What is Telegram-Archive?

This program saves your Telegram account data to a machine you own. It operates as two Docker containers — one for the backup process and one for the web interface — or can be set up through pip. The backup component connects to Telegram using your API keys, runs a live listener for new messages plus a daily scheduled sweep, and writes everything to SQLite by default or PostgreSQL if you prefer. It retains every message with its formatting, replies, forwards, reactions, pinned items, and polls. Each edit keeps its prior text, and each removed message stays in the archive marked as deleted. Media such as images, video clips, audio notes, stickers, files, and link previews are stored once and shared across conversations. The web interface on port 8000 mimics Telegram with conversations, categories, discussion threads, search, shared files, a feed showing what changed, and earlier profile pictures. It handles multiple accounts in one archive, can import Telegram Desktop exports, offers optional voice transcription through an external server, and provides an event webhook for edits and deletions. Access control has a master login, extra viewer accounts with per-chat permissions, and share links for single conversations. Twelve visual themes are included, one of which matches your system light or dark preference. The interface works on phone browsers. Container images support amd64 and arm64, run as non-root user 1000 with all capabilities dropped.

Should you self-host Telegram-Archive?

Telegram-Archive scores 51/100 on selfhost.directory (how scoring works) and ranks #31 of 46 in Backup. It has 233 GitHub stars.

It shipped 27 stable releases in the past year. The latest, v9.5.0, came out on 28 October 2026. New versions land roughly every 2 days.

Setup is moderate: expect some configuration beyond a single command. An official Docker image is available. It is GPL-3.0-licensed and written mostly in Python.

Its closest alternative on selfhost.directory is Restic (82/100, 36 862 stars). It scores higher overall, so compare the two before you pick. See Telegram-Archive vs Restic side by side.

Features

Browser notifications
Edit and deletion history
Event webhook
Incremental Telegram backup
Media deduplication
Multiple Accounts
Read-only hardened containers
Reverse Proxy Authentication
Telegram Desktop import
Telegram-like web viewer
Viewer accounts and share links
Voice transcriptionRequires external transcription server
What Changed feed

How to configure Telegram-Archive

ALLOW_ANONYMOUS_VIEWERfalseAllow anonymous read-only access when no password or proxy login configured.
Allow anonymous read-only access when no password or proxy login configured.
values: true, false
AUTH_PROXY_HEADERRequest header that carries the user name from a trusted reverse proxy.
Request header that carries the user name from a trusted reverse proxy.
DATABASE_URLFull database URL. Beats every other database setting.
Full database URL. Beats every other database setting.
values: sqlite:///, sqlite+aiosqlite:///, postgresql://, postgresql+asyncpg://, postgres://
DB_PATH$BACKUP_PATH/telegram_backup.dbSQLite file path.
SQLite file path.
DB_TYPEsqlitesqlite, postgresql or postgres. Used only when DATABASE_URL is empty.
sqlite, postgresql or postgres. Used only when DATABASE_URL is empty.
values: sqlite, postgresql, postgres
DOWNLOAD_MEDIAtrueWhether to download media files.
Whether to download media files.
values: true, false
ENABLE_LISTENERtrueEnable real-time listener for new messages, edits and reactions.
Enable real-time listener for new messages, edits and reactions.
values: true, false
EVENT_WEBHOOK_ENABLEDfalseTurns the event webhook on for edits and deletions.
Turns the event webhook on for edits and deletions.
values: true, false
EVENT_WEBHOOK_URLTarget URL for the event webhook. Required when enabled.
Target URL for the event webhook. Required when enabled.
MAX_MEDIA_SIZE_MB100Files over this size are skipped. Default 100 MB.
Files over this size are skipped. Default 100 MB.
PUSH_NOTIFICATIONSbasicoff, basic or full. Only full sends Web Push which works with browser closed.
off, basic or full. Only full sends Web Push which works with browser closed.
values: off, basic, full
SCHEDULEFull pass schedule in cron format. Empty uses default: 0 3 * * * (daily) with listener on, 0 */6 * * * with ENABLE_LISTENER=false.
Full pass schedule in cron format. Empty uses default: 0 3 * * * (daily) with listener on, 0 */6 * * * with ENABLE_LISTENER=false.
TELEGRAM_API_HASHAPI hash from my.telegram.org. Required in single-account mode.
API hash from my.telegram.org. Required in single-account mode.
TELEGRAM_API_IDInteger API id from my.telegram.org. Required in single-account mode.
Integer API id from my.telegram.org. Required in single-account mode.
TELEGRAM_PHONEPhone number in international format with leading +.
Phone number in international format with leading +.
TRANSCRIPTION_ENABLEDtrueEnable voice transcription feature.
Enable voice transcription feature.
values: true, false
TRANSCRIPTION_URLURL of the transcription server (e.g., akou).
URL of the transcription server (e.g., akou).
VIEWER_DEFAULT_THEMEsystemDefault theme for browsers with no saved choice: system, telegram, night, iosnight, slate, minimal, graphite, amoled, forest, aubergine, day, paper.
Default theme for browsers with no saved choice: system, telegram, night, iosnight, slate, minimal, graphite, amoled, forest, aubergine, day, paper.
values: system, telegram, night, iosnight, slate, minimal, graphite, amoled, forest, aubergine, day, paper
VIEWER_PASSWORDMaster login password. Spaces at either end are removed.
Master login password. Spaces at either end are removed.
VIEWER_TIMEZONEEurope/MadridTime zone name for displayed times, the date picker and the daily statistics job.
Time zone name for displayed times, the date picker and the daily statistics job.
VIEWER_USERNAMEMaster login name. Password login is on only when this and VIEWER_PASSWORD are both set.
Master login name. Password login is on only when this and VIEWER_PASSWORD are both set.