Checking a Telegram channel subscription in a funnel
How to set up the "Channel subscription" condition, why the bot must be a channel admin, and what happens if it isn't.
Checking a Telegram channel subscription#
The "Channel subscription" condition sends a person down the "Yes" branch if they are subscribed to the channel (or are a member of the chat) and down the "No" branch otherwise. It is usually used to give a freebie or closed-channel access to subscribers only.
The key rule: the bot must be a channel admin#
Telegram shows a channel's member list only to its admins. If your funnel bot is not an admin, the subscription cannot be checked, and everyone, including subscribers, goes down the "No" branch.
How to add the bot:
- Open the channel in Telegram → "Manage channel" → "Administrators".
- Tap "Add administrator" and find your bot by name.
- Save. No permissions need to be enabled — the admin status is enough.
For a group or chat it is the same: the bot must be an admin there.
How to tell the check is not working#
If the bot cannot see the members, Craft sends the funnel owner a Telegram message saying the subscription check is not working. It is sent at most once every 12 hours per channel, from the funnel bot, if Telegram is linked to your Craft account.
A common mistake in the flow#
If the "I subscribed" button on a "Check your subscription and try again" message leads straight to the freebie instead of back to the condition, anyone who taps it gets the freebie, even without subscribing. Connect that button to the "Channel subscription" condition.
How to enter the channel#
Use the channel's public name with @, for example @mychannel. For a private
channel without a public name, use its numeric ID starting with -100.