How to retrieve bot message ID for replying to its own messages on Telegram

[aroberts]

I can easily respond to messages from users, but I’m having trouble replying to the messages that my bot sends out itself. It seems like I need to obtain the message ID of the bot’s own messages for that purpose.

This is the scenario I am facing:

1. User sends: “hi”
2. The bot replies with a message
3. I wish to respond specifically to the bot’s reply rather than the user’s initial message.

Currently, my code for sending a message looks like this:

await telegramClient.SendTextMessageAsync(messageEvent.Message.Chat.Id, "Hello user!");

And when it comes to replying to the user’s messages, I have this:

await telegramClient.SendTextMessageAsync(123456789, "How are you?", replyToMessageId: messageEvent.Message.MessageId);

However, I want to respond to the “Hello user!” message that the bot sent. Do I need to somehow keep track of the bot’s message ID? What is the best way to obtain it?

class TelegramBot
{
    private static ITelegramBotClient telegramClient = new TelegramBotClient("your_token_here");
    
    static void Main(string[] args)
    {
        telegramClient.OnMessage += HandleIncomingMessage;
        Console.Title = telegramClient.GetMeAsync().Result.FirstName;
        telegramClient.StartReceiving();
        Console.ReadLine();
    }

    private async static void HandleIncomingMessage(object sender, MessageEventArgs messageEvent)
    {
        await telegramClient.SendTextMessageAsync(messageEvent.Message.Chat.Id, "Hello user!");
        await telegramClient.SendTextMessageAsync(123456789, "How are you?", replyToMessageId: messageEvent.Message.MessageId);
    }
}

[SkippingLeaf]

SendTextMessageAsync returns a Message object with the MessageId you need. Just store the return value and grab its MessageId property.

Here’s the fix:

var sentMessage = await telegramClient.SendTextMessageAsync(messageEvent.Message.Chat.Id, "Hello user!");
await telegramClient.SendTextMessageAsync(messageEvent.Message.Chat.Id, "How are you?", replyToMessageId: sentMessage.MessageId);

I hit this same problem building a support bot that had to follow up on its own messages. Every send operation gives you back the full message object, not just a success flag. Works consistently across different Telegram libraries and you don’t need to mess with databases or external tracking.

[davidw]

You’re not capturing the Message object that gets returned when you send a message. SendTextMessageAsync returns a Message instance with the MessageId you need.

Here’s the fix:

var botResponse = await telegramClient.SendTextMessageAsync(messageEvent.Message.Chat.Id, "Hello user!");
await telegramClient.SendTextMessageAsync(messageEvent.Message.Chat.Id, "Follow-up message", replyToMessageId: botResponse.MessageId);

I’ve done this in production bots where message chaining was crucial. The returned Message object has everything - MessageId, timestamp, chat info. You don’t need external storage or complex state tracking. Telegram’s API handles it all. Just use the same chat ID in both calls so the reply chain displays correctly.

[wanderingWeasel]

The Problem:

You’re having trouble replying to messages sent by your own Telegram bot. Your current code sends messages successfully, but you need to obtain the MessageId of the bot’s messages to use the replyToMessageId parameter for replies.

TL;DR: The Quick Fix:

The SendTextMessageAsync method already provides the necessary MessageId. Capture the returned Message object and use its MessageId property to reply.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Capture the Returned Message Object:

Modify your HandleIncomingMessage method to capture the Message object returned by SendTextMessageAsync when sending the bot’s initial message.

private async static void HandleIncomingMessage(object sender, MessageEventArgs messageEvent)
{
    var botMessage = await telegramClient.SendTextMessageAsync(messageEvent.Message.Chat.Id, "Hello user!");
    await telegramClient.SendTextMessageAsync(messageEvent.Message.Chat.Id, "How are you?", replyToMessageId: botMessage.MessageId);
}

Step 2: Use the MessageId for Replies:

The botMessage variable now holds the Message object containing the MessageId of the bot’s “Hello user!” message. Use botMessage.MessageId in the subsequent SendTextMessageAsync call to reply directly to that message. Notice that we’re also using messageEvent.Message.Chat.Id in both calls to ensure the reply goes to the correct chat.

Step 3 (Optional): Error Handling:

While not strictly necessary for this specific fix, adding error handling is good practice. Wrap your SendTextMessageAsync calls in try-catch blocks to handle potential exceptions during message sending.

private async static void HandleIncomingMessage(object sender, MessageEventArgs messageEvent)
{
    try
    {
        var botMessage = await telegramClient.SendTextMessageAsync(messageEvent.Message.Chat.Id, "Hello user!");
        await telegramClient.SendTextMessageAsync(messageEvent.Message.Chat.Id, "How are you?", replyToMessageId: botMessage.MessageId);
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        Console.WriteLine($"Error sending message: {ex.Message}");
        //Consider more robust error handling, like logging or retry mechanisms
    }
}

Common Pitfalls & What to Check Next:

• Incorrect Chat ID: Double-check that you are using the correct Chat.Id in both SendTextMessageAsync calls. Using a different Chat.Id in the reply will prevent the reply from appearing as a threaded reply.
• Telegram API Limits: Be mindful of Telegram’s API rate limits. If sending many messages rapidly, implement delays or throttling to avoid issues.
• Library Version: Ensure you’re using a version of the Telegram Bot API library that supports replyToMessageId. Check the library’s documentation for usage details and any specific requirements.

Still running into issues? Share your (sanitized) config files, the exact command you ran, and any other relevant details. The community is here to help!