Fix Telegram Error 401 Unauthorized Login Or API Request Failed (2025)
Updated: 12/1/2025
You enter your phone number in Telegram desktop or a third party client, wait for the confirmation code, and as soon as you submit it you get a 401 Unauthorized error instead of your chat list. Sometimes the mobile app still works while the desktop client or web version fails which makes the situation more confusing. Error 401 here means Telegram’s servers rejected the authorization key or token sent from that specific device so they simply refuse to establish a session.
Although this looks like a serious account problem it is usually tied to outdated sessions, proxy misconfiguration, or using unofficial clients that Telegram has quietly blocked. By cleaning up active sessions, resetting network settings, and reauthorizing your main device you can normally get rid of 401 without losing any chats or media.
Table of Contents
Method 1: Terminate Old Sessions From The Official App
If you frequently log in to Telegram from different browsers or desktop apps your account can accumulate many active sessions. When one of them becomes corrupted or uses an outdated auth key Telegram may respond with 401 Unauthorized on that client to protect your account. Clearing those old sessions forces every device to request a fresh and valid key.
Step 1: Open Telegram On Your Primary Phone
Unlock the phone where Telegram normally works correctly then open the official Telegram app from the Home screen. Wait until it fully syncs your chats so you know the connection to Telegram’s servers is healthy.
Step 2: Navigate To Active Sessions
In the Telegram app open the Settings page then go to Devices or Privacy and Security > Active Sessions depending on your app version. You will see a list of all logged in devices such as Windows desktop sessions browsers or other phones associated with your account.
Step 3: Terminate Sessions Except Current
Tap Terminate All Other Sessions to log out every device except the one in your hand. After this operation return to the desktop app or web version that showed 401 Unauthorized and try logging in again using a new confirmation code.
Method 2: Fix Proxy And VPN Related 401 Errors
Many Telegram users rely on proxies or VPNs especially in regions where the service is partially blocked. However some endpoints and unofficial MTProto proxy servers can cause Telegram to reject your auth requests and respond with a 401 status. Temporarily disabling these layers helps prove whether your connection method is the real problem.
Step 1: Disable Built In Proxy Settings
In the Telegram desktop client click the menu icon and open Settings then go to Advanced > Connection Type. If you see a custom HTTP SOCKS or MTProto proxy configured switch the connection type back to Use system proxy or TCP with IPv6 where available and restart the client before you attempt login again.
Step 2: Test Without VPN On Your System
Close any active VPN or network anonymizer on your computer including browser based extensions that tunnel all traffic. After disconnecting wait a few seconds for your regular IP to be restored then reopen Telegram and try logging in with a fresh code this helps identify whether Telegram is blocking the provider or IP range you used.
Method 3: Clean Reinstall Telegram Desktop Or Web Cache
Sometimes the root cause of 401 Unauthorized is simply a corrupt local cache or outdated installation of the Telegram desktop client or browser data. Performing a clean reinstall or clearing cookies forces the client to request a brand new authorization key from Telegram which often resolves stubborn login loops.
Step 1: Uninstall The Desktop Client
On Windows open Apps and Features from the system Settings locate Telegram Desktop and click Uninstall. On macOS drag the Telegram app from Applications into the Trash then empty it to remove the main binaries from your system.
Step 2: Delete Local Profile Data
After uninstalling remove the old configuration folder so the next install starts truly clean, on Windows press Win + R type the path below and press Enter
Delete the contents of that folder, on macOS open Finder press Command + Shift + G and go to ~/Library/Application Support/Telegram Desktop then remove that directory as well.
Step 3: Reinstall Or Clear Browser Data
Download the latest Telegram desktop client from the official site and install it again then try logging in with your phone number for a fresh session. If you were using Telegram Web instead open your browser settings go to Privacy or Site Data and clear cookies and cached files specifically for web.telegram.org before attempting another login.