Connect Telegram Bot to VS Code

To use Telegram Bot in VS Code, connect your Telegram Bot account in Manyplug and add Manyplug to VS Code once. VS Code then gets 7 Telegram Bot tools, for example: “List chats”, “Search messages”, and “Read a chat”. It takes about 3 minutes and works on the free plan.

Connect Telegram Bot Free plan, no card

1. Connect Telegram Bot in Manyplug

Click “Connect Telegram Bot” and paste the key or app password into Manyplug’s form:

About 3 min · You create a bot with @BotFather and paste its token.

You need

Telegram on your phone or computer

Steps

Open @BotFather in Telegram and send /newbot (or /mybots to pick a bot you already have).Open @BotFather
Send a name for the bot, then a username that ends in bot, for example acme_support_bot.
Copy the token from BotFather’s reply: it looks like 123456789:AA…Paste into: Bot token
Paste it into the form and click Connect. Manyplug checks the token and starts receiving messages.

Want all your chats and groups? Connect the Telegram service instead: it logs in to your personal account with a QR code.
A bot only sees chats where people wrote to it and cannot start a conversation.
Your bot can also handle your personal chats: turn on Secretary Mode for it in @BotFather and add it under Settings → Chat Automation.

If something goes wrong

The check says the bot token is wrong (Unauthorized): Copy the token again: send /mybots to @BotFather, pick the bot and tap API Token. If you tapped Revoke current token, use the new token.
The bot gets no messages from a group: Send /setprivacy to @BotFather, pick the bot and choose Disable. Then remove the bot from the group and add it again.
The bot does not see a person’s messages: The person has to open the bot and tap Start first: a bot cannot write to someone who never wrote to it.

2. Add Manyplug to VS Code

GitHub Copilot in agent mode.

Click “Install in VS Code” or add the server to .vscode/mcp.json.

Install in VS Code

{
  "servers": {
    "manyplug": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://manyplug.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Start the server in the MCP list and sign in when VS Code asks.

Full guide: VS Code

3. Ask VS Code

What did people write to my bot today?
Find customer questions about delivery from this week.
Tell Anna in the bot chat that the invoice comes tonight.

What VS Code can do in Telegram Bot

Each action can be turned off per account, and changes can wait for your OK.

Action	Access
List chats Telegram chats, most recent first, with unread counters.	Reads
Search messages Searches all chats or one chat by words, sender and dates.	Reads
Read a chat Latest messages of a chat; page back for older ones.	Reads
What's new New messages since the last check, without repeats.	Reads
Send a message Writes to a chat through a queue: human-like pauses and typing, never twice. Files can be attached by link. A first message to someone new needs your OK.	Risky
Mark as read Marks every message of a chat as read.	Makes changes
Attachment Downloads a file from a message; the AI can look at photos and listen to voice messages.	Reads

Questions

Can I connect two Telegram Bot accounts to VS Code?

Yes. Connect each one in Manyplug under its own name, for example Work and Personal. VS Code can use one of them or all at once.

Will VS Code change anything in Telegram Bot without asking?

By default these actions wait for your approval before they run: “Send a message”. Other changes follow your rules, which you can make stricter per account.

Do I need an official Telegram Bot MCP server for this?

No. Manyplug connects to Telegram Bot itself with a key or app password you paste into its form, and gives VS Code the tools through one MCP address, together with your other services.

Is it free to connect VS Code to Manyplug?

Yes. New workspaces get 14 days of Pro free, then the free plan keeps going with 150 actions a month and up to 3 connected accounts. No card needed. Paid plans start at $5 a month.

Does VS Code see my passwords or API keys?

No. Keys are entered on Manyplug’s own pages, stored encrypted with a separate key per account, and the AI only receives tool results.

Telegram Bot in other AI apps

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