How to change your Telegram bot's name, photo and description

Everything people see on your bot's profile is set in @BotFather. Each change takes one command, and you can do it any time.

Updated · 3 min read

How it works

Open @BotFather, send one of the commands below, pick your bot from the list, then send the new text or photo. You can also send /mybots, pick your bot and tap Edit Bot to use buttons instead.

BotFather commands for your bot's profile

To changeSendWhere people see it
Name/setnameChat list and the top of the chat
Profile photo/setuserpicNext to the name everywhere
Description/setdescriptionIn an empty chat, under "What can this bot do?"
About text/setabouttextThe bot's profile page
Command menu/setcommandsThe menu button and when users type /

The username can't be changed. To get a different username, create a new bot.

Make a good first impression

  • Description: say in one or two lines what the bot does and what to send first. It's the first thing new users read.
  • Photo: use a simple square image. It shows as a small circle, so avoid small text.
  • Commands: list only the ones people need, each with a short explanation, one per line, like start - Open the main menu.

Delete a bot

Send /deletebot to @BotFather and pick the bot. This permanently deletes it and frees its username. If the bot runs on Echo Maker, it stops working too.

Questions

Can I change my bot's username?

No. A bot's username is permanent. You can change its display name with /setname.

How long does a new profile photo take to show?

Usually right away, though some apps keep the old photo until they refresh.

Does Echo Maker change these settings for me?

Your bot's profile is yours, so you set it in BotFather. Echo Maker runs the bot's features and admin panel.