How do you start a Secret Chat on Telegram?

Starting a Secret Chat on Telegram is straightforward. Here's a step-by-step guide:

### Starting a Secret Chat

1. **Open Telegram**:
   - Launch the Telegram app on your device.

2. **Select a Contact**:
   - Choose the contact with whom you want to start a Secret Chat.

3. **Open Contact Info**:
   - In the chat window with the selected contact, tap on their name at the top of the screen. This will open their contact info.

4. **Initiate Secret Chat**:
   - In the contact info screen, you'll see various options related to the contact.
   - Look for the option labeled "Start Secret Chat" and tap on it.

5. **Confirmation**:
   - Telegram will display a confirmation dialog to ensure that you want to start a Secret Chat.
   - Confirm your decision by tapping "Start" or "Yes."

6. **Verification (Optional)**:
   - If you're starting a Secret Chat with this contact for the first time, Telegram may ask you to verify the security code with the other user. This ensures that both parties are using the correct devices and that the chat is secure.

7. **Start Messaging**:
   - Once the Secret Chat is initiated, you can start messaging with the contact just like you would in a regular chat.
   - Messages sent and received in this Secret Chat are end-to-end encrypted and have a self-destruct timer.

### Things to Note

- **One-on-One Communication**: Secret Chats are limited to one-on-one conversations. You cannot initiate a Secret Chat with multiple users or in group chats.
- **Limited Features**: Secret Chats do not support features like forwarding messages, media caching, or desktop access. This is to ensure the highest level of security and privacy.
- **Self-Destruct Timer**: You can set a self-destruct timer for messages in Secret Chats. Once the timer expires, the messages are automatically deleted from both devices.

### Verification of Secret Chats

When starting a Secret Chat with a contact for the first time, Telegram may prompt both users to verify the security code. This verification ensures that both parties are using the correct devices and that the chat is secure. You can compare the security codes with your contact to confirm the authenticity of the Secret Chat.

### Conclusion

Starting a Secret Chat on Telegram is a simple process that provides users with a high level of security and privacy for their one-on-one conversations. By using end-to-end encryption and self-destruct timers, Secret Chats ensure that sensitive information remains protected and cannot be accessed by unauthorized parties.