How to add a user mention in a post

To add a user mention in a Telegram channel post, type the @ symbol followed by the person's username (e.g., @username) directly in your message. For users without a public username, use the inline mention feature by selecting text and linking it to the user's profile via the "Create Link" option with the format tg://user?id=USER_ID. Both methods create a clickable link that directs readers to the mentioned user's profile.

How User Mentions Work in Telegram

Telegram supports two distinct types of user mentions, each serving different purposes and working under different conditions. Understanding the difference is essential for channel administrators who want to tag collaborators, give credit, or reference experts in their posts.

@Username Mentions

The most straightforward method is the @username mention. When you type @ followed by a valid Telegram username, the platform automatically converts it into a clickable link. The mentioned user receives a notification (unless they've disabled them), and any reader can tap the mention to visit that person's profile.

For example, typing @durov in your post creates a direct link to Pavel Durov's Telegram profile. This works for any user, bot, or channel that has a public username set up.

Inline (Text) Mentions

The second method is the inline mention, also known as a text mention or hidden mention. This allows you to attach a user link to any piece of text, even if the person doesn't have a public username. The text appears as a hyperlink, and tapping it opens the mentioned user's profile.

This is particularly useful when:
- The user hasn't set a public @username
- You want cleaner formatting without @ symbols cluttering your text
- You need to mention someone within a natural sentence

Step-by-Step Guide: Adding @Username Mentions

Step 1: Open Your Channel's Message Composer

Navigate to your Telegram channel and tap the message input field. If you're posting on behalf of the channel, make sure you're signed in as an admin with posting privileges.

Step 2: Type the @ Symbol

Simply type @ and begin entering the username. Telegram will show an autocomplete dropdown with matching usernames from your contacts and recent interactions.

Step 3: Select the Correct User

Choose the intended user from the dropdown list, or finish typing the full username manually (e.g., @techexpert). Press send when your message is ready.

Note: The mention only works if the username actually exists on Telegram. If you mistype it, the text will appear as plain text rather than a clickable link.

Step-by-Step Guide: Adding Inline (Text) Mentions

Step 1: Write Your Message Text

Type out the full message in the composer. For instance: "Great analysis by John on this topic."

Step 2: Select the Text to Link

Highlight the text you want to turn into a mention. In this example, you would select the word "John".

Step 3: Open the Formatting Menu

  • Desktop (Telegram Desktop / Web): Right-click the selected text and choose Create Link, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+K (Windows/Linux) or Cmd+K (Mac).
  • Android: Tap the three-dot menu (⋮) in the formatting toolbar and select Create Link.
  • iOS: Tap BIU in the formatting bar, then select Create Link.

Step 4: Enter the User's Profile Link

In the URL field, enter the link in one of these formats:

  • If the user has a username: https://t.me/username or simply @username
  • If the user has no username: tg://user?id=123456789 (replace with the actual numeric user ID)

Step 5: Confirm and Send

Tap OK or Done to apply the link. The selected text will now appear as a hyperlink. When readers tap on "John," they'll be taken directly to that user's Telegram profile.

How to Find a User's Numeric ID

To create an inline mention for someone without a public username, you need their numeric Telegram ID. Here are reliable ways to find it:

  1. Use a bot: Forward a message from the target user to bots like @userinfobot or @getmyid_bot. The bot will reply with the user's numeric ID.
  2. Telegram API: If you operate a bot for your channel, the user's ID is included in every message.from.id field in the Bot API responses.
  3. Ask the user directly: They can find their own ID by messaging @userinfobot and sharing the result.

Mentions in Bot API and Automated Posting

If you manage your channel programmatically using the Telegram Bot API (or through services like tgchannel.space that publish your channel content to the web), mentions are handled via special message entities.

Using parse_mode: HTML 

<a href="tg://user?id=123456789">John</a> shared an excellent report.

Using parse_mode: MarkdownV2 

[John](tg://user?id=123456789) shared an excellent report\.

Using Message Entities Directly

You can also pass an array of MessageEntity objects with type: "text_mention" and the user object attached:

{
  "type": "text_mention",
  "offset": 0,
  "length": 4,
  "user": {
    "id": 123456789,
    "first_name": "John"
  }
}

Important: Bot API inline mentions using tg://user?id= only work if the user has interacted with your bot previously or is a member of the same group. For channel posts, @username mentions are more reliable.

How Mentions Appear on Web Versions

When your Telegram channel content is exported to a web blog — for example via tgchannel.space — mentions are typically converted into clickable links pointing to https://t.me/username. This preserves the user reference for web readers who may not have Telegram installed. Inline mentions without a public username may appear as plain text on web exports, since tg://user?id= links only function within the Telegram app.

Tips & Best Practices

  • Always verify usernames before posting. A single typo turns your mention into dead text. Search for the user in Telegram's global search to confirm their exact username.
  • Use inline mentions for cleaner editorial content. Posts that read "According to Pavel Durov" (with a hidden link) look more professional than "According to @durov" in long-form content.
  • Limit mentions per post. Tagging five or more users in a single post can feel spammy to readers and may trigger Telegram's anti-spam filters. Aim for one to three mentions maximum.
  • Mention channels too. The @ mention syntax works for channels and groups as well (e.g., @telegram), which is great for cross-promotion.
  • Inform the person you're mentioning. As a courtesy, let collaborators know you've tagged them — especially if your channel has a large audience. Not everyone appreciates unexpected attention from a channel with 50,000+ subscribers.
  • Test on multiple platforms. Preview your post on both mobile and desktop before publishing to a large audience. Formatting can render slightly differently across clients.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Using the wrong @ symbol or extra spaces
Why it's wrong: Typing @ username (with a space) or using a look-alike Unicode character instead of the standard @ will not create a mention.
How to avoid: Type @ directly followed by the username with no spaces. Copy-paste the username from the user's profile if unsure.

Mistake 2: Trying tg://user?id= links in channel posts via the app UI
Why it's wrong: The tg://user?id= format in the "Create Link" dialog works inconsistently in some Telegram clients for channel posts. Some versions simply ignore it.
How to avoid: For channel posts created through the app, prefer @username mentions. Reserve tg://user?id= for Bot API automated posting where you can verify delivery.

Mistake 3: Mentioning deactivated or banned accounts
Why it's wrong: If the username belonged to a deleted account, the mention becomes a dead link that leads nowhere, creating a poor reader experience.
How to avoid: Periodically audit older posts with mentions. If a tagged account no longer exists, edit the post to remove or replace the mention.

Mistake 4: Assuming mentioned users will see a notification
Why it's wrong: Users who have muted notifications, restricted who can mention them, or are not subscribed to your channel may never see the mention.
How to avoid: If you need a response, send a direct message in addition to the public mention.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I mention someone who has blocked me?
No. If a user has blocked you, you cannot create a working inline mention via tg://user?id=. An @username mention will still display as a clickable link in the post, but the mentioned user will not receive any notification.

Do mentions work in scheduled posts?
Yes. Both @username and inline text mentions function correctly in scheduled channel posts. They activate and send notifications at the time the post is published, not when it's drafted.

Can I mention users in photo or video captions?
Absolutely. Captions in Telegram support the same formatting as regular text messages, including both types of mentions. The same @username and inline link methods apply.

Is there a limit to how many users I can mention in one post?
Telegram does not enforce a strict hard limit, but posts with excessive mentions (roughly 50+) may be flagged by anti-spam systems. For practical readability, keep mentions to a reasonable number.

Will mentions in my channel post appear on my web blog?
When using services like tgchannel.space to export your channel content, @username mentions are converted to t.me links that work in any browser. Inline mentions using tg://user?id= may not carry over since they require the Telegram app to resolve.