Click **Connect** to open the Telegram connect dialog.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Paste the bot token">
    Paste the token you copied from @BotFather and click **Connect**. BubblaV validates the token and registers a secure webhook automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify Connection">
    The Telegram integration should now show **Connected**. Open the configuration page to view the connected bot.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Test the Bot">
    Send a private message to your bot on Telegram to verify the AI responds correctly.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Managing Your Integration

### View Connected Bot

From the Telegram configuration page, you can see:

* Bot name and @username
* Connection status
* Webhook URL (admin debug view)

### Disconnect Your Bot

To remove the Telegram integration:

1. Go to **Dashboard** → **Your Website** → **Integrations**
2. Find the Telegram card and disconnect it

**Note:** Disconnecting stops the AI from responding to messages on that bot. The webhook registration is removed.

## How Messages Are Processed

1. **Customer sends DM** → Message arrives at your Telegram bot
2. **Webhook triggers** → BubblaV receives the message via the Telegram Bot API (authenticated by a per-bot secret token)
3. **AI analyzes question** → Your website's knowledge base is searched
4. **Response generated** → AI formulates an answer with sources
5. **Sent to Telegram** → Customer receives the response
6. **Conversation logged** → Message stored in your dashboard

## Telegram Messaging Notes

* **No messaging window**: Unlike some platforms, Telegram has no 24-hour window — the bot can reply to any DM at any time.
* **Messages are truncated** at 4096 characters.
* **One bot per website**: A single Telegram bot can only be connected to one website at a time.

## Troubleshooting

### Messages Not Being Received

1. Confirm the bot token is valid (reconnect if needed)
2. Check that you're messaging the bot in a **private chat**, not a group
3. Confirm the integration is **active** in your dashboard
4. Ensure your website has crawled content in the Knowledge section

### Bot Not Responding

1. Verify the integration is active in the dashboard
2. Check your website has crawled content in the Knowledge section
3. Test with a simple question like "What are your hours?"
4. Reconnect with a fresh token if the bot was revoked in @BotFather

### Invalid Token Error

1. Make sure you copied the **full token** from @BotFather (it contains a colon)
2. Create a new token via `/token` in @BotFather if the old one was revoked
3. Reconnect the integration with the new token

## FAQ

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Do I need a developer to set it up?">
    No. Create a bot with @BotFather on Telegram, copy the token, and paste it into the BubblaV dashboard. We validate the token and register a secure webhook automatically — no code or OAuth required.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Does the bot reply in groups?">
    No. The bot responds to private (1:1) DMs only. Group messages are ignored by design, to avoid noise in shared spaces.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I connect the same bot to multiple websites?">
    No. A Telegram bot can only be connected to one website at a time. Connect a separate bot for each website.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What happens when the AI can't answer?">
    If the AI is unsure or the customer needs complex help, the conversation can be escalated to a human agent. You'll see all conversations in the Live Support dashboard and can jump in anytime.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Can I customize the bot responses?">
    The AI uses your website's content to generate responses. To improve answer quality, ensure your website has comprehensive, up-to-date information. You can also add custom content through the Knowledge section.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="What languages does the bot support?">
    The AI supports 100+ languages and can automatically detect the language being used to respond appropriately.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

* Set up your [Live Support](/user-guide/live-support) to monitor conversations
* Improve your [Knowledge Base](/user-guide/knowledge) content for better answers
* Explore other [Integrations](/user-guide/integrations/overview) to connect more platforms