Fix Telegram Media Quality Reduced Automatically After Latest Update

If you’ve noticed that your photos or videos on Telegram look more blurry or come through at lower resolution after a recent update, you’re not alone. Many users report changes in how media is compressed or sent — sometimes without any visible settings change.

What’s happening: Although Telegram recently introduced higher-quality photo and HD upload options, it also refined its automatic media quality algorithm — meaning that on slower connections or when certain settings are enabled, your media might get downscaled automatically. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

1. Why Telegram Media Quality Might Be Lower

Here are common reasons:

Automatic quality selection based on your connection — Telegram may choose a lower resolution if it thinks your network is slow. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Media sent as “Photo/Video” instead of “File/Document” — causing automatic compression. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
Your settings changed (or reset) during the update — new defaults may favour faster delivery over maximum quality.
The receiving user may have “Automatic media quality” set to low, which impacts what they see.

2. What You Can Check Immediately

Open Telegram → Settings → Data & Storage → Photo and Video Quality. If it's set to “Auto” or “Low”, change it to “High”.
When sending media, if you’re sending a photo/video and it appears blurry after upload, try sending it as a Document instead (Attach → File). This prevents compression. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}
Check your internet connection — if you’re on a weaker network (e.g., roaming or a slow Wi-Fi), Telegram might automatically send lower-quality versions. Try switching to a faster network and resend.

Tip: For important uploads (e.g., for your channel or for archival), always send as “File” to ensure original resolution is preserved.

3. How to Restore High-Quality Uploads for Your Channel or Group

If you run a channel or group and correct media quality matters, follow this workflow:

Ensure your channel/group’s default upload behaviour is known: In desktop version you can drag & drop and choose “Send as file” or select “Upload in original quality”.
In mobile (iOS/Android): when attaching media tap the three-dot menu and select “Send in High Quality” (or “Send as file”).
Encourage your audience to switch their quality setting: Channel posts are still compressed for those with slower links. Ask followers to set their “Photo & Video Quality” to “High (Wi-Fi+Mobile)”.
Check if you are using storage-heavy file sizes — large videos will still be compressed unless sent as file/document. Consider resizing your source to 1080p or 1280px width to avoid heavy compression. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

4. When the Issue Persists

If after changing settings you still see reduced media quality:

Try uploading the same media from a different device/network to test if it’s local to one device.
Update Telegram to the latest version — recent blog posts show Telegram added “HD photos” and better quality upload options. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
Check whether your recipient’s settings or device screen may be limiting what they see.
Last-resort: export the media from Telegram (if possible) and see if the original file was downscaled — if yes, you may want to resend as document with higher quality.

Final Thoughts

Media quality reductions on Telegram after updates are real — but often stem from automatic algorithms favouring delivery speed over resolution, or from a shift in default settings after an update. By manually switching to “High Quality”, sending as file/document, and ensuring your uploads meet recommended dimensions, you can regain visual fidelity for your audience.

Pro Tip: Keep a checklist of your channel’s quality settings and test after each major Telegram update — just a 1-minute check can prevent long-term quality loss.