8 Ways to Bypass the ‘Copying and Forwarding Forbidden’ Restriction

In this article, we’ll discuss one of the most controversial features available to Telegram administrators — the restriction on copying and forwarding messages from channels. This feature is often used by content creators to protect their materials from plagiarism, and in that role, it benefits the community. However, in some cases, such restrictions can negatively affect regular users.

Imagine you've paid for access to an educational course, but due to illness, you can't complete it on time or can only study offline. Or perhaps you want to share an article from a “protected” blog with a colleague who doesn’t use Telegram. These situations are not uncommon, and it's useful to know the possible ways to bypass such restrictions — ranging from publicly available tools to advanced techniques. When using them, always try to maintain respect for copyright and privacy.

How to Restrict Copying and Forwarding in a Telegram Channel

Let’s first understand how to limit copying and forwarding of messages from a channel or group. This feature is available to every Telegram administrator.

1. Open the channel where you want to enable protection.
2. Go to the channel settings.
3. Select "Channel Type".
4. Enable the "Restrict Saving Content" toggle.

Now, subscribers won’t be able to copy, save, or forward content from your Telegram channel — at least, not until they read this article 😁.

But let’s look at it from the subscriber’s perspective. When we want to save an interesting post, we usually forward it to our own “Saved Messages.” But what can you do if copying and forwarding are restricted in the channel?

We’ve come up with five ways to bypass this limitation 🔥 — let’s go through them from the simplest to the most advanced.

Method 1: Take a Photo or Record the Screen with a Second Device

You might have laughed at your mom or grandpa once when, instead of forwarding a post or sending a link, they sent you a photo of their laptop screen 😄.

But when you just need a hassle-free way to save a post from a channel that restricts copying, you start to appreciate the wisdom of the older generation. Taking a photo or recording a video of the screen is the most accessible method to bypass Telegram’s forwarding block.

Pros:

• You can take a photo in just a few seconds.
• No special skills or software are needed.
• It works even if you don’t have direct access to the channel. For example, your colleague might want to share an interesting discussion from a private chat but doesn’t want to waste time bypassing the message protection.
• Despite its simplicity, this method bypasses any software-based restriction.
• Shaky handheld videos carry a certain spy-movie charm. Your friends will instantly understand that you're sharing classified intel 😄.

Cons:

• The quality of photos and videos is significantly lower than that of a screenshot or screen recording, especially in poor lighting or with a low-quality camera.
• Photos may be blurry and hard to read.
• Converting images or videos into text can be difficult or impractical.
• You’ll need a second device with Telegram installed.

Method 2: Screenshot

Taking a screenshot is the next simplest way to bypass restrictions on copying and forwarding from Telegram channels and chats.

It's easiest to do this on a computer:

1. Open the channel or chat containing the messages you want to save.
2. Navigate to the desired message and make sure it fully fits on the screen. If it’s too long, try reducing the zoom level in Telegram’s settings.
3. Take a screenshot.

On Windows: Press the Print Screen (PrtScn) key, usually located in the top row of your keyboard. The screenshot will be copied to the clipboard, and you can paste it into any image editing app. From there, you can crop the image to show only the message you want or highlight its important part.

On Mac: Press Command + Shift + 3 to capture the entire screen, or Command + Shift + 4 to select a specific area. The screenshot will automatically be saved to your desktop.

4. Save the screenshot to your hard drive or your Telegram “Saved Messages.”

You can also use dedicated screenshot tools on your desktop. These allow you to capture any part of the screen and save it easily.

You can also use online text recognition services, such as Yandex.Translate, to convert images into text.

On a phone, it’s a bit trickier — the Telegram mobile apps block screenshots of messages from protected channels and chats. To bypass this screenshot restriction for messages in private channels, you can use the web version of Telegram. While you still won’t be able to forward or copy text and media, there are no limits on taking screenshots.

Pros:

• Taking screenshots uses the standard tools of your computer or mobile operating system.
• Screenshots preserve the original appearance of the content.
• It’s convenient to add notes and highlight important parts on screenshots.

Cons:

• Taking screenshots can be tiring when saving a large amount of information.
• The Telegram message column is quite narrow, so one screen fits only a few messages; a long post might not fit entirely.
• Screenshots are not suitable for saving audio, video, or other media files. For those, the next method is better.

Method 3: Screen Recording

Recording your device’s screen, also known as screencasting, is another effective yet accessible way to bypass the copying and forwarding restrictions in Telegram. It’s especially indispensable for quickly saving video content.

Screen Recording on a Phone
Just like with screenshots, the Telegram mobile app blocks screen recording if copying is restricted in the open channel. But there’s a trick to record the screen on your phone despite this restriction:

• Expand the video to full screen.
• Switch to picture-in-picture (windowed) mode.
• Maximize the video window as much as possible.
• Now you can start screen recording. All modern smartphones have a built-in feature for this, which can be activated from the control panel on both iPhone and Android.
• The screencast will be saved to your gallery.

Screen Recording on a Computer
Fortunately, the desktop version of Telegram cannot technically block screen recording. So just open Telegram and go to the channel or chat with the messages you want to save. You can then launch a screen recording program — this is a standard feature on modern operating systems.

• Windows 10 — Press Win + G, then select the camera icon or press Win + Alt + R to start recording the screen.
• Mac OS — Press Cmd + Shift + 5.

Pros:

• Allows you to save large amounts of information, including text, images, audio, and video.
• Especially useful for saving dynamic content such as animations, videos, or voice messages.

Cons:

• Screencasts aren’t the most convenient format for reading, and it can be hard to find something without watching the entire video.
• Video files take up a lot of disk space.
• Not all screen recording programs support audio recording.

Method 4: Saved Videos in Android Phone Storage‍

Videos you watch in the mobile version of Telegram are first saved to your smartphone’s cache. Therefore, any video you have viewed can be found in your device’s memory, even if copying and forwarding are disabled in the app. To use this method, you’ll need a file manager that supports viewing hidden files, such as the popular “Cx Explorer.”

To find the desired file:

1. Watch the video completely in Telegram that you want to save.
2. Open Cx Explorer and select “Internal Storage” from its menu.
3. Navigate through the folders in this order:
   Android > data > org.telegram.messenger > files > Telegram > Telegram video.
4. Find the video file you want in the list, select it, and use the “Move” button to transfer it to a folder of your choice.
5. Rename the file there so you don’t lose track of it.

Now this video is available in your Gallery: you can freely watch, forward, or copy it.

Pros:

• Like the previous methods, this one requires minimal skills and software tools.
• Videos are automatically saved on your device; you just need to extract them from the cache.
• You get the original media file without compression or distortion.

Cons:

• You need to watch the entire video to download it, which can be inconvenient for long videos.
• You cannot choose which specific videos to save.
• It can be difficult to find the needed file among a large amount of downloaded content.
• Automatic downloading of heavy media files can fill your device’s storage faster than you can extract the video you want.

Now, let’s move on to more advanced methods.

Method 5: Forwarding Messages Using Junction Bot

If you need to forward messages from channels protected against copying and forwarding, an optimal solution might be to use Telegram bots. Why?

On one hand, they are very accessible for users since all you need to work with a bot is the Telegram app. All control is done through chat or a mini-app inside the messenger.

At the same time, behind this simplicity can lie complex software. Deep integration with the Telegram network allows bots to solve all kinds of automation tasks — from chat moderation and scheduled posting to data analytics and managing paid subscriptions.

When it comes to automatic copying and forwarding of messages, Junction Bot is a recognized expert.

Since its launch in 2017, the bot has gained and refined many skills:

• Automatically collects messages from any channels, groups, bots, personal chats, and folders. Even copying and forwarding restrictions cannot stop it.
• Filters the general stream to select only the content you need based on set criteria.
• Edits text according to flexible rules or by using AI.
• Publishes messages to your channels and groups — by itself, anonymously, or on your behalf.
• Not only instantly forwards new messages but also copies already published content from the source, either fully or selectively.

Here’s how it works:

1. Type “Junction Bot” in the Telegram search bar and select the bot from the results.
2. Press “Start” and choose your preferred interface language.
3. The bot will ask you to select a service type. These modes are designed for different tasks. Services are available via paid subscription, but you can try any of them for free.
4. After activating a service, Junction Bot will introduce you to its convenient mini-app for creating and managing forwards.
5. Select the protected source you want to copy from and the destination where the messages should be sent.
6. Congratulations, you’ve started automatic message copying! The bot will deliver content to your channel or group quickly and without loss.

Junction Bot offers many useful features and modes. You can combine them in any way, setting a unique set of forwarding rules for each.
If you need old messages from the source, start the history copying process. It runs in the background based on your settings. In case of Telegram traffic limits when copying large amounts of files, Junction Bot has an option to automatically transfer all files to Google Drive.

Pros:

• The web interface simplifies creating and configuring forwarding.
• The bot can work linked to your account, ensuring high delivery speed and access to sources.
• You can finely tune copying rules by using filters, replacement rules, and many other settings for any task.
• The service handles large volumes of information confidently.
• Developers regularly add features based on user requests.

Cons:

• Connecting the bot to your account may raise privacy concerns. However, you can use a separate work account for bot operations.
• It takes some time to learn the features.
• Continuous use of the bot requires a paid subscription.

Method 6: Using a Custom Browser Script

This method is suitable for those who prefer to use the browser version of Telegram. A script available on Greasy Fork allows you to bypass content saving restrictions in Telegram Web.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Install a user script manager extension such as Tampermonkey, Greasemonkey, or Violentmonkey.

2. On the Greasy Fork website, go to the page for the script Telegram Web - Allow Saving Content (you can find it using the search).

3. Click the Install this script button to install the script in your chosen extension.
4. Open Telegram Web in your browser.
5. Go to the desired channel or chat and find the message or media file you want to save.
6. The script allows you to bypass restrictions on copying and downloading content. You can select text and copy it using the Ctrl+C shortcut.
7. To save media files such as videos or photos, the script unlocks the download option. You can right-click on the media file and choose “Save as…”.

8. The script allows you to bypass restrictions on copying and downloading content. You can select text and copy it using the Ctrl+C shortcut.
9. For some types of content, such as circular videos and voice messages, you may need to manually add a file extension (for example, .mp4 for videos and .ogg for voice messages).Pros:
   
   • Easy to install and use. Suitable for those who prefer working in a browser.
   • Allows bulk downloading of media files and unlocks text copying.
   Cons:
   • Requires installing additional browser extensions.
   • Some files may require manually adding file extensions.

Method 7. Using Custom Telegram Clients‍

Custom Telegram clients offer additional features compared to the official app, including bypassing restrictions on copying and forwarding messages. However, despite their advantages, using them may pose risks to your data security. Among many such clients, let’s take Nicegram as an example:

• Download Nicegram from the App Store or Google Play Store, install, and open the app;
• Enter the phone number linked to your account and tap Continue;
• Enter the confirmation code you receive on Telegram;
• Go to Settings (gear icon at the bottom of the screen) and select Privacy and Security;
• Find the option Disable Forwarding Restrictions and activate it;
• Go to the desired channel or chat, find the message you want to copy or forward;
• Press and hold the message. When the action menu appears, choose Copy for text or Save for media files;
• Paste the copied text or forward the saved media files to the desired chat or channel.

Pros:

• Extended features and settings not available in the official app;
• Bypasses copying restrictions.

Cons:

• Nicegram has no desktop version; managing files on mobile can be inconvenient;
• Being an unofficial client, it may have security vulnerabilities;
• Nicegram collects user data.

Method 8. Using a Python Script

And here is the final method in our overview to download content from protected Telegram channels and chats — running a script written in Python. This option is for the most advanced users. If you’re one of them, here’s how to do it:

• Download the source code of rcdtool from GitHub;
• Make sure Python is installed on your system. If not, download and install it from the official Python website;
• Install the required dependencies by running:
  pip install -r requirements.txt
• Rename the file config.ini.sample to config.ini and edit it by adding your api_id and api_hash, which you can get at my.telegram.org;
• Open Telegram and navigate to the desired channel or chat;
• Copy the link to the message. You can do this by right-clicking the message and selecting Copy Message Link;
• Extract the channel ID and message ID from the link. The link format will look like this:
  https://t.me/c/<channel ID>/<message ID>;
• In the command line, go to the folder with rcdtool and run the command:
  python rcdtool.py -c config.ini -C <channel ID> -M <message ID> -O <output file>;
• The script will start downloading the specified message and save the file with the name you provided.

Pros:

• Allows downloading text and media files (video, audio, etc.) without restrictions;
• Can automate the process of downloading large volumes of messages.

Cons:

• Requires installation and configuration of additional tools;
• You need to be familiar with the command line and basics of Python.

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