How to set up automatic spam deletion

Automatic spam deletion in Telegram channels and groups can be configured through a combination of Telegram's built-in anti-spam tools, admin permissions, and third-party moderation bots. For channels with comments enabled, the linked discussion group is where spam typically appears, and that's where your anti-spam defenses need to be strongest.

Understanding Spam in Telegram Channels

Telegram channels themselves are relatively protected from spam since only admins can post. However, spam becomes a serious problem in two scenarios:

  • Comment sections — when you enable comments on your channel, a linked group is created where anyone can write, making it a target for spammers
  • Linked community groups — larger channels often have associated discussion groups that attract bot accounts and promotional spam

Telegram processes over 700 million active users monthly, and spammers actively target popular channels. A channel with 10,000+ subscribers can receive dozens of spam messages daily in its comment section if left unprotected.

Types of Spam You'll Encounter

  1. Promotional spam — links to other channels, crypto scams, fake giveaways
  2. Bot-generated spam — automated messages posted by fake accounts
  3. Phishing links — messages disguised as official Telegram notifications
  4. Repetitive flooding — the same message posted multiple times to disrupt conversation
  5. Adult content spam — unsolicited explicit material or links

Setting Up Telegram's Built-In Anti-Spam

Step 1: Enable Aggressive Anti-Spam (For Groups with 200+ Members)

Telegram introduced a native Aggressive Anti-Spam feature for larger groups. To activate it:

  1. Open your channel's linked discussion group
  2. Tap the group name to open Group Info
  3. Go to Permissions
  4. Scroll down and enable Aggressive Anti-Spam

This feature uses Telegram's machine learning to automatically detect and delete spam messages before members see them. It catches most common spam patterns including promotional links and scam messages.

Important: Aggressive Anti-Spam is only available for groups with 200 or more members. Smaller groups need to rely on other methods.

Step 2: Configure Slow Mode

Slow mode limits how often users can send messages, which significantly reduces flooding:

  1. Open Group Settings → Permissions
  2. Set Slow Mode to an interval (30 seconds, 1 minute, 5 minutes, etc.)

For comment sections on channels, a 30-second to 1-minute interval works well — it allows genuine discussion while making spam flooding impractical.

Step 3: Restrict New Member Permissions

Limit what new members can do by default:

  1. Go to Group Info → Permissions
  2. Disable these for regular members:
    • Send Links — prevents most promotional spam
    • Send Media — blocks image/video spam
    • Add Members — stops invite spam chains

You can later grant these permissions to trusted members by promoting them or creating exceptions.

Step 4: Set Up Admin Approval for New Members

For high-value channels where quality matters:

  1. Open Group Settings → Group Type
  2. Switch to Private Group if appropriate
  3. Enable Approve New Members

This creates a gatekeeping layer where admins manually approve join requests, filtering out obvious bot accounts.

Using Anti-Spam Bots

For comprehensive protection, third-party moderation bots provide far more control than Telegram's built-in tools.

Combot (@comaborot)

One of the most established moderation bots:

  1. Add @combot to your group
  2. Grant it admin permissions (Delete Messages, Ban Users)
  3. Configure via the Combot web dashboard at combot.org
  4. Set rules for auto-deletion: links from new members, forwarded messages, specific keywords

Rose Bot (@MissRose_bot)

A popular free alternative with powerful anti-spam features:

  1. Add @MissRose_bot to your group
  2. Promote to admin with Delete and Ban permissions
  3. Use these commands in the group:
    • /antispam on — enable anti-spam protection
    • /setflood 5 — auto-ban after 5 rapid messages
    • /setfloodmode ban — set flood punishment to ban
    • /addblacklist "crypto airdrop" — block messages containing specific phrases

Shieldy (@shaborieldy)

Focuses on CAPTCHA verification for new members:

  1. Add @shaborieldy to your group
  2. It automatically sends a CAPTCHA challenge to new joiners
  3. Members who fail the CAPTCHA within the time limit are kicked
  4. Configure timeout with /captchaTime command

Setting Up a Custom Keyword Blacklist

Regardless of which bot you use, maintain a blacklist of common spam phrases:

  • Crypto-related: "free airdrop", "guaranteed profit", "invest now"
  • Scam patterns: "congratulations you won", "claim your prize"
  • Promotional: "join my channel", "subscribe for free", "check my bio"

Update this list regularly based on the spam patterns you observe in your specific community.

Advanced Anti-Spam Configuration

Combining Multiple Layers

The most effective approach uses several layers simultaneously:

  1. Layer 1: Telegram's built-in Aggressive Anti-Spam (passive, always-on)
  2. Layer 2: CAPTCHA bot for new member verification (blocks bot accounts)
  3. Layer 3: Moderation bot with keyword filters (catches what passes through)
  4. Layer 4: Manual admin review for edge cases

Setting Up Auto-Delete for Old Messages

Telegram allows you to configure auto-delete timers that remove all messages after a set period:

  1. Open Group Settings
  2. Find Auto-Delete Messages
  3. Choose a period: 1 day, 1 week, or 1 month

This is particularly useful for comment sections where old conversations have little value and spammers sometimes target older threads.

Using Admin Logs to Track Spam

Monitor your group's admin log to understand spam patterns:

  1. Go to Group Info → Recent Actions
  2. Filter by Restrictions and Deleted Messages
  3. Look for patterns: specific times of day, types of accounts, message content

This data helps you refine your anti-spam rules and identify gaps in your current setup.

Tips & Best Practices

  • Assign dedicated moderators: For channels with 5,000+ subscribers, have at least 2-3 active human moderators across different time zones. Bots catch most spam, but human judgment handles edge cases.
  • Use verification delays: Configure your CAPTCHA bot to require verification within 2-3 minutes. Legitimate users complete it quickly; bot accounts often time out.
  • Restrict link posting for the first 24 hours: Many moderation bots support "new member restrictions" that automatically lift after a set period. This single rule eliminates the majority of spam.
  • Keep your anti-spam bots updated: Bot developers regularly update spam detection patterns. Check your bot's changelog monthly and enable auto-updates where available.
  • Create a public-facing web version of your channel using services like tgchannel.space to give your audience an alternative way to access content — this reduces dependency on Telegram's comment system while maintaining engagement.
  • Document your group rules clearly in a pinned message. This gives moderators a reference point and helps legitimate members understand what's allowed.

Common Mistakes

Mistake 1: Relying solely on Telegram's built-in anti-spam
Why it's wrong: The native tool only works in groups with 200+ members and catches only the most obvious spam patterns. Sophisticated spam with varied wording passes through easily.
How to avoid: Always supplement with at least one dedicated moderation bot configured with custom rules.

Mistake 2: Giving anti-spam bots excessive permissions
Why it's wrong: Some admins grant full admin rights to bots. If a bot is compromised or malfunctions, it could delete legitimate content or ban real members.
How to avoid: Only grant the minimum required permissions — typically Delete Messages and Ban Users. Never grant Add Admins or Change Group Info.

Mistake 3: Setting flood limits too aggressively
Why it's wrong: A flood limit of 2-3 messages will punish enthusiastic legitimate members who send quick consecutive replies. This frustrates your community.
How to avoid: Set flood limits to 5-7 messages within 10 seconds. This catches actual flooding while allowing normal conversation patterns.

Mistake 4: Not reviewing the anti-spam bot's actions
Why it's wrong: False positives happen. Legitimate members get banned by overzealous filters, leave quietly, and never come back.
How to avoid: Check your bot's action log weekly. Most bots like Combot provide a dashboard showing all automated actions. Unban false positives promptly and adjust filters.

Mistake 5: Ignoring spam during off-hours
Why it's wrong: Spammers often target channels during nighttime (in the admin's timezone) when no one is watching. A single unmoderated spam wave can drive away members.
How to avoid: Recruit moderators in different time zones or increase bot strictness during hours when no human moderators are active.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Telegram's Aggressive Anti-Spam work in channels directly?
No, it only works in groups. Since channels are broadcast-only (only admins can post), spam appears in the linked comment group, not the channel itself. Enable the feature in your linked discussion group.

Can I automatically ban users who send specific file types?
Yes. Bots like Rose and Combot allow you to restrict specific media types. Use commands like /setmedia off for new members or configure media restrictions in the bot's web dashboard for more granular control.

What's the best free anti-spam bot for small channels?
For channels under 1,000 subscribers, @MissRose_bot combined with @shaborieldy provides excellent free protection. Rose handles keyword filtering and flood control, while Shieldy blocks bot accounts with CAPTCHA verification.

How do I report persistent spammers to Telegram?
Long-press the spam message, select Report, and choose Spam. For persistent bot networks, email with screenshots and the spammer's user IDs. Telegram's team reviews mass-reported accounts and can ban entire bot networks.

Will anti-spam bots slow down my group?
No. Well-coded bots like Rose and Combot process messages in milliseconds. You won't notice any delay in message delivery. However, avoid adding more than 2-3 moderation bots simultaneously, as overlapping rules can cause conflicts where multiple bots act on the same message.