Telegram’s core short-link domain, t.me, was set to a serverHold (suspended resolution) status on July 13 by the .me domain registry, causing the domain to be completely removed from the global DNS and making browser links worldwide fail. This outage only affected the web version short links. Telegram’s mobile and desktop apps continued to function normally, with no interruption to chats, calls, or message exchanges.
serverHold is set at the registry level; the Telegram apps themselves are unaffected
According to reports, serverHold (domain suspension) is applied at the domain name registration management authority level (not at the domain registrar level). Per ICANN documentation, this status will completely prevent the domain from being resolved regardless of how the underlying infrastructure for the service is configured. When browsers attempt to resolve t.me, DNS servers return NXDOMAIN, treating the address as fundamentally nonexistent.
Telegram’s app itself is operating normally. This outage primarily impacts the web-based short links Telegram has used for years to share channel invites, group links, and user profiles.
t.me was registered with GoDaddy until 2035, managed by doMEn
Based on WHOIS data, the t.me domain was registered through GoDaddy and uses Google’s domain name servers, with an expiration date of May 2035; the domain itself has not yet expired.
The .me domain is Montenegro’s country-code top-level domain, managed by doMEn, a joint venture headquartered in Montenegro. Partners include Identity Digital (a U.S. company) and GoDaddy; Google treats .me as a generic domain suffix rather than a regional one.
The telegram.me within the same .me domain space is not affected by this serverHold status, and Telegram’s overall infrastructure has not been comprehensively targeted.
Cause of the suspension is unclear, as Durov faces French investigation for the fourth time
According to reports, the reason for this domain suspension is still unclear. Possible causes for serverHold include legal disputes, regulatory compliance directives, internal domain policy enforcement, or a technical error. The timing has drawn significant attention: last week, French investigators conducted their fourth interrogation of Durov regarding his arrest at Le Bourget Airport in August 2024. His lawyer said there was still no evidence supporting the original allegations. France lifted his travel ban in November last year, but the investigation remains ongoing.
As of the time of reporting, neither doMEn nor Identity Digital has issued any statement, and Telegram has also stayed silent except for Durov’s X post.
Frequently Asked Questions
After the t.me domain is set to serverHold, can Telegram users no longer use the app?
According to reports, Telegram’s mobile and desktop clients continued operating normally throughout this outage period, with no interruption to chats, calls, or message exchanges. What is affected is only the web version t.me short links, in the format t.me/username. Telegram has now fully restored service.
Why is the status of the .me domain so important?
According to reports, besides Telegram, the .me domain is also used for short-link services by PayPal, WordPress, and Meta’s WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram. If registry-level actions can disable the URL infrastructure of large platforms without the public noticing, companies relying on country-code domains to provide critical services face new risks.
Is this t.me domain suspension related to legal or political factors?
According to reports, it is currently unclear whether the domain suspension is related to legal proceedings. Speculation includes a range of possibilities such as government involvement, regulatory compliance directives, or administrative mistakes. None of the three parties—Telegram, doMEn, and Identity Digital—has provided a public explanation.
