The ability to personalize the appearance of the messenger is one of the main advantages Telegram over competitors. Unlike many other applications, here you can not just select a ready-made template from the gallery, but completely design your own unique design. Creating your own theme allows you to customize every pixel of the screen to suit your preferences, be it a dark night, soft pastel style or bright neon.
Many users believe that editing requires complex tools or superuser rights, but this is not the case. The built-in editor on the platform Android provides all the necessary tools directly in the mobile application. You can change color palette, upload your own wallpaper and adjust the transparency of elements without installing third-party apps.
In this article we will take a detailed look at the process of creating a theme file from scratch. We'll go from setting up basic accents to exporting the finished result to friends. We will pay special attention to the intricacies of working with day and night modes so that your interface looks perfect at any time of the day.
Access to the theme editor and basic settings
The first step is to enter the specialized creation menu. In current versions of the client for Android this functionality is not hidden deeply, but requires attention. You need to go to the main Settings applications, and then select the item Chat settings. Here is a button for creating a new file.
Click on the palette icon or the “Create your own theme” item. The system will prompt you to choose a base: you can start from scratch (standard theme) or take an existing template as a basis, for example, “Night” or “Classic”. Editing a ready-made template often saves time, since the basic contrasts are already set correctly.
After selecting the base, the main editor window will open. Here you will see a preview of the chat and a list of changeable parameters. It is important to immediately determine base accent colorwhich will be used for submit buttons, read checkboxes and active menu items. This choice will set the tone for the entire subsequent design.
Setting color accents and interface elements
The main work in the editor is done through the color selection menu. By clicking on any item in the list or on the chat preview itself, you will open the palette. Here you can select a shade from those proposed or set the exact value via a HEX code, if you are a designer and working with a specific brand book.
Pay attention to the section Messages. Here you can configure the colors of the incoming and outgoing message bubbles. You can make them solid, semi-transparent or even gradient (in some versions). The color of the text inside the bubble and the color of the links are separately regulated.
- 🎨 Chat background: the color of the background on which the messages lie.
- 💬 Message bubbles: the color of the bubbles themselves with the text (your own and someone else's).
- ✅ Ticks: color of delivery and read indicators.
- 📎 Attachments: color of the paper clip, camera and microphone icons.
Don't forget to check the contrast. The text should be easy to read against the selected background. If you choose a dark background for your messages, make sure the font is light, and vice versa. Poor contrast strains the eyes and makes reading uncomfortable.
Use the Eyedropper tool in the Color Picker to copy a hue from any picture saved in your phone's gallery. This will help you choose the perfect color for your wallpaper.
Working with backgrounds and images
One of the most expressive ways of customization is to set your own image to the chat background. In the theme editor, go to the "Chat Background" section. Here you can choose a solid color, a gradient, or upload a picture from the device gallery.
When you upload an image, the system will prompt you to configure its display. You can choose how the picture will fill the space: stretch, fill with trimming, or repeat with tiles. You can also adjust brightness and blur (blur) so that message text remains readable over a colorful image.
⚠️ Attention: Too bright or variegated wallpaper can significantly reduce the readability of text. If you are using a complex image, be sure to increase the blur or darken parameter in the background settings, otherwise your eyes will quickly get tired during long correspondence.
The pattern function is worth mentioning separately. Telegram allows you to overlay a repeating pattern (dots, lines, geometry) over a color or picture. This adds depth to the design and makes it look less flat. The pattern also has transparency and color settings.
☑️ Criteria for an ideal background
Adaptation to dark and light themes (Day/Night)
Modern versions Telegram support automatic switching between day and night mode depending on time of day or Android system settings. When creating your theme, it is important to configure both options so that the interface does not “break” in the evening.
At the top of the editor screen there is a “Day” and “Night” switch. Changing settings in Day mode does not affect Night settings, and vice versa. This allows you to create, for example, a light theme with soft tones for work and a deep dark theme with neon accents for relaxation.
If you want your theme to work in only one mode at all times, you can disable automatic switching in the main application settings. However, the most thoughtful solution is to work through both scenarios. Make sure that the night mode black is truly black (#000000 or close to it), and not dark gray if you are using an AMOLED screen to save power.
How does automatic switching work?
When the "Automatic" option is enabled in the theme settings, the application checks against the system time or settings Android energy saving. Night mode is usually activated when the sun sets in your region.
Advanced customization of the chat list and menu
Many users forget that you can customize not only the internal appearance of the dialogue, but also the appearance of the chat list. This is the first thing you see when you launch the application. In the theme editor, find the section responsible for the “List of chats.”
Here you can change the background color of the entire screen, the color of the dividing lines between dialogs, and the color of the text of the contact name. Pay special attention to the color of unread messages (badge with a number). It should be noticeable so that you can immediately see where there is new information.
| Interface element | Color recommendation | Impact on perception |
|---|---|---|
| Contact name | Contrast to the background (black/white) | Quick navigation through the list |
| Last message | Grey or muted tint | Visual hierarchy, not distracting |
| Counter unread | Bright accent (green, blue, red) | Attracting attention |
| Search and menu | To match the main background or transparent | Integrity design |
Also in this section you can configure the menu type (burger menu on the left or tabs on the top). You can change the color of the icons in the bottom navigation bar or in the side slide-out menu. The harmonious combination of these elements creates the feeling of a professionally made product.
Saving, exporting and importing a finished theme
After all the settings are completed and you are satisfied with the result, you need to save the file. Click on the three dots in the corner of the editor screen and select “Save Theme.” You will be asked to come up with a unique name for the file.
The saved topic will appear in the general list of your topics. To share it with friends or transfer it to another device, use the Send Topic feature. Telegram will generate a special link like https://t.me/addtheme/..., which can be sent to any chat.
To install someone else's theme, just click on the received link or open a file with the extension .attheme. The system will prompt you to apply the settings immediately. You can always return to the standard design by selecting the “Classic” or “Night” theme from the general list.
⚠️ Attention: The application interface is regularly updated by the developers. New controls or settings sections added in future versions of Telegram may not have the color settings in older theme files and will appear in the default theme colors. Periodically check the relevance of your theme after major application updates.
The theme file (.attheme) is only a few kilobytes in size and contains only the color code, not the images. Background pictures are loaded separately or set systemically, so when exporting a theme, your personal photos will not go to other users unless you sew them up as a pattern inside the code (which is difficult to do manually).
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to install a theme downloaded from the Internet, and not created by yourself?
Yes, of course. You can download files with the extension .attheme from any thematic channels or sites. To install such a theme, simply open the downloaded file through the file manager, and Telegram will offer to apply it. You can also follow a special invitation link.
Why is my theme reset after updating the application?
Usually themes are saved reliably. However, if developers radically change the interface structure (adding new screens or elements), old themes may conflict with the new code. In this case, the application may temporarily switch to the standard theme until you resave yours in the new editor.
How to delete the theme I created?
Go to Settings → Chat settings. In the list of topics, find yours (it is usually marked with an edit icon or located at the top). Click on it, then select the three dots in the menu and click "Delete Topic". Confirm the action.
Is it possible to make an animated background in the theme?
In the Android mobile application, creating animated wallpapers through the standard theme editor is limited. You can set a video background in the chat settings, but saving it as part of a theme file to transfer to other users via standard export is often impossible without using special patches or desktop versions with enhanced functionality.
Where are theme files stored on the phone?
Theme files that you have created or downloaded are usually saved in the internal memory of the device along the path Android/data/org.telegram.messenger/files/ or in the folder Telegram/, depending on the OS version and the specific build of the messenger. However, the easiest way to manage them is through the interface of the application itself.