Python: Removing Recent Messages with a Telegram Bot

Other Questions Telegram bot
1

I’m trying to create a Telegram bot that can remove the most recent message in a group chat. I’ve started with the telebot library, but I’m not sure how to proceed. Here’s what I’ve got so far:

from telebot import TeleBot
import config

chatbot = TeleBot(config.api_key)

RECENT_UPDATE = chatbot.get_updates()[-1].update_id if chatbot.get_updates() else None

# What should I do next to delete the latest message?

Can someone help me figure out the next steps? I’m particularly interested in how to identify the newest message and then remove it from the group. Also, are there any potential issues I should be aware of when deleting messages in a group chat? Thanks in advance for any guidance!

2

I’ve implemented a similar feature in my Telegram bot. Here’s what you need to do:

After getting the latest update, extract the chat_id and message_id. You can do this like so:

chat_id = RECENT_UPDATE.message.chat.id
message_id = RECENT_UPDATE.message.message_id

Then use the delete_message method as mentioned earlier:

chatbot.delete_message(chat_id, message_id)

One thing to keep in mind: Telegram has rate limits for bots. If you’re deleting messages frequently, you might hit these limits. Also, your bot needs to be an admin in the group with delete permissions.

Consider adding error handling too. Sometimes messages can’t be deleted (e.g., if they’re too old), so wrap your delete call in a try-except block to handle potential errors gracefully.

3

To delete the most recent message, you’ll need to get the chat_id and message_id from the latest update. Here’s how you can modify your code:

RECENT_UPDATE = chatbot.get_updates()[-1]
chat_id = RECENT_UPDATE.message.chat.id
message_id = RECENT_UPDATE.message.message_id

chatbot.delete_message(chat_id, message_id)

Be aware that this approach has limitations. It only works for the very last message, and if multiple messages are sent quickly, you might miss some. For a more robust solution, consider implementing a message queue or using webhooks.

Also, ensure your bot has the necessary permissions in the group. Without admin rights and delete permissions, the operation will fail.

4

hey man, i’ve done smth similar before. u need to use the delete_message method. first get the chat_id and message_id of the latest msg. then do:

chatbot.delete_message(chat_id, message_id)

make sure ur bot has delete permissions in the group tho. good luck!