Telegram, the encrypted messaging platform with more than one billion monthly active users, has been removed from Apple's iOS App Store worldwide. The app is no longer searchable or downloadable in any region. Apple has not provided a reason for the removal, and neither company has issued an official statement.
Users who already have Telegram installed on their iPhones report that the app continues to function normally. Messages send and receive without issue. Push notifications arrive. The removal appears to affect new downloads and updates only.
A Pattern, But No Precedent for This Scale
This is not the first time Telegram has vanished from Apple's storefront. In 2018, Apple pulled the app after alerting founder Pavel Durov to what the company called "inappropriate content" on the platform. The 2018 removal lasted only briefly before Telegram was restored following moderation improvements.
Apple's App Store guidelines are explicit about what apps with user-generated content must provide. According to Apple's developer documentation, apps must include mechanisms to filter objectionable material, tools to report offensive content, the ability to block abusive users, and published contact information for support. Failure to maintain these safeguards can result in removal.
In April 2024, Apple removed Telegram, WhatsApp, Signal, and Threads from the Chinese App Store at the request of China's internet regulator, citing "national security concerns." Apple stated at the time that it is "obligated to follow the laws in the countries where we operate, even when we disagree."
But a worldwide removal with no public explanation is different. The Chinese action was region-specific and came with a statement from Apple explaining the government order. This removal is global and silent.
The Durov Factor
The timing is notable. Less than a week ago, Russia's Federal Security Service charged Durov with "aiding terrorism" and placed him on an international wanted list. The FSB accused Telegram of failing to remove channels used by what Moscow calls Ukrainian intelligence services and extremist organizations to coordinate attacks inside Russia. Russia's financial watchdog subsequently added Durov to its official list of "terrorists and extremists."
Durov, who holds French and Emirati citizenship and lives in Dubai, has not been detained. He responded to the Russian charges on X by posting an image of himself raising a middle finger.
Durov already faces legal troubles in France, where he was arrested in August 2024 on charges related to insufficient moderation on Telegram. He remains under judicial supervision and is barred from leaving France.
Whether any of this is connected to the App Store removal is unclear. Apple has not indicated that the removal is related to Durov's legal status or to government pressure of any kind. But the company has also said nothing at all.
What Happens Next
For now, existing Telegram users on iOS can continue using the app. But they cannot reinstall it if they delete it, and they cannot update to new versions. If Telegram releases a security patch or critical fix, iPhone users will be unable to apply it through normal means.
Telegram remains available on Google Play, on desktop, and through direct APK downloads on Android. The iOS restriction is specific to Apple's ecosystem.
Apple's silence is doing most of the talking here. The company has removed major apps before for content moderation failures, for government orders, and for guideline violations. It has never done so at this scale without offering at least a brief public explanation. Until Apple or Telegram clarifies what happened, speculation will fill the void.
We have reached out to both Apple and Telegram for comment and will update this story if we receive a response.
