Let’s stand on the side of the subscriber. When you need to save an interesting post, we usually forward it to our "Saved Messages." But what if copying and forwarding are restricted in a channel? I’ve counted five ways to bypass this restriction, arranged from simple to advanced.
Method 1: Photo or Video Recording of the Screen Using a Second Device
Maybe you’ve laughed before at a parent or grandparent who, instead of sharing a post or link, sent you a picture of their laptop screen. But when you need to save a post from a channel with copying restrictions, you begin to appreciate the wisdom of older generations. A photo or video recording of the screen is the most accessible way to bypass forwarding blocks on Telegram.
Pros:
- Photos can be taken in a matter of moments.
- No special skills or software are required.
- It can be used even if you don’t have direct access to the channel. For example, a colleague might want to share an interesting discussion from a closed chat but doesn’t want to spend time bypassing copy protection.
- This simple method bypasses any software restriction.
- Shaky, hand-held videos carry a certain spy-like charm, instantly letting your friends know you're sharing real "classified materials."
Cons:
- The quality of photos and videos will be much lower than screenshots, especially with poor lighting or a low-quality camera. Sometimes the photos may be too blurry, and the text unreadable.
- Photos are harder to convert to text, and videos even more so.
- You’ll need a second device with Telegram installed.
Method 2: Screenshot
Taking a screenshot is the next simplest method of bypassing copy and forward restrictions from Telegram channels and chats.
It's easiest to do on a computer:
- Open the channel or chat from which you want to save messages.
- Go to the desired message and ensure it fits entirely on the screen. If it’s too long, try zooming out in the Telegram settings.
- Take a screenshot.
- On Windows: press the Print Screen (PrtScn) button on your keyboard. The screenshot will be saved to your clipboard, and you’ll need to paste it into any image editing app. There, you can crop the shot, leaving only the message you need, or frame the most important part.
- On Mac: press Command + Shift + 3 for a full-screen screenshot or Command + Shift + 4 to select an area for the screenshot. The screenshot will automatically be saved to your desktop.
- Save the screenshot to your hard drive or Telegram "Saved Messages."
- You can now use an online text recognition service, such as Yandex.Translate, to convert the image into text.
On a phone, it’s slightly more complicated since Telegram apps block screenshots from protected channels and chats. To bypass screenshot restrictions, you can use the Telegram web version. You still won’t be able to forward or copy text and media, but there’s no restriction on taking screenshots.
Pros:
- Screenshots are taken with standard system tools on computers or mobile devices.
- Screenshots retain the original appearance of the content.
- Screenshots are convenient for adding notes and highlighting key points.
Cons:
- Taking many screenshots is tedious when saving large amounts of information.
- Telegram messages are displayed in narrow columns, so a single screen doesn’t fit many messages, and long posts may not fit at all.
- Screenshots aren’t ideal for saving audio, video, or other media files. For such cases, the next method is better.
Method 3: Screen Recording
Screen recording, also known as screencasting, is another effective yet accessible way to bypass Telegram’s copy and forward restrictions. It’s especially useful for quickly saving video content.
Screen Recording on a Phone
Like with screenshots, Telegram’s mobile app blocks screen recording if the channel has copy restrictions. However, there’s a trick to bypass even this limitation:
- Expand the video to full screen.
- Enable picture-in-picture mode:
- Maximize the window that appears with the video.
- Now you can start screen recording. Most modern smartphones have this feature built-in. On both iPhone and Android, it can be activated from the control panel.
- The screencast will be saved in your gallery.
Screen Recording on a Computer
Fortunately, the desktop version of the app cannot block screen recordings. So simply open Telegram and navigate to the channel or chat whose messages you want to save. You can then launch a screen recording program, a standard feature of modern operating systems.
For macOS, press Cmd+Shift+5.
For Windows 10, press Win + G, then choose the camera icon or press Win + Alt + R to start recording.
Pros:
- Allows you to save large amounts of information, including text, images, audio, and video.
- It is especially useful for saving dynamic content, such as animations, videos, or voice messages.
Cons:
- Screencasts aren’t the easiest format for reading, and it can be hard to find specific content without watching the entire recording.
- Video files take up a lot of space.
- Not all screen recording programs allow you to capture audio.
Method 4: Accessing Saved Videos in Android Cache
Videos you watch in the Telegram mobile app are first saved in your smartphone’s cache. So, any viewed video can be found on your device, even if copying and forwarding are restricted within the app. You’ll need a file manager that supports viewing hidden files, such as the widely-known "Cx File Explorer."
Here’s how to find the file:
- Fully watch the video in Telegram that you want to save.
- Open "Cx File Explorer" and choose "Internal Storage" from the menu.
- Navigate through folders in the following order: Android > data > org.telegram.messenger > files > Telegram > Telegram video.
- Find the video in the list of files, mark it, and use the "Move" button to transfer it to a folder of your choice.
- Rename the file to avoid losing it.
- Now the video is available in your gallery: you can freely watch, share, or copy it.
Pros:
- This method requires minimal skills and tools.
- Videos are automatically saved to your device; you just need to extract them from the cache.
- You get the original media file without compression or distortion.
Cons:
- You must watch the entire video to load it. This can be inconvenient with long videos.
- No option to select which specific videos to save.
- It can be difficult to find the right file among the downloaded content.
- Automatic loading of large media files can fill up your device’s memory faster than you can download what you need.
Now, let’s move on to more advanced methods.
Method 5: Forwarding Messages Using Junction Bot
If you need to forward messages from channels that have copy and forward restrictions, using Telegram bots can be an optimal solution. Why? On the one hand, they are incredibly accessible to users since working with a bot only requires the Telegram app. All control is done through a chat or mini-app inside the messenger. At the same time, behind this simplicity can be a sophisticated software product. Deep integration with the Telegram network allows bots to solve any automation task, from chat moderation and scheduled posts to gathering analytics and managing paid subscriptions.
When it comes to automatic copying and forwarding of messages, Junction Bot is a recognized master. Since its inception in 2017, the bot has acquired and honed many skills:
- Automatically collects messages from any channels, groups, bots, personal chats, or folders. Even copy and forward restrictions can't stop it.
- Filters content according to specified criteria to deliver only what you need.
- Edits the text based on flexible rules or by employing AI.
- Publishes the messages in your channels and groups, either anonymously or on your behalf.
- It not only forwards new messages instantly but can also copy previously published content in the source, either entirely or selectively.
Here’s how it works:
- Search for "Junction Bot" in the Telegram search bar and select the bot from the results.
- Click "Start" and choose your preferred interface language.
- The bot will ask you to select a service type. These modes are for different tasks. Services are provided on a paid subscription basis, but any of them can be tried for free.
- Create a bot connection to the desired channel, group, or personal chat, following the bot’s instructions. Don’t forget to set message forwarding filters if needed.
- When the messages you’re interested in are saved, use a separate bot connection to post them in a new destination channel or chat.
