Telegram’s popularity has risen rapidly, mainly because it allows users to download movies, TV series, and large files without limits. Many prefer it over other apps for seamless media sharing. But iPhone users face a major issue when background restrictions stop downloads midway.
When Telegram runs in the background, iOS may pause or slow down downloads to save battery and system resources. This can be frustrating, especially when downloading large files that take time. Switching between apps often interrupts the process, forcing users to resume downloads.
Let’s see how to keep Telegram downloading in the background on iPhone and prevent interruptions in file download.
Why Does Telegram Download Keep Stopping on iPhone?
Telegram downloads on iPhone may stop due to iOS restrictions on background activity, which pause downloads when the app is minimized or locked. Low Data Mode can also prevent automatic downloads and background refresh, affecting file transfers. Moreover, if the auto-download size is set too low, larger files may not download automatically.
7 Easiest Ways to Fix Telegram Not Downloading in Background on iPhone
Play Audio or Video to Keep Telegram Active
A simple yet effective way to keep Telegram running in the background while downloading or uploading files is by playing an audio or video file within the app. This will make sure that Telegram stays active, allowing downloads to continue even when you minimize the app or lock your iPhone.
- To use this method, send an audio file to your Saved Messages chat and start playing it directly from there.
- Then, begin downloading the file you want in Telegram.
As long as the audio is playing, the app remains active, and your download will continue, even when you switch to other apps or lock your screen.
Another option is to play a video in Picture-in-Picture (PiP) mode. This allows you to minimize Telegram while the video continues to play in a small window, keeping Telegram active in the background. If none of the other methods work, this is the best solution that has worked for many users.
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Keep Telegram Open
iPhones restrict apps from running in the background for too long. iOS automatically suspends apps like Telegram and Google Drive shortly after you minimize them. This stops background processes, including file downloads.
When Telegram is inactive, large file downloads may pause or fail to complete. The simplest way to prevent this is to keep the app open while downloading files. Avoid switching to other apps or locking your screen during the process.
To stop your iPhone from turning off the screen, go to Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto-Lock and set it to Never. 
Turn On Background App Refresh for Telegram
Background App Refresh lets apps update content even when they’re not actively in use. If this feature is off, Telegram may struggle to load chats and download files in the background.
- To turn it on, open Settings on your iPhone
- Scroll down and select Telegram. (On iOS 18 and above, you’ll find it under the Apps section)
- Enable the toggle for Background App Refresh.
Disable Low Data Mode on iPhone
Low Data Mode is designed to conserve your data by limiting background usage on your iPhone. When activated, it disables automatic downloads, and background app refresh, and prevents apps like Telegram from using data when they’re not in use.
If Telegram is having trouble downloading media or syncing chats after you close the app, it could be due to Low Data Mode being enabled. To fix this, follow these steps:
- Open the device Settings and tap on Mobile Service.
- Select your SIM card and select Mobile Data Options
- Tap Data Mode.
- Now, change the setting from Low Data Mode to Standard or Allow More Data on 5G.
Enable Auto-Download Media in Telegram
Telegram allows you to set up automatic media downloads, so you don’t have to manually download each file. When you enable this feature, Telegram will automatically download media files whenever you’re connected to WiFi or cellular data.
To enable auto-download on your iPhone:
- Open the Telegram app on your iPhone
- Click the Settings button from the bottom bar.
- Tap Data and Storage.
- Enable the AUTOMATIC MEDIA DOWNLOAD option for both Using Cellular and Using WiFi.
Increase Auto-Download Size for Telegram Files & Videos
Telegram allows you to set a maximum file size for automatic downloads. If the file exceeds the set limit, it won’t be downloaded automatically unless you manually choose to download it. You can increase this limit to allow larger files and videos to be downloaded without any issues.
To increase the auto-download size for files and videos on Telegram, follow these steps:
- Open Telegram app
- Click on the Settings option.
- Tap Data and Storage
- Now, scroll down to AUTOMATIC MEDIA DOWNLOAD section.
- Tap Using WiFi, select Videos and Files individually, and increase their maximum download size.
- If you have an unlimited data plan, repeat the same for Using Cellular to allow large files to download automatically even on mobile data.
Turn Off the Power Saving Mode on Telegram
Also, ensure that Power Saving Mode is disabled in the Telegram app, as it automatically turns off resource-intensive processes when your battery reaches a certain level. This could be why Telegram isn’t downloading in the background on your iPhone. To disable it:
- Open the Telegram app.
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Power Saving.
- Drag the slider to Off mode.
That’s it for this guide, folks. If you know of any other methods to keep Telegram background downloads active on iOS when switching to other apps or to solve the issue of Telegram not downloading in the background on iPhone, let us know in the comments.
