What Are Star Messages? Complete Guide on How to Monetize or Control Your Inbox on Telegram

Are you tired of receiving unwanted messages from strangers on Telegram? Or perhaps you're looking for a way to monetize access to your inbox and get paid for your time? Telegram's Star Messages feature is here to solve that problem — and even help creators earn an additional stream of income.

In this complete guide, we’ll explain what Star Messages are, how they work, and how you can set them up both for private chats and groups. Whether you want to reduce spam, set a fee for unsolicited messages, or manage group conversations more efficiently, this tutorial has got you covered.

What Are Star Messages on Telegram?

Star Messages is a Telegram premium feature on Telegram that lets you set a fee for receiving messages from users outside your contacts. This means if someone you don’t know wants to reach out to you, they must pay a fee (Stars) to send you a message.

This feature helps you:

• Prevent spam and unwanted messages.
• Monetize your inbox by charging for incoming messages.
• Control communication in both private chats and groups.

By default, your contacts and people you’ve messaged first can still contact you for free.

Telegram also lets you create granular exceptions, so you can allow specific users or entire groups to message you freely, even if Star Messages are enabled.

Key Benefits of Using Star Messages

• Earn income from responding to new message requests.
• Protect your privacy by avoiding spam and random messages.
• Control access to your inbox and group chats.
• Reward your time by charging for professional advice, support, or consultation via chat.

How to Enable Star Messages in Private Chats

Follow these simple steps to start using Star Messages for your personal inbox:

1. Open Telegram App (Make sure you are a Premium subscriber).
2. Go to Settings (⚙️).
3. Tap on Privacy and Security.
4. Select Messages.
5. Select Charge for Messages.
6. Set Your Price Per Message (in Stars) you want to charge for incoming messages from non-contacts.
7. (Optional) Add exceptions for specific users or groups who can message you for free.

✅ Done! Now, anyone who’s not on your contact list and hasn’t messaged you before will have to pay the set Star fee to reach out to you.

How to Enable Star Messages in Groups and Channel Discussions

If you manage a Telegram group or channel discussion, you can also enable Star Messages to control who can participate or send messages.

Here’s how to enable this feature in groups:

1. Open your Telegram group or channel discussion.
2. Tap on the Group Name at the top to open the settings.
3. Go to Permissions.
4. Find and enable Charge Stars for Messages.
5. Set the amount of Stars required to send a message.
6. (Optional) Adjust exceptions or additional permissions as needed.

🎉 Now, members will need to pay Stars to post in the group, helping you filter out spam and ensure higher quality engagement.

Customizing Exceptions for Star Messages

Telegram lets you fine-tune who pays and who doesn’t. You can create exceptions to allow free messaging for:

• Specific users (e.g., VIP clients, collaborators).
• Entire groups or communities.
• Previously contacted users.

To add exceptions:

1. Go back to Settings > Privacy and Security > Messages.
2. Under Star Messages, tap on Exceptions.
3. Add Users or Groups that can message you for free.

Who Should Use Star Messages?

• Influencers and content creators who receive a lot of DMs.
• Freelancers and consultants who want to get paid for their time.
• Businesses that offer premium support or advice.
• Admins of large groups or communities to reduce spam and noise.

FAQs about Star Messages

Q: Can my contacts message me for free if I enable Star Messages?

A: Yes! Your contacts and anyone you've messaged first can always message you without paying Stars.

Q: How much can I charge per message?

A: You can set the fee according to your needs. Telegram allows flexible fee settings in Stars.

Q: Can I disable Star Messages anytime?

A: Absolutely. Just go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Messages and toggle off Star Messages.

Conclusion

Star Messages are a powerful feature for Telegram Premium users, offering privacy, control, and monetization in one. Whether you want to avoid spam, protect your mental space, or earn Stars from valuable conversations, this tool is a game-changer.

By setting a fee for incoming messages, you can ensure that only serious and meaningful connections reach your inbox. Plus, for creators and professionals, this is an excellent way to add value to your time.