Telegram has launched app update 11.14.0 for Android and iOS, introducing significant feature enhancements including Public Post Search, Story Albums, Gift Collections, Profile Ratings, and a dedicated tool for bot developers. This update prioritizes content discovery, profile customization, and developer capabilities.
The headline addition is Public Post Search, initially exclusive to Premium subscribers. This feature integrates a dedicated ‘Posts’ tab within the Search section, enabling users to find “relevant results” from public Telegram channels. The company states this centralizes information discovery and source browsing into a unified interface.
For profile organization, Telegram introduces Story Albums. Users can now curate stories from their contacts into thematic highlight reels displayed on their profiles. The platform emphasizes utility for businesses and creators, noting it facilitates product showcases and content grouping into customized playlists. Adding stories to albums requires accessing the Posts tab within a user’s profile or channel and selecting ‘Add Album’.
Gift Collections allow users to organize digital gifts received on their profile or channel into custom groupings. Collections can be categorized by theme, rarity, or other attributes, with individual gifts appearing in multiple collections simultaneously. Users can create unlimited collections, supported by granular filtering options. Management occurs via the Gifts tab where users select specific gifts and click ‘Add Collection’.
A new Profile Rating system displays a numerical badge next to usernames, calculated based on total Telegram Stars transactions. This rating signifies user activity levels and helps channel owners assess credibility for features like Suggested Posts. Ratings increase through actions like purchasing gifts, sending paid messages, or funding Suggested Posts with Stars, but decrease with refunds or gift conversions. Telegram also previewed an upcoming Premium Gifts feature, offering limited-edition digital items for Premium subscribers.
Finally, Telegram released the BotFather Mini App, providing bot and mini app developers with comprehensive management tools. Developers can now create bots, update settings, modify icons, and edit descriptions directly. The update expands development capabilities, supporting mini apps with full-screen mode, subscription integrations, home screen shortcuts, geolocation services, and motion tracking functionality.
