MTProto proxy — frequently asked questions

MTProto is Telegram's own proxy protocol. It routes your Telegram traffic through an intermediate server so your connection reaches Telegram even when Telegram's servers are blocked directly. Unlike a VPN, it only reroutes Telegram — everything else on your device keeps its normal connection.

Your chats stay encrypted the same way they would without a proxy — a proxy cannot read your Telegram messages. What a proxy operator can see is that your device connected to Telegram, plus basic connection metadata like timing. Stick to sources you trust, and prefer servers using a fake-TLS secret when available.

Tap a proxy link — Telegram opens a confirmation screen automatically. Or add one manually in Settings → Data and Storage → Proxy with the server, port, and secret. Full steps for every platform are in the connection guide.

Free proxy servers get blocked, run out of bandwidth, or go offline over time — that's normal for any free proxy. FoxProxy's list refreshes every hour, so the fix is usually just grabbing the newest link rather than troubleshooting your settings.

No. An MTProto proxy only reroutes Telegram's own traffic. Other apps and general browsing on the same device are unaffected and keep using your normal connection.

That prefix marks a fake-TLS secret. It disguises the MTProto handshake as an ordinary HTTPS connection, which tends to hold up better against network filtering than older, plain secrets. See the best proxy guide for more on secret types.

FoxProxy runs an additional check against real network vantage points inside Iran before publishing any proxy, on top of the standard connectivity test. Details and limitations are covered in the Iran connection guide.

No — Telegram lets you save multiple proxies and switch between them freely. There's no cost or registration involved either way.