No More SMS: Telegram is Developing Passkey Authentication for Secure Login

Telegram is developing passkey authentication to replace its long-standing reliance on phone numbers and SMS verification codes, a move aimed at a more secure login system. At present, login codes are delivered via a linked phone number, with SMS delivery being unreliable in many regions and international verification services often costly. In response, Telegram has already introduced paid verification codes in certain countries and territories, charging roughly $0.1 to $1 to receive an SMS code when logging in.

The introduction of passkeys is expected to resolve these issues, as passkeys are stored locally on a device or in a password manager and can fully replace traditional SMS verification. Once implemented, authentication will rely on device-level biometrics, such as Face ID or fingerprint recognition, reducing the risk of remote interception. The feature is still under development, but Telegram’s rapid rollout pace suggests passkey authentication may arrive sooner rather than later. 5 December 2025.