What is Telegram?
Before we dive into using Telegram as cloud storage, let's understand what it is. Telegram is a messaging app similar to WhatsApp, but with some powerful differences. Founded in 2013 by Pavel Durov (who also created VKontakte, Russia's version of Facebook), Telegram has grown to over 900 million active users worldwide as of 2025.
Unlike WhatsApp which is owned by Meta (Facebook), Telegram operates independently and focuses heavily on privacy, speed, and features. While most people know it as a messaging app, Telegram has evolved into much more—including being one of the best-kept secrets for free cloud storage.
What Makes Telegram Different:
- End-to-end encryption for secret chats
- Works on all devices simultaneously (phone, tablet, computer, web)
- No ads or subscription fees for basic features
- Supports much larger file sizes than most messaging apps
- Cloud-based, meaning your messages sync across all devices
Now here's the game-changer: Telegram offers unlimited cloud storage that you can use to back up your photos, videos, documents, and any other files—completely free.
The Cloud Storage Secret: How Telegram's Storage Works
Every message, photo, video, and file you send or receive on Telegram is stored on Telegram's secure cloud servers. This isn't just for recent messages—it's permanent storage unless you manually delete it. When you send a file to yourself or save it in your "Saved Messages," it stays there indefinitely, accessible from any device where you're logged into Telegram.
This is fundamentally different from WhatsApp, where media is stored on your phone and takes up your device storage. With Telegram, files are stored in the cloud, freeing up your phone's space while keeping everything accessible.
The Numbers: What You Get
For Free Users:
- Storage capacity: Unlimited (no total storage limit)
- File size limit: 2 GB per file
- File types: Any file type (photos, videos, PDFs, ZIP files, music, documents—anything)
- Access: From any device (Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, Web)
- Cost: Absolutely free
For Telegram Premium Users (Optional):
- Storage capacity: Still unlimited
- File size limit: 4 GB per file (double the free limit)
- Upload speed: Faster uploads and downloads
- Cost: About $4.99/month
- Additional perks: More features, but storage is unlimited either way
For most people, including students, the free version is more than enough.
Why This Matters for Students in Ghana
Let's be practical about why this is valuable, especially for students:
The Problem:
- Your phone's storage fills up with lecture slides, notes, assignment files, photos, videos
- Google Drive's free tier gives you only 15 GB (shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos)
- Dropbox free gives you just 2 GB
- OneDrive free gives you 5 GB
- External hard drives cost money and can get damaged or lost
- Paid cloud storage (Google One, Dropbox Plus) costs $1.99-9.99/month
The Solution: Telegram gives you unlimited storage for free. Upload as many files as you want, as long as each individual file is under 2 GB (which covers 99% of typical files).
Real Student Use Cases:
- Back up all your lecture PDFs, PowerPoints, and notes
- Store your entire photo library from campus life
- Keep assignment files, research papers, and project documents
- Save video recordings of presentations or lectures
- Store your CV, certificates, and important documents
- Back up your entire music library
- Keep design files, coding projects, or creative work
All accessible from any device, anytime, anywhere with internet—for free.
How to Set Up Telegram for Cloud Storage
Step 1: Download and Install Telegram
On Your Phone:
- Android: Go to Google Play Store, search "Telegram," install the official Telegram app
- iPhone: Go to Apple App Store, search "Telegram," install the official Telegram app
On Your Computer:
- Visit telegram.org
- Download Telegram Desktop for Windows, Mac, or Linux
- Or use Telegram Web directly in your browser at web.telegram.org
Step 2: Create Your Account
- Open Telegram
- Enter your phone number (including Ghana country code +233)
- You'll receive a verification code via SMS
- Enter the code to verify
- Set your name and profile (optional but recommended)
- You're in!
Important: Telegram works across all devices simultaneously. Log in on your phone, laptop, and tablet—everything syncs automatically.
Step 3: Find Your "Saved Messages"
This is your personal cloud storage space on Telegram.
On Mobile:
- Open Telegram
- Look at your chat list
- You'll see "Saved Messages" near the top (it has a bookmark icon)
- Tap it to open
On Desktop/Web:
- Open Telegram
- In the left sidebar with your chats, find "Saved Messages"
- Click it to open
Think of "Saved Messages" as your private folder that only you can access. Nobody else can see what you save here—it's completely private.
How to Upload Files to Your Telegram Cloud Storage
Uploading from Your Phone
Method 1: Direct Upload
- Open "Saved Messages"
- Tap the attachment icon (paperclip) at the bottom
- Choose what you want to upload:
- Photo or Video: Select from gallery
- File: Browse your phone's files and folders
- Camera: Take a new photo/video
- Location: Save location pins
- Select the file(s)
- Tap send
Method 2: Share to Telegram
- Open any file on your phone (photo, document, etc.)
- Tap the Share button
- Select Telegram
- Choose Saved Messages
- Send
This method works from your gallery, file manager, Google Drive, OneDrive, or any app with a share function.
Uploading from Your Computer
Method 1: Drag and Drop
- Open Telegram Desktop
- Open "Saved Messages"
- Drag files from your computer directly into the chat window
- Drop them there
- They automatically upload
Method 2: Attachment Button
- Open "Saved Messages"
- Click the paperclip icon
- Browse your computer files
- Select what you want to upload
- Click "Open" or "Send"
Pro Tip: You can select multiple files at once. Hold Ctrl (Windows/Linux) or Cmd (Mac) while clicking files to select several, then upload them all together.
Upload Speed and Limits
- Free users: Upload up to 2 GB per file
- Premium users: Upload up to 4 GB per file
- Speed: Depends on your internet connection, but Telegram's servers are fast
- Daily limit: There's technically a bandwidth consideration, but for normal use (uploading 10-50 GB per day), you won't hit any limits
How to Download Files from Your Telegram Cloud Storage
On Mobile
- Open "Saved Messages"
- Find the file you want
- Tap on it
- For photos/videos: They open immediately, tap the download icon to save to your phone
- For documents: Tap to download, then tap again to open
- Downloaded files go to your phone's Downloads folder or Telegram folder
On Desktop
- Open "Saved Messages"
- Find your file
- Click on it to preview (photos, videos, PDFs open in Telegram)
- Right-click the file → Save As to download to your computer
- Choose where to save it
- Done
Important: Files don't take up space on Telegram until you download them to your device. They stay in the cloud, and you only download what you need, when you need it.
Organizing Your Telegram Cloud Storage
Using Folders (New Feature in 2024)
Telegram now lets you organize Saved Messages into folders for better organization.
How to Create Folders:
- Open "Saved Messages"
- Long-press (mobile) or right-click (desktop) on any message
- Select "Create Topic" or "Add to Topic"
- Name your folder (e.g., "University Notes," "Photos 2025," "Important Documents")
- Add messages to this topic
You can create topics like:
- Lecture Notes
- Assignment Files
- Photos
- Videos
- Music
- Work Documents
- Certificates
- Personal
Using Hashtags
Add hashtags to your files for easy searching.
How:
- When uploading a file, add a caption
- Include hashtags: "Assignment #KNUST #ComputerScience #Level300"
- Later, search for #KNUST in your Saved Messages
- All files with that hashtag appear
Pinning Important Files
Pin the most important files to the top of Saved Messages.
How:
- Long-press (mobile) or right-click (desktop) any message with an important file
- Select Pin
- The file stays at the top of your Saved Messages for quick access
Using Telegram's Search Function
Telegram has powerful search.
To Find Files:
- Open "Saved Messages"
- Tap/click the search icon (magnifying glass)
- Type keywords, file names, or hashtags
- Results appear instantly
- Filter by media type (photos, videos, files, links)
Advanced Tips and Tricks
1. Compress Photos to Save Quality but Reduce Size
When uploading photos, Telegram asks if you want to compress them:
- Compressed (default): Reduces file size, slight quality loss, faster uploads
- Uncompressed: Original quality, larger file size, slower uploads
For backing up memories, compressed is fine. For professional photography or design work, use uncompressed.
2. Create Private Channels for Additional Storage
Beyond Saved Messages, you can create private channels for even more organization.
How:
- Tap the menu (three lines) in Telegram
- Select New Channel
- Name it (e.g., "My Cloud Storage")
- Set to Private (don't add any members)
- Upload files there
You now have a dedicated space separate from Saved Messages. You can create multiple private channels for different purposes.
3. Share Files via Links
You can generate links to share files with others without them needing Telegram.
How:
- Upload file to a private channel (not Saved Messages)
- Tap/click the file
- Select Share → Copy Link
- Anyone with that link can download the file (even without Telegram)
Warning: Only do this for files you want to be publicly accessible. Private means only you see the channel, but if you share a link, anyone can access that specific file.
4. Schedule Uploads
If you have slow internet, schedule uploads for overnight or when Wi-Fi is available.
How:
- Select files to upload
- Before sending, long-press the send button
- Select Schedule Message
- Set time
- Telegram uploads at that time automatically
5. Edit File Names After Upload
Made a typo in a file name? Edit it.
How:
- Long-press (mobile) or right-click (desktop) the file message
- Select Edit
- Change the caption/file name
- Save
What You Can Store on Telegram Cloud
Supported File Types:
- Documents: PDF, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, TXT, ZIP, RAR
- Photos: JPG, PNG, GIF, HEIC, WebP
- Videos: MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV (up to 2 GB per video)
- Audio: MP3, M4A, WAV, FLAC
- Software: APK, EXE, DMG, ISO (any installation files)
- Archives: ZIP, RAR, 7Z, TAR
- Design Files: PSD, AI, Sketch, Figma exports
- Code: Any programming files, entire project folders (zipped)
- Literally anything else: If it's a digital file under 2 GB, Telegram handles it
Real Student Use Cases in Ghana
Case 1: Backing Up University Notes
Problem: Kofi is a Level 300 KNUST student. His laptop crashed and he lost two years of lecture notes and assignments.
Solution: Now Kofi uploads every lecture slide, note, and assignment to Telegram immediately. He creates topics like "Semester 1 2025" and "Semester 2 2025" in Saved Messages. Even if his laptop crashes again, everything is safe in the cloud.
Case 2: Storing Large Video Files
Problem: Ama records lectures with her phone, but videos are 500 MB - 1 GB each and filling up her phone.
Solution: She uploads videos to Telegram, then deletes them from her phone. When she needs to review a lecture, she streams it directly from Telegram without downloading.
Case 3: Sharing Group Project Files
Problem: A group of 5 UG students need to share design files, documents, and videos for their final year project. Google Drive limits them to 15 GB shared.
Solution: They create a private Telegram group and upload all project files there. Everyone has access, no storage limits, and they can comment on files directly.
Case 4: Portfolio Backup for Creative Students
Problem: Kwabena is a graphic design student with 50 GB of design files across 4 years. External hard drives are expensive.
Solution: He zips his project folders (keeping each under 2 GB) and uploads them to a private Telegram channel. All his work is backed up, accessible from anywhere.
Important Limitations to Know
File Size Limits
- 2 GB per file (free users)
- 4 GB per file (premium users)
Workaround: Split large files using file splitting tools, or compress folders into multiple ZIP files under 2 GB each.
No Folder Structure
Telegram doesn't have traditional folders like Google Drive. You organize using:
- Topics in Saved Messages
- Private channels for categories
- Hashtags for tagging
- Search for finding files
It's not as structured as Google Drive, but it's manageable with good habits.
Internet Required
You need internet to access files. Unlike Dropbox or OneDrive which sync offline copies, Telegram streams from the cloud. However, you can download specific files for offline access.
Privacy Considerations
- Saved Messages: Only you can see
- Private channels you create alone: Only you can see
- Private groups: Only invited members can see
- Public channels/groups: Anyone can see
Store sensitive documents only in Saved Messages or private channels where you're the only member.
Telegram Cloud Storage vs. Traditional Cloud Services
| Feature | Telegram | Google Drive (Free) | Dropbox (Free) | OneDrive (Free) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Storage Capacity | Unlimited | 15 GB | 2 GB | 5 GB |
| File Size Limit | 2 GB/file | 5 TB/file | 50 MB/file | 250 GB/file |
| Cost | Free | Free (paid from $1.99/mo) | Free (paid from $11.99/mo) | Free (paid from $1.99/mo) |
| File Types | Any | Any | Any | Any |
| Cross-Platform | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Offline Access | Download needed | Selective sync | Selective sync | Selective sync |
| Sharing | Via links or users | Via links or users | Via links or users | Via links or users |
| Organization | Topics, hashtags | Folders | Folders | Folders |
| Best For | Unlimited backup, students | Collaboration, docs | Teams, paid plans | Microsoft ecosystem |
Bottom Line: Telegram offers unlimited storage but with per-file size limits. It's perfect for backing up large collections of files (thousands of photos, hundreds of PDFs) where individual files are under 2 GB.
Is Your Data Safe on Telegram?
Security Features:
- All data is encrypted in transit (as it travels to Telegram's servers)
- Telegram stores data on servers across multiple locations
- Your Saved Messages are private; nobody else can access them
- Two-factor authentication available (highly recommended to enable)
Privacy Considerations:
- Telegram can technically access your data (unlike end-to-end encrypted "Secret Chats")
- For ultra-sensitive documents (bank statements, passports, medical records), consider additional encryption before uploading
- Don't store anything illegal or in violation of Telegram's Terms of Service
Recommendation: For general use (school notes, photos, videos, work files), Telegram is safe. For highly sensitive personal documents, use additional encryption or a zero-knowledge service like Tresorit or Proton Drive.
Common Questions
Q: Is Telegram really unlimited storage? Yes, there's no total storage cap. You can store 10 GB, 100 GB, 1 TB, or more. The only limit is 2 GB per individual file.
Q: Will Telegram delete my files if I don't use the app? No. Files stay permanently unless you delete them. Your account remains active as long as you log in at least once every 12 months (for free users).
Q: Can I upload entire folders? Not directly. Compress folders into ZIP files first, then upload the ZIP (if under 2 GB). You can upload multiple ZIPs if your folder is larger.
Q: Does Telegram work offline? You can view previously downloaded files offline, but you need internet to access new files from the cloud.
Q: Can I use Telegram storage on slow internet? Yes, but uploads/downloads will be slow. Telegram's compression and smart loading help, but faster internet always helps.
Q: What happens if Telegram shuts down? Unlikely, but possible. Always maintain local backups of irreplaceable files (family photos, important documents). Use Telegram as an additional backup, not your only backup.
Q: Can I upload files from Google Drive directly to Telegram? On mobile, yes—download from Google Drive, share to Telegram. On desktop, download first, then upload to Telegram.
Getting Started: Your First Upload
Let's do this right now:
- Install Telegram on your phone and computer (if you haven't)
- Open Saved Messages
- Upload 3 files:
- An important document (certificate, CV, school file)
- A photo
- A video or music file
- Add captions with descriptive names and hashtags
- Delete them from your phone (optional, to free space)
Congratulations! You now have cloud backup of those files, accessible forever, from any device, for free.
Final Thoughts
Telegram's unlimited cloud storage is one of the best-kept secrets in tech. While it's primarily a messaging app, its cloud capabilities rival or exceed paid services—completely free.
For students in Ghana facing limited budgets, unreliable local storage, and increasing digital content needs, Telegram provides a genuinely valuable solution. Upload your lecture notes, assignments, photos, videos, and projects. Access them from campus, home, internet cafes, or anywhere with a connection.
The key is developing the habit: whenever you create or receive an important file, immediately upload it to Telegram. Within weeks, you'll have a comprehensive cloud backup of everything important, costing you absolutely nothing.
Quick Start Action Plan:
- Download Telegram today
- Upload 10 important files to Saved Messages
- Create 3-5 topics to organize files by category
- Set a reminder to upload weekly (or daily if you're disciplined)
- Within a month, you'll have a robust cloud backup system
Your phone might break, your laptop might crash, your external drive might fail. But your Telegram cloud storage? It's always there, waiting, with everything you've ever uploaded. That peace of mind is priceless—and it's free.
Start backing up today.