Advertisement
Why Apple briefly removed Telegram from the App Store before restoring it
04th August, 2026 04:15 PM
Telegram users were left puzzled after the messaging app briefly disappeared from Apple’s App Store worldwide, only to be restored a few hours later.
Apple said the temporary removal followed a review that found content violating its strict guidelines on child sexual abuse material (CSAM).
In a statement, the tech giant said it had briefly removed Telegram from the App Store after its review found content that violated its strict guidelines prohibiting child sexual abuse material.
The company added that the app was restored after the developer promptly removed the offending content and banned the user who posted it.
“We briefly removed Telegram from the App Store after our review found content that violates our strict guidelines prohibiting child sexual abuse material. The app was subsequently restored after the developer promptly removed the content and banned the user who posted it,” Apple said.
The incident meant Telegram was briefly unavailable for download on the App Store, although users who had already installed the app continued accessing the messaging service without interruption. The disruption mainly affected people attempting to download or reinstall Telegram during the brief removal.
Responding to the incident, Telegram said it immediately removed the offending content, permanently banned the user responsible and worked with Apple to restore the app to the App Store.
Restoration
According to Apple, Telegram was reinstated on the App Store after the developer swiftly removed the violating content and banned the user who posted it. After the app returned, Telegram confirmed it had worked with Apple to resolve the issue and restore access for users.
The company earlier said, “Telegram has been restored on the App Store and should soon be available again for all users,” without providing further details.
The messaging platform also reaffirmed its zero-tolerance policy towards child sexual abuse material, saying it has blocked nearly 338,000 groups and channels linked to such content in 2026 as part of its ongoing efforts to combat illegal content on the platform.
After the app returned to the App Store, Telegram acknowledged the incident with a light-hearted post on its official X account, writing, “Reports of my demise are greatly exaggerated,” signalling that the platform was once again available for download worldwide.
The latest incident is not the first time Apple has taken action against Telegram. In 2018, the iPhone maker temporarily removed Telegram and Telegram X from the App Store over concerns about inappropriate content.
The apps were later reinstated after Telegram introduced stronger moderation measures.
