How to add multiple accounts to Telegram Desktop
===========================================================================

‼️‼️ As of version `2.1.14 <https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/releases/tag/v2.1.14>`_ Telegram Desktop supports up to 3 multiple accounts inbuilt ‼️‼️

If you have more you can still use this method (3 accounts per instance)

⚠ This guide is for the app available here: https://desktop.telegram.org/ not the one in the Mac/Windows App Store. For the Mac App Store app this should work: https://gist.github.com/Nachtalb/ec590dc974f6ba4674972d4937b230be/#gistcomment-3611415 ⚠

.. contents:: Table of Contents


Introduction
------------
ATM of writing this, there is no way inside the Telegram Client to switch accounts (event though this feature exists in the offical mobile clients and there is a long running issue here: `telegramdesktop/tdesktop#4261 <https://github.com/telegramdesktop/tdesktop/issues/4261>`_).

The Official Telegram Desktop client however has the feature to set the working directory with a command line argument ``-workdir``. This enables the use of multiple accounts.

In this guide I will show you a way to use this feature on MacOSX, Linux and Windows. We will be working with the ``-workdir`` argument to create multiple instances for each Telegram account.


❗ Replace ``{{...}}`` thing with what is written in there. So eg. for me and my TG account `@Nachtalb <https://t.me/Nachtalb>`_ I replace ``{{MyUsername}}`` with ``Nachtalb``.


Instructions
------------

Linux
+++++
- Create a folder here ``~/.local/share/TelegramDesktop/{{MyUsername}}``
- Create a new ``.desktop`` file here ``~/.local/share/applications/telegramdesktop-{{myusername}}.desktop``.
- Put in your data in here

⚠️ In this example the Telegram binary resides in ``/opt/Telegram/Telegrm``. This might be different in your case. If so then you have to adjust the path to the binary on the lines ``TryExec`` and ``Exec``. ⚠️

.. code:: ini

    [Desktop Entry]
    Version=1.0
    Name=Telegram {{MyUsername}}
    Comment=Official desktop version of Telegram messaging service
    TryExec=/opt/Telegram/Telegram
    Exec=/opt/Telegram/Telegram -workdir /home/{{your_user}}/.local/share/TelegramDesktop/{{MyUsername}} -- %u
    Icon=telegram
    Terminal=false
    StartupWMClass=TelegramDesktop
    Type=Application
    Categories=Network;InstantMessaging;Qt;
    MimeType=x-scheme-handler/tg;
    Keywords=tg;chat;im;messaging;messenger;sms;tdesktop;
    X-GNOME-UsesNotifications=true
    X-Desktop-File-Install-Version=0.23

OSX
+++
- Create a folder here: ``~/.local/share/TelegramDesktop/{{MyUsername}}``
- Open Automator
- Create a new Application

  .. image:: https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/9467802/56354968-6875f500-61d5-11e9-9e61-32f87ba5502c.png
      :name: Create application in Automater

- Add an apple script by drag & drop from the left-hand side
- Add the following text:

.. code:: as

    do shell script "Applications/Telegram.app/Contents/MacOS/Telegram -workdir '/Users/{{your_user}}/.local/share/TelegramDesktop/{{MyUsername}}'"


.. image:: https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/9467802/56354966-657b0480-61d5-11e9-8341-200ee72d1cb2.png
    :name: Applescript to start Telegram


- Save to ``/Applications/Telegram {{MyUsername}}.app``
- Now lastly if you want the have the same icon for your new app, open the file info of both apps (the original telegram and yours) with ``CMD + I`` and click on the icon in the top left of the original application. Hit copy ``CMD + C``, click on yours and hit past ``CMD + V``.


Windows
+++++++
- Create a folder here: ``C:\Users\{{your_user}}\AppData\Roaming\Telegram Desktop\{{MyUsername}}``
- Rightclick on your desktop and create a new shortcut
- Put this in the location field

.. code::

    "C:\Users\{{your_user}}\AppData\Roaming\Telegram Desktop\Telegram.exe" -workdir "C:\Users\{{your_user}}\AppData\Roaming\Telegram Desktop\{{MyUsername}}"

- Click next and type in a name for the shortcut, usually something like ``Telegram {{MyUsername}}``
- Lastly to find the application via the start menu you have to copy the link in here 

.. code::
    C:\Users\{{your_user}}\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Telegram Desktop