BusyBot

Reference · Credentials

Telegram API credentials

Used by 2 BusyBot nodes.

Type telegramApi 2 fields

The Telegram credential holds a bot token issued by @BotFather. The token identifies a bot rather than a person, and a Telegram bot can only message users who have started a conversation with it first — which is the constraint that shapes most Telegram workflows.

Fields

FieldTypeRequiredNotes
Access Token
accessToken		 password Yes Telegram Bot API token from @BotFather
Base URL
baseUrl		 string No Base URL for Telegram Bot API. Override for self-hosted Bot API servers.

Getting your credentials

  1. In Telegram, open a chat with @BotFather.
  2. Send /newbot and follow the prompts to name the bot and choose its username.
  3. BotFather replies with the bot token. Copy it and paste it into the credential’s Access Token field.
  4. Leave Base URL empty unless you run a self-hosted Telegram Bot API server, in which case set it to that server’s URL.

To message a user, they must first start a conversation with your bot. To post in a group, add the bot to the group; for it to read all group messages rather than only commands, disable privacy mode via BotFather’s /setprivacy.

Permissions and scopes

The token is the bot’s full identity — anyone holding it controls the bot. Use /revoke in BotFather if it may have been exposed, which invalidates the old token immediately.

Troubleshooting

  • Forbidden: bot was blocked by the user — the user blocked the bot, or never started a conversation with it. A bot cannot initiate contact.
  • Chat not found — the chat ID is wrong, or the bot is not a member of that group.
  • Bot sees only commands in a group — privacy mode is enabled. Disable it with BotFather’s /setprivacy and re-add the bot.
  • 401 Unauthorized — the token was revoked and regenerated.

Frequently asked questions

Why can my bot not message a user?

Telegram requires the user to start a conversation with the bot first. Bots cannot initiate contact, which is a platform rule rather than a permissions setting.

Why does my bot only see commands in a group?

Privacy mode is on by default. Disable it through BotFather's /setprivacy and re-add the bot to the group.

What is the Base URL field for?

Pointing at a self-hosted Telegram Bot API server. Leave it empty to use Telegram's own endpoint.

What if the token leaks?

Use /revoke in BotFather. It invalidates the old token immediately and issues a new one, which you then paste into the credential.

Nodes that use Telegram API

One credential works across every node below — create it once and reuse it.

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