When you import chat history into a chat from other apps, imported messages will be sorted by original sending date and merged with existing messages in:
Newly created 1-on-1 and group chats.
Any existing 1-on-1 chats that have fewer than 1000 messages (on Telegram).
Smaller existing group chats with basic settings that have fewer than 1000 messages (on Telegram).
Unfortunately, it is not possible to merge existing and imported message histores in chats which have more than 1000 messages and in large groups (or groups with altered settings: e.g., with "message history" set to visible for new members, etc.)
In the cases when it's not possible to merge histories, imported messages are placed into the moment when they were imported. All messages include their original timestamps and follow one another in the correct order.
Workaround
To make it easier to navigate chats where merging is not possible, you can pin the last message in the chat before you import messages. This way you can quickly jump past the imported messages if you need something above them.
It's hugely frustrating to not preserve the original timestamps. The point of this feature is for a Telegram customer to bring migrate fully to the Telegram platform. For this the experience needs to be top notch. The chat history is someone's shared memories. Importing them out of order makes it impossible to recall when something was said - at what stage of their life they said something or had that experience. I would strongly suggest improving this import feature. If WhatsApp can export timestamps correctly, Telegram should be able to import them correctly.
Pieter Jan De Smedt
This is indeed a problem. I switched to Telegram a month ago and with the import I have to scroll waaaaaaaaay back to be able pick up the conversation again. The imported messages should be inserted in the chat in the order of their original timestamp, not the order of the import timestamp.
even if it's intended: at least notify users about the approach. As it's not marketed, it seems like you can simply import your history and combine both whatsapp & telegram chats in 1 (in order to delete your whatsapp) at least provide users more information how the import works or what the result looks like
This behavior is mentioned in the blog. “Messages will be imported into the current day but will also include their original timestamps. All members of the chat on Telegram will see the messages.” from https://telegram.org/blog/move-history
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As it's not marketed, it seems like you can simply import your history and combine both whatsapp & telegram chats in 1 (in order to delete your whatsapp)
at least provide users more information how the import works or what the result looks like
“Messages will be imported into the current day but will also include their original timestamps. All members of the chat on Telegram will see the messages.” from https://telegram.org/blog/move-history