# Authorizing a chat

# Authorizing a chat

Every chat is denied until it is on the allowed list. Two Telegram commands and two dashboard surfaces put it there.

## Denied by default

*What can be authorized*

| Kind | How |
| --- | --- |
| Group or supergroup | Authorized with `/authorize`, `/getid`, the `/menu` picker or the dashboard Groups tab |
| A DM | The user's Telegram username goes on the bot's DM-authorized list |
| Channel | Not supported |

There is no limit on the number of authorized groups.

- [What "authorized" means](/telegram-bot/menu-access-groups#what-authorized-means)
- [Why groups need authorization](/telegram-bot/menu-access-groups#why-groups-need-authorization)

## /authorize

#### Authorizing a group from inside Telegram

1. Add the bot to the group.
2. Send `/authorize` in the group.
3. The bot replies `Authorized (<chat_id>).` and the group is live.

If the bot is not yet an admin, the reply adds: `To unlock image editing and full functionality, promote me to admin in this group.`

> **Warning**
>
> `/authorize` works for the bot's owner. From anyone else it only adds the chat to the dashboard's Discovered Groups list.

## /getid

Anyone can send `/getid` in any chat. It replies with the numeric chat id and adds the chat to the dashboard's Discovered Groups list for the owner to authorize.

> **Warning**
>
> Sent by the bot's owner, `/getid` authorizes the chat in the same step.

A private invite link (`t.me/+…`) cannot be used to authorize a group. For a group reached only through one, send `/getid` inside the group.

- [How a group gets authorized](/telegram-bot/menu-access-groups#how-a-group-gets-authorized)

## Reviewing and revoking

The dashboard's Groups tab (**Allowed Groups**) lists every authorized chat with its title, chat id and member count.

*Two ways to revoke*

| Surface | Action |
| --- | --- |
| The `/menu` Groups picker | Tap a `✅` row to flip it to `❌` |
| The dashboard Groups tab | Trash icon on the group's card, then confirm |

- Revoking stops generation in that chat immediately.
- It does not remove the bot from the Telegram group.
- It doesn't delete any model or account data.
- Re-authorize with `/authorize`, or from the dashboard while the group is still in Discovered Groups.

- [How to remove an authorized group](/telegram-bot/menu-access-groups#how-to-remove-an-authorized-group)
- [Buy bots are activated in groups separately](/telegram-bot/menu-access-groups#buy-bots-are-activated-in-groups-separately)
- [DM authorizations](/telegram-bot/menu-access-groups#dm-authorizations)