Does Nekogram use GPS, I read that Telegram/Nekogram/Telegram X needs GPS to sign up with SMS?

And is this the best FOSS alternative for privacy (No trackers)?

I use Telegram FOSS for several years now without GPS and any problems but as I mentioned there are no updates anymore since July 24.

As long as you stay logged-in to Telegram FOSS, while registering another Telegram App, you'll receive the authentication code inside it as a message.

Doing it that way, you'll not need Google Play Services - you'll otherwise, as far as I know, need Google Play Services with the official Telegram APKs.

After having set up the other Telegram App (ex. Nekogram), you can log out of the FOSS version, and delete it without issues.

    Fupira

    Thanks for your reply, I assume that is a new policy from Telegram to use the official version or have to use GPS since last year?
    I initially (2021-2023) singed up (FOSS version) without any GPS at all !?

      Correct, it's a new policy, somewhat recent (after your stated time period).
      Telegram will only send authentication codes over SMS if you have both:

      • Installed an official Telegram client
      • Installed Google Play Services
        Probably so it can register a push notification token, or do something else with it, which it then provides to the Telegram servers.

      I suppose they changed it to these requirements to protect against fraudulent SMS fees or bots?
      If you were to register an inofficial app without an active Telegram session, it'd still tell you to check "your messages" for the code, even if the number isn't registered on Telegram at all.

      2 months later

      Yea what's so bad about the official version? I mean, the one from their websit not the google play one

        spl4tt Yea what's so bad about the official version? I mean, the one from their websit not the google play one

        Is there even a feature difference between the Play and the Web apk? The signature seems to be different.