How to Force Telegram to Update Link Preview (Metadata Cache)

In this article we want to explain the telegram link preview update tips and ways to clear telegram link preview Metadata cache.

When a link is shared on Telegram, the platform generates a preview using the page’s metadata (title, description, image).
A common issue is that Telegram keeps showing an old preview, even after the website’s meta tags have been updated.

This happens because Telegram caches link previews aggressively, and updating your meta tags alone is not enough.

This guide explains exactly how Telegram link previews work and the correct way to force an update.

When working with Telegram bots or sharing links programmatically, understanding how Telegram identifies group conversations and processes internal metadata can help avoid unexpected behavior.


Why Telegram Doesn’t Update Link Previews Automatically

Telegram does not re-scan a URL every time it is shared.
Instead, it stores a cached version of:

  • <title>
  • <meta name="description">
  • Open Graph tags (og:title, og:description, og:image)

Once cached, the preview may remain unchanged for weeks or even months, unless you explicitly trigger a refresh.


The Official Way to Force telegram link preview update

The only reliable method to refresh a Telegram link preview is using Telegram’s internal scraper.

Step-by-step solution

  1. Open Telegram
  2. Search for @webpagebot
  3. Send your URL to the bot https://example.com
  4. The bot will:
    • Re-scan the page
    • Regenerate the title, description, and image
    • Update Telegram’s cached preview

After this, sharing the link again will display the updated preview.

This is the same mechanism Telegram uses internally.


Required Meta Tags (Very Important)

If your preview does not update even after using the bot, your page is likely missing proper Open Graph tags.

Make sure your <head> contains:

<html prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#">
<meta property="og:title" content="Page Title">
<meta property="og:description" content="Page description shown in Telegram preview">
<meta property="og:image" content="https://example.com/image.jpg">
<meta property="og:url" content="https://example.com">

Without the og: prefix, Telegram may refuse to refresh the cache.


Common Mistakes That Prevent telegram link preview update

  • Updating only <meta name="description"> without Open Graph tags
  • Using a blocked or non-public image URL
  • Image size too small (Telegram prefers images ≥ 300×300)
  • Page blocked by robots.txt or firewall
  • Using different URLs (with / without trailing slash)

How Long Does Telegram Cache Previews?

There is no fixed TTL (time-to-live).
In practice:

  • Some previews update instantly after using the bot
  • Others may take a few minutes
  • Without manual refresh, cached previews can persist indefinitely

That’s why @webpagebot is essential, not optional.


SEO & Technical Notes for telegram link preview update

  • Telegram preview updates do not affect Google indexing
  • This process is separate from Google Search Console
  • Preview caching is handled entirely by Telegram’s infrastructure

Final Answer (Short Version)

You cannot force Telegram to update a link preview automatically.
The correct way is to send the URL to @webpagebot, ensure proper Open Graph tags exist, and then re-share the link.


Posted

in

by

Tags:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Trust