Pinned Messages 2.0, Improved Live Locations, Playlists and More

Halloween is just around the corner and we're introducing new features to help organize your trick-or-treating. Practice your voodoo skills with multiple pinned messages in every chat, watch out for other zombies on the block with Live Locations 2.0, put suspenseful music into Playlists, and more.

If you'd like to read about this update in simple English and without all most of the Halloween stuff, try this page.

Multiple Pinned Messages

Pinned messages are a lot like chips, it's hard to stop at just one, which is why you can now pin multiple messages in any chat. Tap the top bar to jump between them – or use the new button if you want to see them all on a separate page.

In addition to channels and groups, pinned messages now work in one-on-one chats, useful for everything from shopping lists to friendly wagers and beyond.

Improved Live Locations

When friends share their live location, you can set up an alert that will notify you when they're close. Icons on the live location map now also show which direction they are facing.

Never pass each other again when meeting on the street, even if everyone around (including you) is dressed up as a mummy.

Playlists

When you send multiple songs at the same time, they'll be arranged together in a playlist – easier to play, forward, or comment on. Opening one of the songs will queue them all up in Telegram's built-in media player.

Sending multiple files together also displays them in one chat bubble. Just like with photo albums, you can always select each file or track individually.

Channel Post Stats

Comments have boosted subscriber activity in channels, and now we're introducing new tools for admins to track it. In addition to channel statistics, you can view stats for individual posts in your channel – including a list of public channels to which your post was forwarded.

Sleek New Animations on Android

Meanwhile, our Android Frankensteins keep adding new animations, this time for sending messages and switching songs in the music player.

Also on Android: when viewing a photo you’ve received, you can edit and send it back right away, skipping the download-upload ritual. Just tap the brush button when viewing a photo to quickly mark a spot with an X, or put skull stickers on faces.

Jackpot

Monaco is gradually reopening for tourists, but there is another way to try your luck: send to any chat and see if you hit the jackpot.

In case you missed it, this also works for , , and .

And Ghoulishly Delightful Animated Emoji

Given the occasion, we couldn't help but animate every spooky emoji we could find. To get one of these in a chat, simply send a message with a single emoji. When viewing animated emoji for or , tap on them for an extra thrill.

Even if you don’t dig all the Halloween hype, we’ve got you covered animated:

How to Get This Update

The new version with these features is already available for all our Android users via Google Play or APK. If you're on iOS, you'll get the update as soon as either a) Apple finishes reviewing it OR b) you decide it's time to switch to Android. UPD: (October, 31) The iOS part of the update has now also been approved.

Now we'll get back to working on our costume. We're going as the Ghost of Group Chats Past: 256 members, no moderation tools and completely covered in green slime. See you on the other side!

October 30, 2020
The Telegram Team