What is Unigram? Why It Exists When We Already Have Telegram — And How to Use It
Okay so you’ve probably heard about Unigram at some point and thought — wait, isn’t this just Telegram? Why does this even exist? I had the exact same reaction when I first came across it. But honestly, once you understand what Unigram actually is and why it was built, it starts to make a lot of sense. Especially if your a Windows user.
Let me break it all down.
What is Unigram?
Unigram is a third-party Telegram client for Windows. In simple words — its not made by Telegram, but it uses Telegram’s system. You log in with your Telegram account, your chats are there, your contacts are there, everything syncs just like normal. But the app itself is built by independent developers, not by Telegram’s official team.
You can also checkout the related version like telegram mod apk and telegram web. these two version have the most demand in this niche.
Its open-source, completely free, and available on the Microsoft Store. Telegram actually recognizes Unigram on their official website — so its not some sketchy unofficial thing. Its legit.
Think of it like this — imagine if WhatsApp gave developers access to their system and said “go ahead, build your own app on top of this”. Thats basically what Telegram does. They have open APIs and they actively encourage developers to build clients. Unigram is one of those clients — and arguably the best one for Windows.
Why Was Unigram Built — When Telegram Already Existed?
This is the question that actually makes Unigram interesting. So heres the thing — the official Telegram desktop app is fine. It works. But it was built to work across Windows, Mac, and Linux. That means it doesn’t really take full advantage of Windows-specific features. Its kind of a one-size-fits-all solution.
Unigram was built specifically for Windows — using something called UWP (Universal Windows Platform). And because of this, it integrates much more deeply with the Windows operating system. Like actually integrates, not just “works on Windows”.
For example, Unigram supports:
- Windows Live Tiles — the app tile on your Start Menu actually shows notifications and updates in real time
- Windows People Bar — you can pin your contacts directly to the taskbar and chat without even opening the app
- Quick replies from notification center — reply to messages right from the Windows notification popup
- Touch support — works great on tablets and 2-in-1 laptops with a touchscreen
- Xbox One and HoloLens support — yes really, because UWP apps can run across all Windows devices
On top of that, Unigram also adds features that the official Telegram desktop app doesn’t have — like interactive emojis, read receipts in groups, live stream recordings, better device management, and keyboard shortcuts (F1 to F5) to quickly switch between chat categories. These are small things but they make a real difference if your using Telegram a lot on PC.
So to answer the question — Unigram exists because the official Telegram app is cross-platform but not deeply Windows-native. Unigram fills that gap.
How to Download and Use Unigram
Good news — its really simple. Here’s how to get started:
Step 1 — Download from Microsoft Store
Open the Microsoft Store on your Windows PC, search for “Unigram” and click Install. Thats it for the download part. Its free, no weird setup, no installer file. Windows handles everything.
Step 2 — Login to Your Telegram Account
Once its installed and you open it, you’ll see a login screen. You have two options here:
- Phone Number — enter your number with country code, get the OTP on your phone, enter it and your in.
- QR Code — click the QR code option, open Telegram on your phone, go to Settings > Devices > Scan QR Code, and scan it. Super fast.
Step 3 — Use It Like Telegram (Because it is Telegram)
Once your logged in, everything is exactly like Telegram. Your chats, groups, channels, bots — all there. The interface looks almost identical to the official app so theres no learning curve at all. If you’ve used Telegram before, you’ll feel right at home in like 30 seconds.
To explore the extra features — check the Settings menu. Thats where you’ll find options to change text size, toggle spell checker, enable full-screen gallery mode, manage multiple accounts, and configure all the Windows-specific integrations.
Unigram vs Official Telegram — Which Should You Use?
Honestly? If your on Windows and you use Telegram regularly on your PC — try Unigram. The extra Windows integration, the keyboard shortcuts, the added features… its genuinely better for the PC experience. The only downside is it uses a bit more memory then the official app (around 300MB vs 150MB) and it only works on Windows, not Mac or Linux.
But if you switch between operating systems, or your on a low-spec machine, stick with the official Telegram desktop app. It’ll be lighter and more consistent across platforms.
Final Thoughts
Unigram is one of those apps that you didn’t know you needed until you actually try it. Its not replacing Telegram — its just making Telegram better on Windows. And because Telegram themselves are okay with it and it’s listed on their website, you don’t have to worry about safety or your account getting banned or anything like that.
If your a heavy Telegram user on PC, honestly just give it a shot. Download it from the Microsoft Store, login with your existing account, and see if you like it. Wont hurt to try. And if you don’t like it — the official app is always there.