forwardMessage

Returns: MessageOfficial docs ↗

Use this method to forward messages of any kind. Service messages and messages with protected content can't be forwarded. On success, the sent Message is returned.

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 forwarded; required if the message is forwarded 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)

video_start_timestampIntegerOptional

New start timestamp for the forwarded video in the message

disable_notificationBooleanOptional

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

protect_contentBooleanOptional

Protects the contents of the forwarded message from forwarding and saving

message_effect_idStringOptional

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

suggested_post_parametersSuggestedPostParametersOptional

A JSON-serialized object containing the parameters of the suggested post to send; for direct messages chats only

message_idIntegerRequired

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

Returns

On success, the Message object is returned.

GramIO Usage

// Forward every user message to an admin/moderation chat
const ADMIN_CHAT_ID = -1001234567890;

bot.on("message", async (ctx) => {
  await bot.api.forwardMessage({
    chat_id: ADMIN_CHAT_ID,
    from_chat_id: ctx.chatId,
    message_id: ctx.id,
  });
});

// Forward a specific message from a channel to another chat
await bot.api.forwardMessage({
  chat_id: -1009876543210,   // destination chat
  from_chat_id: "@sourcechannel",
  message_id: 501,
});

// Forward silently with protected content (prevents re-forwarding)
await bot.api.forwardMessage({
  chat_id: -1001234567890,
  from_chat_id: -1009876543210,
  message_id: 42,
  disable_notification: true,
  protect_content: true,
});

// Forward into a specific forum topic thread
await bot.api.forwardMessage({
  chat_id: -1001234567890,   // forum supergroup
  message_thread_id: 5,      // topic ID
  from_chat_id: "@mychannel",
  message_id: 99,
});

Errors

Code	Error	Cause
400	`Bad Request: chat not found`	Target `chat_id` is invalid or the bot is not a member — verify the bot was added to the destination chat
400	`Bad Request: message to forward not found`	`message_id` doesn't exist in `from_chat_id` — verify both IDs before forwarding
400	`Bad Request: CHAT_FORWARD_RESTRICT`	The source chat has disabled message forwarding — the content cannot be forwarded from it
400	`Bad Request: message can't be forwarded`	Message is a service message (join, leave, pin, etc.) — service messages cannot be forwarded
403	`Forbidden: bot was blocked by the user`	User blocked the bot — catch and mark user as inactive
403	`Forbidden: bot is not a member of the channel chat`	Bot is not in the target channel — add it first
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.

Tips & Gotchas

Forwarded messages show "Forwarded from" attribution. To forward without showing the original source, use copyMessage instead — it copies the content without attribution.
Service messages can't be forwarded. Join/leave events, pinned message notifications, and similar service messages always fail — use isServiceMessage() to filter them out.
Messages with protect_content can't be forwarded. If the original message was sent with protect_content: true, it's permanently blocked from forwarding.
protect_content on the forwarded copy is independent. Setting protect_content: true in your forwardMessage call prevents recipients from re-forwarding the copy you send.
message_effect_id only works for private chats. Reaction effects on forwarded messages are restricted to private conversations — they're silently ignored in groups and channels.
video_start_timestamp lets you deep-link into video messages. Specify a second offset to start playback partway through the video when forwarding.
Use message_thread_id for forum supergroups. Without it, the message goes to the general/unthreaded area; with it, it lands in the specified topic.

forwardMessage ​

Parameters ​

Returns ​

GramIO Usage ​

Errors ​

Tips & Gotchas ​

See Also ​