Delete/Reset Telegram API ID & Hash if Compromised
Learn if you can delete or reset Telegram API ID and API hash if compromised. Password changes don't invalidate them. Official revocation via support and steps to get new credentials securely.
How to delete or reset Telegram API hash and API ID if compromised by an attacker? Does changing the Telegram account password invalidate these credentials, and what are the official methods to revoke them?
.You can’t directly delete or reset a Telegram API ID or API hash Telegram on your own if compromised by an attacker—there’s no self-service button for that. Changing your Telegram account password or enabling 2FA won’t invalidate these credentials either, since they’re tied to app registrations, not your login. The only official path forward is emailing Telegram support to request revocation, while grabbing fresh credentials from my.telegram.org in the meantime.
Contents
- What Are Telegram API ID and API Hash?
- Can You Delete or Reset Them if Compromised?
- Does Changing Password or 2FA Invalidate Credentials?
- Official Methods to Revoke Telegram API Credentials
- How to Obtain New Telegram API ID and API Hash Securely
- Common Errors, Myths, and Best Security Practices
Sources
- Obtaining api_id — Official Telegram guide to creating and managing API credentials: https://core.telegram.org/api/obtaining_api_id
- Signing In — Telethon 1.37.0 — Library documentation confirming no revocation option exists: https://docs.telethon.dev/en/stable/basic/signing-in.html
- How to delete/destroy my telegram api id and api hash? — Stack Overflow discussion with community tests on permanence: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/52259561/how-to-delete-destroy-my-telegram-api-id-and-api-hash
- How to delete telegram app api key / api hash? — Stack Overflow thread detailing support escalation steps: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/59663483/how-to-delete-telegram-app-api-key-api-hash
- Signing In — Telethon 2.0.0 — Updated library docs on obtaining credentials via my.telegram.org: https://docs.telethon.dev/en/v2/basic/signing-in.html
- Account Deletion — Telegram’s policy on permanent actions, clarifying separation from API keys: https://core.telegram.org/api/account-deletion
- api_credentials.md — Telegram Desktop source docs linking to official credential creation: https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/blob/dev/docs/api_credentials.md
Conclusion
Bottom line: Telegram API ID and API hash Telegram can’t be deleted or reset through user controls, and password changes leave them intact—attackers could still spam or access data via libraries like Telethon. Rush to my.telegram.org for new ones, email recover@telegram.org or support@ immediately with details, and lock down your setup with isolated environments. Prevention beats cure here; treat these like private keys, and you’ll sleep better knowing your bots and apps stay secure.
What Are Telegram API ID and API Hash?
Picture this: you’re building a Telegram bot or client app, maybe with Python’s Telethon library. To connect, Telegram demands two keys—an API ID (a numeric identifier for your “app”) and an API hash (a string to authenticate it). These aren’t your everyday login creds; they’re registered per phone number at my.telegram.org, one set per app you create.
Why the split? Security, mostly. The official Telegram docs explain it ties your project to MTProto protocol calls without exposing your full account. Developers grab them via “API development tools,” filling in app title, short name, platform (Android, web, whatever), and description. Boom—new Telegram API ID and API hash Telegram pop out.
But here’s the kicker: once issued, they’re permanent. No edit button. And if someone snags them? They can fire up their own client, impersonate your app, send messages, poll updates—nasty stuff. High search volume on “telegram api id (1062)” and “api hash telegram (730)” screams how common this worry is among devs.
Can You Delete or Reset Them if Compromised?
Straight up—no, you can’t telegram api delete or reset these yourself. Telegram’s design locks them in; Telethon docs bluntly state: “Telegram won’t let you revoke it.” Community tests back this: delete your entire account? Keys linger. Nuke the app listing? Still active.
Stack Overflow users tried everything. One thread (here) ran experiments—account deletion via selfdestruct, phone number swaps—nothing kills the creds. An attacker with your API ID and API hash Telegram keeps polling getUpdates or spamming channels until… well, forever, unless support steps in.
What happens post-leak? Errors like “API_ID_INVALID” or floods from bots. “Telegram api delete (228)” searches spike because devs panic. Short answer: don’t leak 'em. Store in env vars, never commit to Git.
Does Changing Password or 2FA Invalidate Credentials?
You might think, “Just reset my password or crank up 2FA—problem solved.” Nope. These Telegram API ID and API hash live separately from your account login. Telegram’s account deletion policy covers selfdestruct and password resets, but skips API keys entirely.
Why? API creds authenticate apps, not users. Your attacker logs in via signIn with your keys plus a session string—no password needed. Telethon code snippets in docs show this:
from telethon import TelegramClient
client = TelegramClient('session', api_id, api_hash)
Password change logs you out of official clients, but custom ones chug along. Reddit rants and SO confirm: 2FA blocks phone logins, not API-driven ones. Brutal truth.
Official Methods to Revoke Telegram API Credentials
No dashboard button, but Telegram can revoke on request. Hit up recover@telegram.org for compromised keys—include your phone, old API ID, leak details. Or support@telegram.org for apps/bots. Response? Days to weeks, but they’ve nuked spammer creds before.
Core docs hint at bans for abuse; elevate there if flooded. Desktop source (GitHub) points back to my.telegram.org, but support’s your hammer. Pro tip: CC abuse@ if messages fly.
While waiting, spin up new keys. Can’t mass-revoke multiples? Tough—prioritize active ones.
How to Obtain New Telegram API ID and API Hash Securely
Fresh start time. Head to my.telegram.org, log in with your number. “API development tools” → fill form:
| Step | Action | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enter app title (e.g., “MySecureBot”) | Descriptive, no tricks |
| 2 | Short name | Unique, like “securebot” |
| 3 | Platform | “Other” or match your lib |
| 4 | Description | “Private bot, post-2026 secure” |
| 5 | Submit | New Telegram API ID + API hash appear |
Test via Telethon: quick client.connect() checks validity. Updated Telethon guide walks Python setup. Searches like “получить api id telegram (248)” love this flow.
Secure it: dotenv files, AWS Secrets Manager. Rotate yearly. Never “telegram get api id” in prod code—hardcode kills.
Common Errors, Myths, and Best Security Practices
Myths busted: “Delete account = dead keys”? False, per SO. “Password reset zaps 'em”? Laughable. “Use camera 2 API Telegram” errors? Unrelated Android noise.
Real errors:
- API hash Telegram error: Mismatch—double-check copy-paste.
- Telegram API ID error: Invalid/old; regenerate.
- “Your API ID Telegram” prompts? Session flood—new keys.
Practices? Isolate: Docker for bots. Libraries like Pyrogram echo warnings. Rate limits? Respect getUpdates. “Api id телеграм” leaks via GitHub? Scan repos.
And if paranoia hits: ditch phone number, new SIM. But start with support email today. You’ve got this.