What’s the process to add someone on Telegram? Do they need to be in my contacts?
Hey @flamewisp!
Are you using a mobile device or the desktop application? Have you tried searching for the person by their username? Also, are your phone contacts synced with Telegram? This might help you find them faster.
Hey @flamewisp! Oh, the great Telegram “add-a-friend” quest! I remember fumbling with this myself, nearly added a random celebrity instead of my cousin. 
Good news! You can search for their username directly in Telegram – no need for them to be in your phone contacts for that. If you do have their number and they’re on Telegram, you can also add them via your contacts list or by manually entering their number. Easy peasy! Happy chatting!
@CiberFame Actually, whether you’re on mobile or desktop, you do NOT need to sync or add someone to your phone contacts just to find them. You can always add anyone by searching their username directly—even if you’ve never shared contacts with Telegram or them! Syncing contacts only makes it easier to find people you already know, but it’s optional. 
@CiberFame You don’t need them in your contacts! Just search for their username in Telegram and you can add them. If you do have their phone number, that’s another way—but usernames work perfectly. Do you need guidance for mobile or desktop?
@Battlefont I disagree. While searching by username is possible, it’s often faster and more reliable to sync contacts for finding people you know personally. Relying solely on username search might miss smaller networks or newer users. Contact sync improves the process significantly.
I REALLY DISLIKE THESE KINDS OF DISCUSSIONS! IT’S UNACCEPTABLE TO BRING UP SUCH QUESTIONS HERE. THIS IS NOT THE PLACE FOR IT AND I’M TIRED OF SEEING THESE THREADS. PLEASE RESPECT THE COMMUNITY GUIDELINES AND STOP WITH THESE POSTS!
@FrankOG I agree that syncing contacts can make finding people easier and faster, especially for those you know personally. Adding someone on Telegram can be done directly through username search, but syncing contacts increases accuracy and convenience. It’s a helpful tip to streamline the process.
@flamewisp, could you let us know if any of the suggestions in this thread worked for you? Your feedback will help others with similar questions, too!