How to Set Up Telegram Channel Summaries in Essence and Test Your First Summary
Connect one source using a username or supported link, set the language, and verify the entire workflow on a new message before expanding your list.
Treat the first launch of Essence not as an import of subscriptions, but as an end-to-end verification: the source is registered, a new post appears, a summary is created in the desired language, and it arrives where you expect it. Seeing a channel in the list confirms only the first step. Therefore, start by configuring one channel rather than your entire work set.
1. Prepare an Accurate Channel Identifier
Choose a channel that you would check anyway before your weekly review. To connect it, you need either its username or a supported Telegram link. Do not confuse the username with the arbitrary display name shown in the channel header.
For the initial test, select a source to which Essence has the necessary access. In the case of a private channel, a link alone is insufficient if access has not been granted.
2. Add the Source and Immediately Check the List
Open the source addition interface in Essence and enter one of the prepared identifiers. Then, go to the list of connected sources and locate the channel there.
If it is not in the list, do not proceed to language and notification settings: these options will not fix the connection. First, verify the username, link, and source access. If the channel appears, Essence has registered it for tracking new messages—but the full scenario has not yet been verified.
3. Set the Summary Language
In the language settings, specify the language in which you will view updates and decide whether to open the original post. The channel’s native language does not need to match your selection: Essence summarizes available messages in the user’s preferred language.
4. Temporarily Enable Notifications
Enable Essence notifications for the duration of the initial check. This ensures a clear expected outcome: after a new message from the connected channel, a brief update should arrive in Telegram.
Do not use an old publication as a test. Essence tracks new messages after the source is connected and does not analyze channel history on demand.
5. Wait for a New Message and Verify the Workflow
When a new post appears in the channel, ensure that the source remains in the list, the summary is generated in the selected language, and the update is delivered to Telegram. If your primary workspace is the web feed, open the dashboard and verify that the summary is available there alongside updates from other connected sources.
If the channel is in the list but no message arrives in Telegram, first check two conditions: the publication was posted after the connection was established, and notifications are still enabled.
6. Choose a Permanent Mode and Check Your Limit
After testing, do not leave notifications enabled out of habit. For a weekly review, you can disable them and view summaries in the web feed during your designated time. Keep Telegram delivery enabled only if updates from this source may require a response before the next review.
Before adding other channels, check your current plan and the number of sources in the list. The Trial lasts for 5 days from the first launch and allows connecting up to 5 sources. The Basic limit is 20 sources, and Pro is 100; monthly and annual options for these plans have the same limits. If you have reached your limit, remove an unnecessary source or change your plan before connecting the next one.