Commons:Telegram Commons Uploader

About

Telegram Commons Uploader (@CommonsUploaderBot) is a Telegram bot that lets you upload images directly from Telegram to Wikimedia Commons. It authenticates you via your Wikimedia account using OAuth and uploads files on your behalf.

Uploaded files are licensed under CC-BY-4.0 and attributed to your Wikimedia username.

Getting started

1. Connect your Wikimedia account

Send the bot the command /login. The bot will send you a button to authorize it on Wikimedia. Click the button, log in with your Wikimedia account if needed, and grant the requested permissions. You will be redirected back and the bot will confirm that you are logged in.

You only need to do this once. Your authorization remains valid until you explicitly log out or revoke it on Wikimedia.

2. Upload an image

Send an image to the bot as a file to preserve the original quality:

  1. Tap the 📎 attachment button in Telegram.
  2. Choose File (not "Photo") and select your image.
  3. Send it to the bot.

The bot will ask you for a filename and description for the file on Commons (without extension, e.g. Sunset over Amsterdam). The same text is used as both the filename and the description.

After you provide it, the bot uploads the file and sends you a link to the file page on Commons.

3. Upload multiple images at once

You can send multiple images as a media group (album) in a single message. All images in the group will share the same filename base (numbered automatically, e.g. Sunset over Amsterdam 1.jpg, Sunset over Amsterdam 2.jpg) and the same description.

Commands

CommandDescription
/startWelcome message and introduction
/loginConnect your Wikimedia account via OAuth
/logoutDisconnect your Wikimedia account and delete stored tokens
/statusCheck whether you are currently logged in
/cancelCancel the current upload operation
/helpShow available commands

Structured data

The bot automatically sets the following structured data statements on every uploaded file:

  • Source of file (P7482): original creation by uploader
  • Copyright license (P275): CC BY 4.0
  • Creator (P170): set if your Commons user page has a linked Wikidata item
  • Coordinates of point of view (P1259): set if the image contains GPS coordinates in its EXIF data
  • Camera used (P4082): set if the camera make and model in the EXIF data can be matched to a Wikidata item

Notes and limitations

  • Images must be sent as files, not as compressed photos. Compressed photos lose quality and cannot be uploaded.
  • The maximum file size is 20 MB, imposed by the Telegram Bot API.
  • Only image formats supported by Commons are accepted: JPEG, PNG, GIF, WebP, TIFF.
  • The bot only works in private chats. It does not respond in group chats or channels.
  • All uploads are licensed under CC BY 4.0. Other licenses are not supported in the current version.
  • The bot operates only in English. Multilingual support is planned for a future version.

Privacy

The bot stores your Telegram user ID, Wikimedia username, and OAuth access tokens in a database on Wikimedia Toolforge. Tokens are encrypted at rest. No message content is stored. You can delete all stored data by using /logout.

Source code

The source code is available at GitLab. The tool is maintained by Multichill and Siebrand.

Category:Uploaded with Telegram Commons Uploader#%20 Category:Wikimedia Toolforge tools
Category:Uploaded with Telegram Commons Uploader Category:Wikimedia Toolforge tools