How to use Telegram’s power saving mode to boost battery life of your MacBook

Learn how to manage and customize Telegram’s Power Saving Mode on your Mac, including setting the battery threshold to automate the feature.

On March 1, 2023, the messaging app Telegram unveiled a battery-saving option for MacBooks available in its native macOS app (requires macOS Sierra 10.12 or later).

Follow along with us to learn how to turn Telegram’s Power Saving Mode on or off, set a battery threshold for automatic Power Saving Mode and selectively disable power-hungry visual effects to improve performance on older Mac desktops.

How to use Telegram’s Power Saving Mode feature

The Power Saving Mode settings on Telegram for macOS
Adjusting Telegram’s Power Saving Mode settings | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB

You can turn the Power Saving Mode feature on or off through Telegram’s settings, with a single switch to disable all battery-intensive animations and visual effects.

  1. Open Telegram for macOS.
  2. Click the Settings tab or choose Preferences from the Telegram menu.
  3. In the settings interface, select General from the root list.
  4. In the righthand section, choose Power Saving Mode.
  5. Toggle the Power Saving Mode switch to turn the feature on or off.

When Power Saving Mode is on, Telegram will reduce all power-intensive animations listed below, which will help improve performance and prolong battery life.

Also, you can adjust the low-power threshold if you’d like Telegram to automatically enter its Power Saving Mode when the battery drops to a specific charge level.

You need at least Telegram for macOS 9.4.1

Telegram logo set against a light blue gradient background
Be sure to use the native Telegram macOS app | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB

Power Saving Mode is available in Telegram for macOS version 9.4.1 or later. To see which version of Telegram you’re currently running, choose About Telegram from the Telegram menu. Remember that Power Saving Mode is not available in the Electron-based Telegram Desktop app for macOS, Windows and Linux systems.

How to use Telegram’s automatic Power Saving Mode

Telegram for macOS also provides a scheduling feature to automatically enable Power Saving Mode when your MacBook’s battery reaches a specific charge level.

  1. Open Telegram for macOS.
  2. Click the Settings tab or choose Preferences in the Telegram menu.
  3. In the settings interface, select General from the root list.
  4. In the righthand section, choose Power Saving Mode.
  5. Set the Power Saving Mode switch to the OFF position.
  6. Adjust the battery charge slider below the Low Power heading.

Telegram will now invoke Power Saving Mode automatically, based on the specified battery charge threshold. For instance, you may want to set the app to enter Power Saving Mode when the MacBook battery drops below the fifty percent charge.

You can also customize Telegram’s visuals to boost performance on older desktops.

How to customize Telegram’s visuals to use less power

Adjusting visual effects in Telegram for macOS's settings
You can turn off specific visuals | Image: Christian Zibreg/iDB

Telegram for macOS also lets you selectively turn individual animations and interface effects on or off when Power Saving Mode is inactive. This is very useful if you want to optimize the app to use fewer resources on older Mac desktops.

  1. Open Telegram for macOS.
  2. Click the Settings tab or choose Preferences in the Telegram menu.
  3. In the settings interface, select General from the root list.
  4. In the righthand section, choose Power Saving Mode.
  5. Set the Power Saving Mode switch to the OFF position.
  6. Toggle the available effects below the battery charge slider.

Here’s what’s available:

  • Autoplay Videos: Autoplay and loop videos and video messages in chats.
  • Autoplay GIFs: Autoplay and loop GIFs in chats and on the keyboard.
  • Sticker Animations: Loop animated stickers in chats, reactions and statuses.
  • Emoji Animations: Loop animated emoji in messages, reactions and statuses.
  • Emoji Effects: Show animated effects for reactions and premium stickers.
  • Interface Animations: Various other animations in the Telegram interface.
  • Blur Effects: Blur transparent interface effects.
  • Menu Animations: Animated icons in contextual menus.

For example, you can customize the individual autoplay settings for videos, GIFs, stickers, animated emoji and more. Doing so will help the app conserve resources and decrease power consumption when used on older Mac desktops.

How to download Telegram for macOS

There are two versions of Telegram for macOS. The first edition provides a native experience on the macOS platform and is only available from the App Store.

The other version, Telegram Desktop, is a cross-platform app built with Electron that works across the macOS, Windows and Linux platforms.

Power Saving Mode is currently unavailable on Telegram Desktop.

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