Send large files on Telegram: where they are stored
Telegram handles large files well until you reach the limit. The limit is usually 2 GB per file. A higher-tier account may allow more. Telegram sets that limit. It can change. We do not raise it.
The main difference is storage. A season uploaded to a chat stays on Telegram’s servers. The file stays as long as the channel exists. Links for free transfers stay available for 7 days.
| Method | 3.4 GB season |
|---|---|
| Telegram attachment | Usually stops at 2 GB |
| Higher-tier account | The limit may rise, but the file is still stored there |
| Individual episodes | Files get scattered across the chat |
| Bot | None |
| Link | Free, not stored on their servers |
The example above includes the season package, covers, episode notes, a cover image, and a short note.
Keep the password separate in public channels
Anyone who can see the group or channel can access the link you post there. Add a password for unreleased work. Do not put the password on the next line of the same post.
| File posted to a channel | Link posted to a channel | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it stays | Telegram | Time-limited transfer |
| 2 GB limit | May hit the limit | 3.4 GB fits |
| Anyone who sees it | Can download the file | Can open the link, but cannot access the files without the separate password |
| Nonmember | Needs Telegram | A browser is enough |
| Removal | You delete it from the channel | Access ends when the transfer expires |
For WhatsApp, see Send files through WhatsApp. For the package itself, see Send ZIP files.
2 GB and 5 GB are different limits
A 3.4 GB file is large for a Telegram attachment. It is not large for SendGB’s free limit. No registration is required. Do not split it into two parts to upload to Telegram. We do not combine the parts.
| Total size | Telegram attachment | SendGB |
|---|---|---|
| 500 MB | May send, stays on their servers | Can also be shared by link |
| 2.2 GB package | Usually hits the limit | Free |
| 3.4 GB example | Hits the limit | Free, 7 days |
| Over 5 GB | Hits the limit | SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed |
| Buying a higher-tier account | Their limit | Not a SendGB subscription |
A download does not confirm listening
If you entered your email address, you are notified once when a download starts. This does not confirm that the episode was opened or that the channel published it. If the same person downloads again, you do not receive another email.
| Notification or action | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Channel post | The link was shared |
| Download email | A download started |
| Repeat download | No new email |
| Listening | Not confirmed |
| Telegram notification | Not a notification from us |
Do not attach the file to Telegram. Send the link.
How to send
- 1
Share the season in one transfer
Do not upload the files in a package over 2 GB to Telegram one at a time. The free limit is 5 GB. Sending 3.4 GB requires no registration.
- 2
Post the link in the channel
Paste the link into the group or channel. Do not attach the file. Do not post the password in a public channel.
- 3
The recipient downloads
The recipient downloads from the link and does not create an account. A Telegram account is not required. A browser is enough. The link stays available for 7 days. Free transfers up to 250 MB stay available for up to 90 days. Files do not accumulate on Telegram.
What happens to your file?
- The season package is not stored on Telegram’s servers.
- The 2 GB per-file limit does not apply. The free limit is 5 GB.
- The cover and notes share the same link.
- If you entered your email address, you are notified once when a download starts.
What we don’t do
- We do not send files to your Telegram account. There is no bot.
- We do not control the file size limit for Telegram accounts with higher limits.
- Anyone who sees the link in a public channel can download. Add a password.
- A download notification does not mean the episode was listened to.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Telegram file size limit?
The limit is usually 2 GB per file. A higher-tier account may raise it. Telegram may change the limit. That is why a 2.2 GB season package may not send as a file. The free limit for sharing by link is 5 GB.
Does the file stay on Telegram?
If you send a file to a chat, it is stored on Telegram’s servers. It stays there as long as the chat exists. A file shared by link is not stored on Telegram’s servers. It stays available for 7 days. SendGB Extra keeps files for up to 1 year.
Do I need to install a bot in the channel?
No. There is no Telegram bot. You paste the link yourself. Channel members open the link.
Is sharing in a public channel risky?
Anyone who sees the link can download. Add a password for an unreleased season. Do not include the password in the channel post. Send the password separately from the link. Send the password through a channel that only the intended recipients can access.
Does the recipient need Telegram?
No. The recipient downloads from the link in a browser and does not create an account. Neither a Telegram nor a SendGB account is required.
Does SendGB open ZIP files?
No. We do not open the season package or extract individual episodes. The PDF notes can be opened on the page. The JPG cover image can be viewed.
How is this different from WhatsApp?
WhatsApp compresses photos and videos. Telegram generally keeps files as they are, but stores them on its own servers and has a per-file limit. On both platforms, sharing by link is more suitable for albums and files over 2 GB.
Is sending 3.4 GB free?
Yes, it is within the 5 GB limit. No registration is required. Transfers over 5 GB require SendGB Extra or SendGB Exceed. Files uploaded through a higher-tier Telegram account are still stored on Telegram’s servers. That is not one of our plans.
Will I get a download notification?
Yes, if you entered your email address. With email delivery, you are notified once per recipient. With link delivery, you are notified once per transfer. This does not confirm that the episode was listened to. We do not notify each channel member through Telegram.
Will a folder get scattered across the group chat?
It will if you post files to the group one by one. Folder names are preserved when all files in the link are downloaded. Empty folders are not uploaded.
Send the download link, not a Telegram attachment
A 3.4 GB season exceeds Telegram’s per-file limit. You can send it by link without registering.
Start sending