Telegram is currently developing passkey authentication, a move that will eventually free the platform from its long-standing reliance on phone numbers and SMS verification codes, offering users a far more secure account system.
At present, Telegram depends almost entirely on a linked phone number to deliver login codes. Yet in many regions, SMS delivery remains unreliable, and international verification services are notoriously expensive—creating frequent login difficulties for users. In response, Telegram has already introduced paid verification codes in certain countries and territories, charging roughly $0.1 to $1 to receive an SMS code when logging in.
The introduction of passkeys is expected to resolve these issues elegantly. Passkeys, stored locally on a device or in a password manager, can fully replace traditional SMS verification. Once implemented, Telegram will likely switch to a login flow requiring only a phone number and a passkey, thereby eliminating SMS-based authentication entirely.
Because passkeys reside securely on the user’s device, they carry no inherent risk of remote interception, unlike conventional SMS codes, which remain vulnerable to hijacking. Authentication will rely on device-level biometrics—Face ID or fingerprint recognition—significantly enhancing overall security.
The feature is still under development, but given Telegram’s rapid rollout pace for new capabilities, passkey authentication may arrive sooner than expected.
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