What are Circles in Telegram
Circles in Telegram are short video messages recorded directly in the chat and displayed as round video previews. They allow users to share emotions, reactions, quick updates, or personal messages in a more lively and expressive format than text or voice.
The feature was introduced in 2017 as a natural extension of voice messages. Circles in Telegram are recorded by switching the microphone button to camera mode. The video is automatically cropped into a circular shape and plays automatically — with sound or in preview mode. The maximum length of a video message is 1 minute.
Examples of use Circles in Telegram:
- Personal video reactions and quick updates
- Broadcasts in channels (e.g., author updates or announcements)
- Replies in chats and comments
- Engaging content for subscribers.
Transcription of video messages
Since 2023, Telegram allows users to transcribe video messages into text. This is useful when audio can’t be played or when there’s a need to quickly understand the message.
Transcription is available:
- Without limits for Telegram Premium subscribers
- With a weekly limit (2 messages) for all other users
The feature works similarly to voice message transcription and uses Telegram’s own speech recognition algorithms. More details are available in the official Telegram FAQ.
Circles in Telegram Channels
Channel owners actively use circles to engage their audiences. A face-to-camera video creates a sense of presence, adds warmth to the message, and builds trust. This is especially effective for influencers, educational content creators, news channels, and service bots.
Advantages of the format:
- Takes up less space than a full video
- Plays automatically in the feed (if enabled)
- Feels native and unobtrusive
- Ideal for quick visual contact
Telegram continues to improve video messages. Recent updates include the ability to switch cameras during recording, use night mode, select video quality, and manage audio. Future improvements may include more editing and processing tools. Video message updates are regularly announced on the official Telegram blog.
Circles in Telegram are a simple yet powerful way to deliver emotion and information quickly. They combine the benefits of video and voice messages while maintaining ease of use and a minimal interface footprint. With the addition of transcription, they are becoming even more accessible and practical — for both communication and content marketing.
