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How to create a Telegram Bot

This guide covers:

  • How to create a bot using BotFather
  • How to obtain your Bot API Key
  • How to add your bot to your Telegram group or channel

Steps to obtain API key and setup you bot​

  • To get the API key, simply go to your Telegram and generate this using @BotFather. Press start and enter /newbot command and follow the instructions mentioned in the bot father window.

BotFather Bot Creation Command

  • Now, enter the name of the bot whose API Key will be generated. Let’s use AirLyft Test for testing purposes. Post that, you need to choose a username for the bot that ends with ‘bot’, taking AirLyftDocsBot for understanding.

  • After that hit enter, and then you'll get the API key for your bot.

BotFather Bot Name and Username

  • Now, once the bot is generated via Botfather, we need to first add it to the group you want your users to join. Simply, navigate to the group/channel and click on add member option to add the created bot.

Adding Bot to your group/channel

Please note that you need to make this bot an ADMIN and it will be entirely in your control as the Bot API Key is only available to you.

  • Now, once the bot is added to the group, please copy the API key from the BotFather window and navigate to AirLyft Integrations Page page.

  • Follow the steps mentioned in Telegram Integration doc to add the Bot to your AirLyft account.

Note

  • You can always delete this bot post-event completion by navigating to BotFather window on Telegram and using the command /deletebot!
  • AirLyft does not read any group/channel messages, we also do not read any user PII through this bot.
  • This bot will not send any message on your group/channel.