Avoid "Everybody": This allows anyone who has your phone number to find your Telegram profile.
"My Contacts" (Conditional Discoverability): Only people who have your number saved in their phone's address book (and use Telegram) can find your profile by searching for your number.
2. Utilize a Telegram Username
Set a Username: Go to Settings > Username and create a unique username (e.g., @YourUniqueHandle).
Communicate via Username: Once you have a username, you can share it with others (on social media, websites, etc.) instead of your phone number. People can find you and start a ch
Primary Contact for Strangers: If your phone number telegram number database visibility is set to "Nobody," your username becomes the primary way for people you don't already know to contact you on Telegram.
3. Control Contact Syncing
Disable "Sync Contacts": Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Contacts and toggle "Sync Contacts" OFF. This prevents Telegram from uploading your device's entire address book to its cloud servers.
"Delete Synced Contacts": If you previously had syncing enabled, tap "Delete Synced Contacts" in the same section to remove any contact data Telegram may have stored from your phone's address book.
Manual Contact Addition: With syncing off, you'll need to add contacts manually using their username or by entering their phone number if you know it.
Avoid Sharing in Public Groups/Channels: Do not post your phone number in public group chats, channel descriptions, or public profiles.
Think Before Sharing with Bots: If a bot asks for your phone number, consider if it's truly necessary for its functionality. Only use the "Share my phone number" button if you understand and trust the bot's purpose.
"Share Contact" Feature: Be mindful when using Telegram's "Share Contact" feature in a chat. This will send your contact card (which includes your phone number) to the recipient.