- Telegram now offers a direct download option for its app, which is independent of the Google Play Store.
- The company says its version will have “fewer restrictions” and “automatic updates”.
The messaging platform Telegram is now offering a version of their app that can be downloaded directly from their website. That way, you’re skipping the Google Play Store and downloading Telegram as an APK on your Android phone.
What’s the benefit? According to Telegram, “fewer restrictions” apply to the app version than to the one offered in the Google Play Store. According to the company, the direct download also receives “automatic updates”.
The telegram did not specify what it meant by fewer restrictions. However, some Reddit users believe that Google is blocking access to certain channels in Telegram that it believes you shouldn’t be accessing. One user even posted some screenshots of channels that were blocked in Telegram.
A warning on the restricted channels side is as follows:
Unfortunately, this channel cannot be viewed in Telegram apps downloaded from the Google Play Store.
While some Redditors point out that the blocked channels belong to radical hate groups who definitely justify the restrictions, others believe that blocking should be Telegram’s prerogative, not Google.
That said, Telegram prides itself on its privacy features, and adding censorship to the mix could cause it to lose its growing popularity.
There may be other restrictions on the Play Store version of Telegram as well, but we’re not sure what these are. Have you encountered access issues with the Telegram app downloaded from the Play Store? If so, let us know in the comments section below.
If something like the beta version of Telegram works with the automatic updates, a pop-up should appear in the app as soon as an update is available.
In the meantime, this page provides step-by-step instructions on how to download the Telegram APK directly to your Android phone.
