Telegram has supported more than one account in the same app for a long time. You add an account, and you can switch between them without logging out. The one thing it will not do is invent a number for you: each account is registered to its own phone number, and that number has to receive a code to sign in.
So the question is really where the second number comes from. A spare mobile line on the phone you already carry is the simplest answer — a real UK number that sits beside your existing SIM, with your everyday number left exactly as it is.
Why people run a second account
- Keeping your main number out of groups. Large public groups and channels put you in front of a lot of strangers.
- Separating work from personal. One account for clients and colleagues, one for friends and family.
- Selling, trading and communities. A number you are happy to hand out to people you have never met.
- Starting fresh. A clean account with none of your existing history, contacts or chats attached.
What you need first
- A second phone number that can receive a text or a call — the sign-in code goes there.
- An eSIM-capable phone, unlocked to other networks. See does my phone support eSIM.
- A couple of minutes to scan a QR code. Nothing is posted and nothing is swapped out of your phone.
How to add the second account
- 1
Add a spare line to your phone
Order the plan, then scan the QR code we send you to install the eSIM. See the Telegram plan for what is included, and how to set up your eSIM for the walkthrough.
- 2
Label your two lines
Your phone will ask which line handles calls, texts and data. Name them plainly and leave your existing SIM as the default for everything. Dual SIM explained covers this.
- 3
Check the new line receives a text
Send yourself a message from your main line first. If it lands, sign-in codes will land too.
- 4
Add the account in the app
Open the app’s account switcher and choose to add an account, then enter your new number in full UK format. The code arrives as a text to the spare line.
- 5
Tidy up the privacy settings
Set a username on the new account so you can be reached without giving out the number, and review who can see your phone number in the app’s privacy settings.
Keeping your main number private
The point of the spare line is that it becomes the number you hand over. Your main number stops appearing in listings, group chats and sign-up forms, and you are not relying on other people to be careful with it.
A few habits make it stick:
- 1Use the spare number consistently for anything public — do not mix.
- 2Set a username on the account so the number rarely needs sharing at all.
- 3Restrict who can see your number in the app’s privacy settings, on both accounts.
- 4Keep your main SIM as the default line so you never reply from the wrong number by accident.
More on the everyday situations this solves in how to keep your personal number private. If you want the same thing for WhatsApp, see how to get a second number for WhatsApp.
eSIM Chat is powered by eSIM Copilot and part of Mindszi.
Common questions
Can I have two accounts with one number?
No. Each account is tied to its own phone number and its own sign-in code, so a second account means a second number.
Do both accounts show in the same app?
Yes. The app holds multiple accounts and lets you switch between them, so you do not need a second app or a second phone.
Is a spare eSIM line a real number?
Yes. It is a real UK mobile number (07…) on a real network, so calls, texts and sign-in codes arrive normally. It is not a VoIP or app-generated number.
Does my main account change?
No. Your existing account, number, network and contract all stay as they are. The spare line is added alongside your current SIM.
Get a spare number
A real UK line that lives on your phone as an eSIM, beside the SIM you already have. Installed in minutes.