Strange: sms verification doesn't work on Telegram

Dan-cer

After switching to my new Pixel 8a, I can't log into Telegram. I uninstalled it and reinstalled it.
After entering my phone number, I received a code via email. After entering this code, there should be a verification via SMS, but this is "not available."
Is this a known issue? Is it specific to GrapheneOS?
Does anyone know of a solution?
So far, I've been getting around this by only using web Telegram in my browser or the PC app.

r134a

Dan-cer If using a fork of telegram, sms verification won't work. If using the official telegram app, it might be it is dependant on google play services for this function to work. Also make sure u have all necessary permissions allowed for this function to work.

I amusing a fork of telegram (forkgram) for some niche usecases, mostly as an alternative for ntfy for things happening on my homeserver i want to be notified about, or when my tar1090 instance spots a military plane in a radius of 30km of my house, just out of interest and its fun.

I don't really remember how i have set it up but i don't have play services enabled. It could be i created another profile specific for this usecase with google play services and then 'migrated' to forkgram, but unsure what the process was.

Ilgar

Dan-cer Not very long ago i needed to register telegram and I couldn't do it, but then i found it needed gplays, maybe because of vpn.

Dan-cer

The problem probably arose because I didn't import Telegram correctly to the new Pixel via backup.
I tried it with the original app as well as with the Google Play store app, not with another fork.

r134a

Dan-cer Possibly, i provided 2 scenarios though. Do u have google play services and all permissions allowed on the official telegram app?

Dan-cer

r134a I was surprised that it wasn't possible to give permission for SMS. That option is grayed out.

Dan-cer

In the meantime, I managed to start Telegram. The somewhat strange "solution" was to install Telegram from the Play Store (warning: this version has blocking filters!) and then connect to Telegram with my Gmail account. This finally completed the verification process.
After that, I installed the original version of Telegram, and there was no more verification necessary.
Of course, I immediately uninstalled the Google version and removed the Gmail account again.

Ilgar

Dan-cer nice for you, bro.

that time i registered tg it it didnt give option not to skip email verification, which is not possible remove after :/

Yallweird

The answer here is that Telegram needs to be on iOS device or on an Android device with Google Play Services in order to register. Otherwise it will always say it sent a code to your other device. The registration also needs to take place on either Telegram or Telegram X apps these days. I have experimented with this a lot. I don't think you need to be signed into a Google account or anything.

n3t_admin

Yallweird Otherwise it will always say it sent a code to your other device.

Okay, that explains why I never had to deal with their SMS or email bullshit. For me, this is actually a bonus - and might be a potential workaround, since you can use a different device to login on GOS easily.

DeletedUser481

Registering a new telegram account hasn't been possible without google play and the official proprietary telegram client for over 2 years now. Trying to register on telegram-foss or forkgram results in not getting a SMS verification. After you have registered you can use any foss fork of telegram you like without google play installed.