Every Telegram bot starts with one tool: BotFather. So what is BotFather exactly? It is the official Telegram bot that creates and manages all other bots on the platform. Without it, no Telegram bot would exist.
This article explains how BotFather works, what it can do, and why it matters for anyone building or using Telegram bots.
What Is BotFather and Why Does It Exist?
BotFather is a special Telegram account created and maintained by the Telegram team. It acts as the official registration system for all bots on the platform. When you want a new bot, you talk to BotFather on Telegram. It creates the bot and gives you an API token.
Moreover, BotFather handles ongoing management. You use it to change bot names, update descriptions, set profile pictures, and revoke compromised tokens. Essentially, it is the admin panel for every Telegram bot in existence.
The name is a reference to “The Godfather” — and just like in the movie, nothing happens in the world of Telegram bots without BotFather’s approval.
How BotFather Works
Essentially, BotFather operates through a simple command-based interface inside Telegram. You open a chat with @BotFather, type a command, and it responds with instructions or confirmations.
There is no website, no dashboard, and no external app. Everything happens inside a regular Telegram conversation. Furthermore, BotFather responds instantly. You type a command and get a reply within one second.
The Command System
BotFather uses slash commands that start with a forward slash. Here are the main categories:
- Creation commands: /newbot creates a new bot.
- Edit commands: /setname, /setdescription, /setabouttext, /setuserpic change bot details.
- Token commands: /token shows your current token, /revoke generates a new one.
- Settings commands: /setinline, /setjoingroups, /setprivacy control bot behavior.
- Management commands: /mybots lists all your bots, /deletebot removes one permanently.
In other words, BotFather handles the entire lifecycle of a Telegram bot from birth to deletion.
Creating a Bot With BotFather
In short, the bot creation process involves one command and two questions. Here is exactly what happens.
Step 1: Start the Conversation
First, search for @BotFather in Telegram. Make sure you select the account with the blue verified checkmark. Then tap Start to begin.
Step 2: Type /newbot
Next, send the /newbot command. BotFather asks for a display name first. This is what users see in conversations. After that, it asks for a username. The username must end in “bot” and must be unique across Telegram.
Step 3: Receive Your Token
Finally, BotFather creates the bot and responds with an API token. This token is a long string of characters that looks like 6123456789:AAHxyz1234567890abcdef. Copy it and also store it safely.
The entire process takes about two minutes. Notably, there are no approval steps, no waiting periods, and no fees.
Understanding API Tokens
In fact, the API token is the most important thing BotFather gives you. It is your bot’s identity and password combined into one string.
Any application that has your token can control your bot completely. It can send messages, receive updates, change settings, and interact with users. Therefore, treating the token like a password is critical.
What the Token Looks Like
Specifically, a Telegram bot token has two parts separated by a colon. The first part is a number (your bot’s unique ID). The second part is a random string of letters and characters (the authentication key).
For example: 6123456789:AAHxyz1234567890abcdefghijklmnop
Keeping Your Token Safe
Most importantly, store your token in a password manager or a secure note. Never post it in public chat groups, forums, or code repositories. If someone gets your token, they can impersonate your bot and send messages to your users.
However, if your token does get compromised, BotFather lets you fix the situation immediately. Use the /revoke command to generate a new token. The old token stops working instantly. After that, update the new token in any connected services.
Managing Existing Bots
Additionally, BotFather is not just for creation. It provides a complete management toolkit for every bot you own.
Viewing Your Bots
Type /mybots to see a list of all bots associated with your Telegram account. Tap any bot in the list to see its settings and available actions.
Changing the Display Name
Use /setname to change what users see in conversations. You can change the display name as often as you want. Similarly, /setdescription and /setabouttext update the bot’s profile information.
Updating the Profile Picture
Type /setuserpic, select your bot, and send an image. The picture updates immediately across Telegram. In particular, a professional profile picture helps your bot look legitimate and trustworthy.
Deleting a Bot
If you no longer need a bot, type /deletebot. BotFather asks you to confirm. Once deleted, the bot’s username becomes available again for others to claim. Importantly, this action cannot be reversed. All data associated with the bot disappears permanently.
Advanced BotFather Settings
Furthermore, BotFather offers several advanced configuration options beyond the basics.
Group Privacy Mode
By default, bots in group chats only receive messages that start with a slash command or mention the bot directly. Use /setprivacy to toggle this behavior. Turning privacy off lets your bot see all messages in a group.
For live chat integrations like Cnvrse, privacy mode usually stays on. The bot only needs to see messages directed at it, not every conversation in the group.
Inline Mode
Type /setinline to enable inline queries. This feature lets users type your bot’s username in any chat and get results without opening a separate conversation. For instance, @gif bot lets you search for GIFs inline.
Most business bots do not need inline mode. However, if you build a search tool or a utility bot, it can improve the user experience significantly.
Join Groups Permission
Use /setjoingroups to control whether your bot can be added to group chats. For bots designed to work only in private conversations, turning this off prevents unauthorized group additions.
Domain Linking
BotFather lets you link a website domain to your bot. This enables Login Widgets that let website visitors log in using their Telegram account. Specifically, use /setdomain to associate your bot with your website URL.
BotFather Versus Third-Party Bot Builders
You might also see tools advertising “create a Telegram bot without coding” or “bot builder for Telegram.” In reality, these tools are built on top of BotFather, not instead of it.
Every Telegram bot must be registered through BotFather first. Third-party tools then use the API token from BotFather to add features like automated responses, workflows, or integrations. In other words, BotFather is always the starting point.
Consequently, you can skip the third-party tools entirely if you want. BotFather plus a simple integration like Cnvrse gives you a fully functional bot without any additional services.
Security Features
Notably, BotFather includes several security measures to protect bot creators.
Verified Account
The official BotFather always displays a blue verified checkmark. In contrast, fake accounts that impersonate BotFather do not have this badge. So always verify before interacting.
Token Revocation
The /revoke command lets you invalidate a compromised token immediately. A new token generates in the same step. This means a leaked token can be neutralized in seconds.
Account Binding
Only the Telegram account that created a bot can manage it through BotFather. No one else can change your bot’s name, description, or token — even if they know the bot’s username.
Common Questions About BotFather
Is BotFather free?
Yes. In fact, BotFather is completely free to use. There are no paid tiers, no premium features, and no limits on the number of bots you can create.
How many bots can I create?
Each Telegram account can create up to 20 bots through BotFather. For most users and businesses, this limit is more than sufficient.
Can I transfer a bot to another account?
Currently, Telegram does not offer a built-in bot transfer feature. The creator’s account permanently owns the bot. However, you can share the API token with other team members so they can integrate the bot into their applications.
What happens if I delete my Telegram account?
Unfortunately, your bots continue to exist but become unmanageable. No one can change their settings, revoke their tokens, or delete them. The bots keep running until Telegram’s system eventually cleans them up.
Getting Started With BotFather
Now you know exactly what is BotFather and what it does. It is the gateway to every Telegram bot on the platform. It creates bots, generates tokens, manages settings, and handles security — all through a simple chat interface.
Open Telegram, search for @BotFather, and send /newbot. In two minutes you will have a fully registered Telegram bot with an API token ready for any integration. From live chat to automated workflows, it all starts here.
Explore More
- Create a Telegram Bot — step-by-step guide.
- Find Your Bot Token — retrieve your credentials.
- Connect Cnvrse to Telegram — for live chat integration.