Have you tried to read a message on Telegram but gotten the “This message cannot be displayed” error? This problem keeps you from seeing messages, pictures, or stickers sent to you.
The good news is you can often easily fix it yourself by following some simple steps. In this blog I’ll explain what causes this error. I’ll also provide a step-by-step guide on how to solve it.
Why Do You Get This Error Message?
Before we fix it, let’s look at what’s behind this Telegram error:
Temporary Glitches
Sometimes there’s a small, temporary glitch on Telegram’s servers or your phone. These little hiccups cause the “message cannot be displayed” error. But then they fix themselves after some time.
You Have an Old Version of the App
If Telegram on your phone is not updated, you may face issues or bugs that stop messages displaying properly. Telegram needs regular updates to fix bugs and improve performance.
Device Storage Problems
If your phone’s storage space is low, it affects how Telegram works. Specifically, if Telegram’s cached data is overloaded or corrupted, it tends to cause this error.
Restricted Content
Sometimes, you get this error when trying to view content blocked as per Telegram’s rules for your country. So local government bans or Telegram’s copyright rules can stop messages from loading properly.
Now let’s look at how to solve this step-by-step:
How to Fix the Telegram “This Message Cannot Be Displayed” Error
Follow these troubleshooting tips one by one until your Telegram works:
1. Check Your Internet Connection
First, check if your phone is connected to the internet. For Telegram to work fine, you need constant access to the internet.
Problems like using weak Wi-Fi, finishing mobile data, or temporarily losing connectivity due to no network – can make messages fail to load.
To test your internet connection, you can run a free internet speed test online.
This is the most common way to gauge your internet speed, measuring download and upload rates. Popular websites for this include:
- Speedtest.net: – This is a well-known and reliable option.
- Fast.com: – Simple and quick test by Netflix, perfect for a basic speed check.
Simply visit the website, click “Start Test,” and wait for the results. You’ll see your download and upload speeds in Mbps (megabits per second). Repeat the test a few times at different times of the day to get a more accurate average.
If you have internet issues, wait until you get back online. Next, reopen Telegram to see if the error still appears.
Here’s how to check Telegram’s server status using Downdetector:
- Visit the Downdetector website: Open a web browser and go to Downdetector’s website.
- Search for Telegram: In the search bar at the top of the page, type “Telegram” and press Enter.
- View the status report: You’ll see a real-time status report for Telegram, including:
- A live outage map showing where users are reporting issues.
- A graph of reported problems over the past 24 hours.
- A list of common problems being reported, such as “server connection” or “sending messages.”
If the graph shows a spike in reported problems, Telegram is likely experiencing an outage or issue. If there are only a few scattered reports, it might be a localized issue or a problem with your internet connection.
If they have server technical issues, you have to wait for Telegram’s team to fix them. Make a note of any reported problems and try again later.
2. Restart the Telegram App
If your internet works fine, next step is to force close and relaunch the Telegram app.
On Android phones:
- Open Recent Apps and swipe Telegram upwards to force close it
- Tap the Telegram icon to reopen the app
On iPhones:
- Double tap Home button to open app history
- Swipe up on Telegram app preview to close it
- Tap the Telegram icon to relaunch it
Restarting refreshes the app’s connections. This can fix small issues that cause message errors.
3. Update Telegram
Are you using the latest Telegram version on your phone? Old versions have performance issues or compatibility problems.
To update TikTok:
On Android:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap on the My apps & games menu (usually at the top right).
- Search for Telegram.
- If an update is available, you’ll see an Update button next to the app. Tap it to start the update process.
On iPhone:
- Open the App Store.
- Tap on the Updates tab at the bottom of the screen.
- Find Telegram in the list of apps with available updates.
- Tap the Update button next to it.
On Desktop:
- Open the Telegram app.
- Click on the Settings menu.
- Select Advanced.
- Click on Version & Updates.
- Click the Check for Updates button. If an update is available, you’ll be prompted to download and install it.
Install any available updates. They have important bug fixes, security patches, and performance fixes for issues causing this error.
4. Clear Telegram’s Cache
Over time, temporary files and old data get cached in Telegram storage on your phone. Corrupted or overloaded cache can disrupt Telegram and cause message errors.
Luckily, Telegram has an easy option to wipe cache and start fresh:
On Android:
- Open Telegram > ≡ Menu > Settings > Data and Storage > Clear Cache
- Confirm to wipe the entire cache
On iPhone:
- Open Telegram > Settings > Data and Storage > Clear Cache
- Tap Clear Cache again to confirm
Next, check if messages now open without errors.
5. Log Out and Log Back In
If simpler troubleshooting doesn’t help, try logging out and back into your Telegram account:
- In Telegram, Settings > Log Out
- When asked, tap Log Out again
- Next, re-enter your phone number and confirmation code to log in
This makes Telegram re-verify your account completely. It can fix temporary account issues that stop messages from loading properly.
6. Test Telegram on Another Device
If issues persist on your phone, try accessing your Telegram on another device if possible.
Install Telegram on another phone or tablet, log into your account, and see if messages that fail on your main device work there.
If Telegram works fine on other devices, something is wrong on your phone specifically – maybe OS bugs or storage issues. You may need to uninstall and reinstall Telegram.
Here are the additional troubleshooting steps with more details explained simply:
We’ve covered the major solutions. But there some more ways to troubleshoot the “message cannot be displayed” error:
7. Reinstall Telegram
If nothing else works, uninstall Telegram first. Then, install it again from the app store.
This makes Telegram completely re-settle into your phone storage. Reinstalling can fix underlying Telegram issues stopping messages from displaying properly.
On Android:
- Open Settings > Apps > Telegram > Uninstall
- Open Play Store and search “Telegram”
- Tap Install to download it afresh
On iPhone:
- Hold your finger on the Telegram icon until it starts jiggling
- Tap little x at the corner to uninstall Telegram
- Go to the App Store and tap Get to reinstall Telegram
Next, log back in, and check if Telegram now shows messages correctly without errors.
8. Check App Compatibility
Make sure the Telegram version you installed is fully compatible with your phone’s operating system version.
If your Android or iOS versions are too outdated, Telegram cannot run properly. This ultimately causes message errors.
To check compatibility:
- Open Telegram
- Tap ≡ Menu > Settings > System
- Scroll down and tap version number 7 times
- Note down Android SDK level or iOS version
If your device OS does not meet minimum app requirements, you have to upgrade it urgently. Or consider getting another phone that has supported OS.
9. Disable Third-Party Telegram Apps
Do you use any alternative third-party Telegram apps or modifiers? For example, some custom versions like Telegram X, or plugins like translation bots.
If yes, temporarily disable them and stick to official Telegram client.
This isolates if third-party integrations are interfering with the main app and disrupting messages. Re-enable them selectively later once Telegram works correctly.
10. Check Device Storage
Ensure your phone has enough free storage space available.
Low phone storage makes the operating system behave erratically in background processes. This affects Telegram – it slows down, lags, and throws random errors like not displaying messages properly.
Here’s how much free space Telegram needs:
On Android: More than 100-200 MB
On iPhone: More than 500 MB
Check in Settings > Storage to see available space. If not enough, you must clear space immediately or expand storage.
11. Disable VPN/Proxy Temporarily
If you access Telegram via VPN or proxy, switch it off temporarily.
VPN/Proxy connections often disrupt app traffic, cause interference, and make Telegram behave unexpectedly.
Once you disable VPN and proxies, check if Telegram shows messages correctly without hiccups. Re-enable the VPN and see if errors reappear – confirming they are the culprit.
12. Review Firewall Settings
If you use Telegram on office or college network, ask the network admin to check if their firewall policies block or throttle app traffic.
Some strict corporate firewall settings prevent messaging app data flows. Because of this, Telegram cannot retrieve message content fully.
Network access rules must permit Telegram’s domains and ports without limitations to function properly behind a firewall.
13. Try Web Version
If some messages never load properly only on your mobile Telegram client, try accessing them on the browser-based web version:
- Open web.telegram.org and log into your account
- Check if you can now view messages that earlier failed on mobile app
Web Telegram uses different protocols and data flows. If messages appear here but not in mobile app, the app specifically has configuration issues or file path conflicts.
14. Review Group Permissions
If problematic message is in a Telegram group/channel, confirm if admins have intentionally restricted your access.
Open the group > Tap Group Name > View Admin Contact > Ask if they imposed any restrictions or changed permissions.
If yes, request access rights. Or alternatively, use web Telegram to double check if message opens there without restrictions.
15. Watch for Blocked Content
Finally, the “message cannot be displayed” error also appears when trying to access illegal or copyrighted content blocked under Telegram policy.
So this error protects you from inadvertently viewing unsafe messages. Consider updating content source to send messages legally if faced consistently.
16. Contact Telegram Support
If no user tricks work, ask Telegram officially for assistance.
Explain your full troubleshooting effort with details. Mention the persistent “message cannot be displayed” error faced despite all other attempted fixes.
To contact Telegram support:
- Open the Telegram app and go to Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on “Ask a Question”.
- This will launch a chat with the Telegram Support Bot.
- Type your question or issue in the chat box. The bot will provide answers and guidance based on your query.
Their technical team replies to individual queries & resolves account or app issues on priority.
