Python Telegram Bot - InlineKeyboard update fails with callback_query issue

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1

I’m building a navigation menu for my Telegram bot using python-telegram-bot library. The bot should let users click through different menu options, but I’m having trouble updating the inline keyboard.

Here’s what I have so far:

STATE_MAIN, STATE_INFO = range(2)

def welcome_command(bot, update):
    buttons = [
        [InlineKeyboardButton('Info', callback_data='show_info')]
    ]
    
    greeting = 'Hello there!'
    update.message.reply_text(greeting, reply_markup=InlineKeyboardMarkup(buttons))

def show_info_handler(bot, update):
    buttons = [
        [InlineKeyboardButton('Back', callback_data='go_back')]
    ]
    
    update.callback_query.edit_message_reply_markup('Information page...', reply_markup=InlineKeyboardMarkup(buttons))

def go_back_handler(bot, update):
    update.message.reply_text('Goodbye!', reply_markup=ReplyKeyboardRemove())
    return ConversationHandler.END

updater = Updater(token=MY_BOT_TOKEN)
dispatcher = updater.dispatcher

dispatcher.add_handler(CommandHandler('welcome', welcome_command))
dispatcher.add_handler(CallbackQueryHandler(show_info_handler, pattern='show_info'))
dispatcher.add_handler(CallbackQueryHandler(go_back_handler, pattern='go_back'))

updater.start_polling()
updater.idle()

The first button click works fine and triggers the callback function. However, I noticed that update.callback_query.inline_message_id returns None instead of having a value. From what I read in the docs, this should contain the message ID needed for updating inline keyboards. Why is this field empty and how can I fix my menu navigation?

2

inline_message_id is None since you’re dealing with chat messages, not inline queries. Try using edit_message_text() instead of edit_message_reply_markup(). Also, make sure to call answer_callback_query() to avoid loading spinners on the client.

3

The inline_message_id confusion makes sense, but it’s working correctly. This field only gets set for inline queries sent via @botname in any chat - not regular callback queries from your bot’s messages. Since you’re using standard chat messages, it’ll always be None.

I hit the same issue building my first Telegram bot menu. Your real problem is mixing up callback query methods. Your show_info_handler has the right idea but wrong syntax - you’re passing text as the first parameter to edit_message_reply_markup() when it only handles keyboard updates. Use update.callback_query.edit_message_text() instead to change both text and buttons at once. Don’t forget update.callback_query.answer() at the end of each callback handler or those loading indicators will get stuck.

4

You’re using the wrong method in your callback handlers. edit_message_reply_markup() only updates the keyboard - it won’t change your text content. For navigation menus, use edit_message_text() instead since it updates both the message and keyboard at once. Also, your go_back_handler is trying to access update.message but that doesn’t exist in callback queries - you need update.callback_query.message. The inline_message_id being None is normal for regular chat messages. Here’s what you want: update.callback_query.edit_message_text(text='Information page...', reply_markup=InlineKeyboardMarkup(buttons)) and don’t forget update.callback_query.answer() to clear the loading spinner.