How is authentication data stored in synchromessotron?

API ID, hash and session are stored locally in config file next to exe. Delete the file to clear.

Risk of account blocking when using?

The tool complies with Telegram flood limits, ban probability is minimal.

What output formats are supported?

Markdown for reading, JSON for processing, media in original formats.

Telegram Backup: CLI Tool

The article describes CLI tool synchromessotron for local export of data from Telegram. Supports chats, groups, channels in Markdown and JSON formats with media files. Ensures session security and API limits compliance.

By Sudonull Editorial Team • Published 2026-04-14 • Updated 2026-04-14

Backup Telegram Chats with CLI Tool

The synchromessotron tool lets you export messages, media files, and metadata from Telegram channels, groups, and private chats to local storage. Requests are made on behalf of the user via official Telegram API libraries, ensuring access only to visible content. Supports Markdown for human reading and JSON for parsing, with media saved in original formats.

Installation and Setup

Download the release from GitHub: github.com/vsirotin/synchromessotron/releases.

Download the documentation in your preferred language (Russian available).
Choose the executable for your OS: telegram-cli.exe for Windows, corresponding binaries for Linux/macOS.
Place all files in the same directory.
Start the backup process with:

telegram-cli backup

Command-line interface. For GUI version, check the repository for updates.

Security and Limitations

Data Storage: API ID, hash, and session are stored locally in a config file next to the exe. Accessible only with physical machine access. Delete the file to reset.
Data Transfer: All data flows exclusively to Telegram servers via TDLib-like calls—no third-party endpoints involved.
Flood Limits: Respects Telegram’s rate limits; ban risk is minimal as the tool mimics real user behavior.
Formats: Text in Markdown, JSON with full structure (entities, reactions, replies), media preserved without conversion.

Unlike the official Desktop client export, it supports incremental sync, date/ID filtering, and script-based automation.

Export Configuration

The backup command captures all available content by default. Additional options:

--chat-id <ID>: specific chat or channel.
--from-date <YYYY-MM-DD>: start from a given date.
--limit <N>: maximum number of messages.
--media-only: export only media files.

Example of selective export:

telegram-cli backup --chat-id @mychannel --from-date 2024-01-01 --limit 5000

JSON output includes message_id, date, from_id, reply_to, media (photo/video/document), and text with entities (bold, link, code).

Comparison with Alternatives

|--------|------------------|-----------------|------------|

| GUI | No (CLI only) | Yes | No |

| Incremental Sync | Yes | No | Partial |

| Media Export | Full | Yes | Yes |

Ideal for local analysis, data migration, and offline archiving. Open-source under MIT license.

Key Points

Local session storage reduces leakage risks.
Adherence to API rate limits prevents account bans.
Dual format (Markdown/JSON) ensures readability for both humans and machines.
Scriptable automation enables scheduled backups.
Works with private groups and channels without extra permissions.

— Editorial Team

Telegram Backup: CLI Tool