copyMessage

Returns: MessageId✏️ Formattable text ⌨️ Keyboards Official docs ↗

Use this method to copy messages of any kind. Service messages, paid media messages, giveaway messages, giveaway winners messages, and invoice messages can't be copied. A quiz poll can be copied only if the value of the field correct_option_id is known to the bot. The method is analogous to the method forwardMessage, but the copied message doesn't have a link to the original message. Returns the MessageId of the sent message on success.

Parameters

chat_idIntegerStringRequired

Unique identifier for the target chat or username of the target channel (in the format @channelusername)

message_thread_idIntegerOptional

Unique identifier for the target message thread (topic) of a forum; for forum supergroups and private chats of bots with forum topic mode enabled only

direct_messages_topic_idIntegerOptional

Identifier of the direct messages topic to which the message will be sent; required if the message is sent to a direct messages chat

from_chat_idIntegerStringRequired

Unique identifier for the chat where the original message was sent (or channel username in the format @channelusername)

message_idIntegerRequired

Message identifier in the chat specified in from\chat\id

video_start_timestampIntegerOptional

New start timestamp for the copied video in the message

captionStringOptional✏️ FormattableminLen 0maxLen 1024

New caption for media, 0-1024 characters after entities parsing. If not specified, the original caption is kept

parse_modeStringOptional

Mode for parsing entities in the new caption. See formatting options for more details.

caption_entitiesMessageEntity[]Optional

A JSON-serialized list of special entities that appear in the new caption, which can be specified instead of parse\_mode

show_caption_above_mediaBooleanOptional

Pass True, if the caption must be shown above the message media. Ignored if a new caption isn't specified.

disable_notificationBooleanOptional

Sends the message silently. Users will receive a notification with no sound.

protect_contentBooleanOptional

Protects the contents of the sent message from forwarding and saving

allow_paid_broadcastBooleanOptional

Pass True to allow up to 1000 messages per second, ignoring broadcasting limits for a fee of 0.1 Telegram Stars per message. The relevant Stars will be withdrawn from the bot's balance

message_effect_idStringOptional

Unique identifier of the message effect to be added to the message; only available when copying to private chats

suggested_post_parametersSuggestedPostParametersOptional

A JSON-serialized object containing the parameters of the suggested post to send; for direct messages chats only. If the message is sent as a reply to another suggested post, then that suggested post is automatically declined.

reply_parametersReplyParametersOptional

Description of the message to reply to

reply_markupInlineKeyboardMarkup ReplyKeyboardMarkup ReplyKeyboardRemove ForceReplyOptional⌨️ Keyboards

Additional interface options. A JSON-serialized object for an inline keyboard, custom reply keyboard, instructions to remove a reply keyboard or to force a reply from the user

Returns

On success, the MessageId object is returned.

GramIO Usage

// Copy a message from one chat to another (no forwarding attribution)
const result = await bot.api.copyMessage({
  chat_id: -1001234567890,
  from_chat_id: "@sourcechannel",
  message_id: 42,
});

console.log("Copied message ID:", result.message_id);

// Copy a message from context (e.g., relay a user message to an admin group)
bot.on("message", async (ctx) => {
  await bot.api.copyMessage({
    chat_id: -1009876543210, // admin group
    from_chat_id: ctx.chatId,
    message_id: ctx.id,
  });
});

// Copy a media message and replace its caption using GramIO format helpers
await bot.api.copyMessage({
  chat_id: -1001234567890,
  from_chat_id: "@sourcechannel",
  message_id: 100,
  caption: format`${bold("New Title")} — ${italic("Updated caption")}`,
});

// Copy a message and attach an inline keyboard
await bot.api.copyMessage({
  chat_id: -1001234567890,
  from_chat_id: "@sourcechannel",
  message_id: 55,
  reply_markup: new InlineKeyboard().text("Open original", "open_55"),
});

// Silent copy (no notification sound) with content protection
await bot.api.copyMessage({
  chat_id: -1001234567890,
  from_chat_id: -1009876543210,
  message_id: 77,
  disable_notification: true,
  protect_content: true,
});

Errors

Code	Error	Cause
400	`Bad Request: chat not found`	`chat_id` or `from_chat_id` is invalid or the bot has no access
400	`Bad Request: message not found`	`message_id` does not exist in `from_chat_id`
400	`Bad Request: can't copy this type of message`	Attempted to copy a service message, invoice, paid media, giveaway, or giveaway winners message
400	`Bad Request: message is protected`	The source message has `protect_content` enabled and cannot be copied
400	`Bad Request: wrong quiz correct_option_id`	Quiz poll copied without correct `correct_option_id` being known to the bot
400	`Bad Request: caption too long`	`caption` exceeds 1024 characters
403	`Forbidden: bot is not a member of the channel chat`	Bot is not in the target channel
429	`Too Many Requests: retry after N`	Rate limit hit — check `retry_after`, use auto-retry plugin

TIP

Use GramIO's auto-retry plugin to handle 429 errors automatically when broadcasting messages to many users.

Tips & Gotchas

No forwarding attribution. Unlike forwardMessage, the copied message shows no "Forwarded from" header. Use this when you want to relay content without revealing the source.
Caption override is optional. If you omit caption, the original caption is preserved. Pass an empty string "" to remove the caption entirely.
parse_mode and caption_entities are mutually exclusive. GramIO's format helper always produces caption_entities, so never pass parse_mode alongside it.
Service messages cannot be copied. This includes join/leave notifications, pinned message notices, invoice messages, and others. Copy only regular text/media messages.
Quiz polls need correct_option_id. A bot can only copy a quiz poll if it knows the correct option. If the bot never saw the answer, it cannot copy a quiz.
protect_content on source blocks copying. If the original message has content protection, copyMessage will fail with a 400 error.
For bulk copying, use copyMessages. It supports 1–100 message IDs in a single call and preserves media album grouping.

copyMessage ​

Parameters ​

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GramIO Usage ​

Errors ​

Tips & Gotchas ​

See Also ​