This error, shown as “You can only send messages to mutual contacts,” usually happens when Telegram’s automated systems detect behavior that might correspond to spam, even if you never intended anything harmful. It may feel frustrating, particularly because the restriction appears without a clear warning and limits your communication until the platform verifies your account activity as safe again.
This error typically affects users who recently joined many groups, sent multiple messages quickly, forwarded content repeatedly, or interacted with unknown users at a pace that Telegram’s system considers suspicious. Many users do not realize that the platform maintains strict anti-spam controls to prevent bots, scammers, and unsolicited promotional messages from spreading widely. Because of this, legitimate users sometimes get caught in the filter unintentionally.
You might resolve the issue simply by consulting Telegram’s Spam Info Bot, or you might need to contact support if the restriction seems unfair. There are also workarounds like asking the person you want to reach to message you first, switching to Telegram X, or temporarily avoiding activity that triggers additional warnings. Each method helps you approach the issue from a different angle, but all of them aim to restore your account’s ability to message freely again.
Once Telegram determines your activity is normal, restrictions typically disappear. With the steps below, you can confidently move toward restoring your account access and preventing future communication limits.
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How To Fix ‘You Can Only Send Messages To Mutual Contacts’ Error
This error occurs when your account is flagged for unusual or spam-like activity. For this, Telegram temporarily restricts messaging non-mutual contacts. You can check your restriction status, appeal the limitation, or follow multiple recovery methods to restore normal messaging access.
1. Allow Automatic Restriction Reset Period
You may find that waiting is surprisingly effective because most Telegram restrictions expire automatically within 24–48 hours. These temporary limits protect users from spam, so once Telegram’s system observes normal activity, your account regains messaging privileges. Longer restrictions occur if repeated violations happen, but first-time cases often resolve quickly.
Many users panic and attempt multiple actions, but avoiding further triggers actually helps more. Simply refraining from group joins, mass forwarding, or unfamiliar contacts prevents Telegram from extending your restriction. This method works because the platform recalculates risk levels over time and lifts restrictions when it detects stable behavior again.
Step 1: Reduce activity on Telegram, avoid messaging unknown users, and give the system time to naturally remove your restriction.
Step 2: Monitor your account periodically without performing actions that appear automated or spam-like to Telegram’s algorithm.
Step 3: Avoid joining new groups or channels during the waiting period to prevent extension of the imposed messaging limitation.
Step 4: Keep your usage minimal by restricting interactions to familiar contacts until the platform restores full messaging capability.
Step 5: Try messaging non-contacts again after 24–48 hours to check whether Telegram automatically reinstated your communication rights.
2. Check Restrictions Through Spam Info Assistant
You can use Telegram’s Spam Info Bot to understand why your account is restricted and what actions you can take. This bot instantly analyzes your account status and reveals whether Telegram flagged you for spam-like behavior. This often happens when your activity appears unusual, even if unintentional. The bot also guides appealing restrictions or confirming whether your account is clean. Some users may find that the bot automatically detects the problem and offers a support link. Others might need to tap the option that states they still cannot message non-contacts.
Step 1: Open Telegram, use the search field, and locate the Spam Info Bot to begin reviewing your current account messaging status.
Step 2: Tap Start, wait briefly, and check whether the bot returns a clear restriction message explaining your account’s spam-related limitations.
Step 3: Press the option that says you still cannot message non-contacts if the bot claims there is no active restriction on your account.
Step 4: Follow the options i.e. appeal links or guidance, to begin reversing your restriction through Telegram’s automated system.
Contact Telegram support if the bot’s results appear incorrect or unhelpful, and no improvement occurs after following the steps.
3. Get Help From Telegram Support
You can contact Telegram support when the Spam Info Bot does not fix your issue. This support system is volunteer-based, meaning response times vary, but it remains a reliable option for real-person help. Telegram volunteers can review your explanation, assess whether a mistaken spam flag occurred, and suggest next steps. This becomes especially helpful when your restriction persists beyond the typical timeframe. Many users who experience repeated false flags benefit from contacting support directly. While volunteers cannot override all system rules instantly, their guidance often speeds up the verification process.
Step 1: Open Telegram’s menu, select Settings, scroll downward, and find the Ask a Question support option for assistance.
Step 2: Tap Ask a Volunteer when prompted, allowing Telegram to direct you toward human help instead of automated instructions only.
Step 3: Start the chat, skip the initial bot-style guidance, and proceed directly to available volunteers for personalized account evaluation.
Step 4: Explain your restriction issue clearly, including when the problem started and what actions might have triggered Telegram’s spam filter.
Follow volunteers’ recommendations and wait patiently while they review your case and escalate it if necessary for resolution.
4. Try Messaging Through Telegram X Client
You can attempt to bypass the restriction by installing Telegram X, an alternative official Telegram client known for smoother performance. Some users report that temporary messaging limitations behave differently on Telegram X, allowing them to send messages normally.
The app uses varied optimization techniques that sometimes refresh account data more effectively. It becomes a helpful troubleshooting step when restrictions seem inconsistent across devices. Telegram X is available on both Android and iOS, making it easy to test.
Step 1: Download Telegram X from the App Store or Play Store and install it as an alternative client for comparison.
Step 2: Log into your existing Telegram account and check whether the restriction message still appears when messaging new users.
Step 3: Test communication by attempting to send messages to non-mutual contacts and noticing whether the limitation persists.
Step 4: Switch between Telegram X, standard Telegram, and Telegram Desktop to determine consistency across different platform clients.
Step 5: Continue using the client that restores normal messaging, or proceed with additional fixes if restrictions remain unchanged.
5. Let New Contacts Initiate the Conversation
You can still communicate with new people by asking them to message you first, as Telegram instantly recognizes them as mutual contacts once you save them. This method works even while your account is restricted because you’re not initiating communication. When they send the first message, their chat appears in your inbox, enabling you to respond normally.
This becomes especially helpful for urgent conversations when waiting for restrictions to lift is not ideal. You only need to add them as a contact once their message arrives, and Telegram will allow unrestricted ongoing communication with that person.
Step 1: Request the new person to send you a message so Telegram registers the interaction within your contact list automatically.
Step 2: Wait for their first message to appear, confirming that communication becomes possible under the current account restriction settings.
Step 3: Open the conversation and scroll upward until you find the New Contact option available for saving details.
Step 4: Enter the person’s information, save the contact, and allow Telegram to classify them correctly as a mutual contact.
Step 5: Continue your conversation normally, since Telegram restrictions no longer affect messaging between verified mutual contacts.
Why Does It Show ‘You Only Send Messages To Mutual Contacts At The Moment’?
The restriction is temporary, but understanding what caused it helps you prevent future disruptions and restore full messaging access.
1. If your Account is reported
When you’re not allowed to send messages to non-contacts on Telegram, and you’re being displayed with the error message Sorry, you can only send messages to mutual contacts at the moment it might be because your account has been reported by any of your non-contact Telegram users.
You may wonder why your account gets reported by anyone, but it is very common. If you were sending spam messages to non-contacts who don’t happen to know you properly, they might have reported your account for harassment or spam, which is why your account has been limited on Telegram.
When you send fake or spam messages anonymously to non-contacts on Telegram or pretend to be someone else, your account may get reported. Therefore, be careful while messaging non-contacts so that you don’t get reported.
2. Not your Mutual Contacts
When you’re unable to send messages to a non-contact on Telegram, it means that the user is a new non-contact on Telegram with whom you’ve not previously chatted, and they don’t have your number saved on their device. When your account is limited on Telegram, you can reply to any non-mutual contact who messages you, but you can’t send messages to them first.
You can only send messages to someone who’s a mutual contact of yours on Telegram, and you’ve saved the user’s phone number on your device.
But when you’re not able to send messages to someone on Telegram, it indicates that the user is not a mutual contact, which you can find by checking if you have any previous chats with the user or not.
3. The Person Has Blocked You
When you find that your messages to a non-contact Telegram aren’t reaching the user or getting sent, but are showing a red exclamation mark next to them, it means that the message is stuck in the system.
This can happen when the user has blocked you on Telegram. When you send continuous spamming messages to users for promotional purposes, it gets irritating to the other person, which might be the reason the user has blocked you on Telegram.
You need to see if his last seen time and the display picture are visible to you or not to confirm whether he has blocked you on Telegram.
When you find that the user’s last seen time and display picture are not visible anymore, it’s confirmed that the user has blocked you. In this case, you can only message the user after the user unblocks you on Telegram.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Most restrictions last between 24 to 48 hours, but the duration can vary depending on the severity of flagged behavior. First-time offenses are lifted quickly, while repeated violations may extend the restriction for several days or even weeks. The Spam Info Bot can help you check the current status. Avoiding suspicious activity while waiting, such as messaging strangers, reduces the risk of prolonging the restriction or triggering a fresh penalty.
This restriction affects private messages to users who are not in your contact list. You can still participate in groups, view channels, and message your existing contacts without issues. However, if your behavior triggered a more serious spam flag, Telegram may also limit your ability to post in groups or join new ones.
To prevent future restrictions, avoid sending messages to many strangers in a short time, refrain from using automated forwarding tools, and respond politely if someone warns or reports you. Maintain natural messaging behavior and avoid joining too many groups within minutes. If you run a business, consider using Telegram bots or channels designed for mass communication.
