--- title: messages.startBot description: Start a bot --- ## Method: messages.startBot [Back to methods index](index.md) Start a bot ### Parameters: | Name | Type | Required | Description | |----------|---------------|----------|-------------| |bot|[Username, chat ID, Update, Message or InputUser](../types/InputUser.md) | Optional|The bot's ID or username| |peer|[Username, chat ID, Update, Message or InputPeer](../types/InputPeer.md) | Optional|Where to start the bot (@me or group ID/username)| |start\_param|[CLICK ME string](../types/string.md) | Yes|The bot's start parameter| ### Return type: [Updates](../types/Updates.md) ### Can bots use this method: **NO** ### Errors this method can return: | Error | Description | |----------|---------------| |BOT_INVALID|This is not a valid bot| |PEER_ID_INVALID|The provided peer id is invalid| |START_PARAM_EMPTY|The start parameter is empty| |START_PARAM_INVALID|Start parameter invalid| ### MadelineProto Example: ``` if (!file_exists('madeline.php')) { copy('https://phar.madelineproto.xyz/madeline.php', 'madeline.php'); } include 'madeline.php'; // !!! This API id/API hash combination will not work !!! // !!! You must get your own @ my.telegram.org !!! $api_id = 0; $api_hash = ''; $MadelineProto = new \danog\MadelineProto\API('session.madeline', ['app_info' => ['api_id' => $api_id, 'api_hash' => $api_hash]]); $MadelineProto->start(); $Updates = $MadelineProto->messages->startBot(['bot' => InputUser, 'peer' => InputPeer, 'start_param' => 'string', ]); ``` ### [PWRTelegram HTTP API](https://pwrtelegram.xyz) example (NOT FOR MadelineProto): ### As a user: POST/GET to `https://api.pwrtelegram.xyz/userTOKEN/messages.startBot` Parameters: bot - Json encoded InputUser peer - Json encoded InputPeer start_param - Json encoded string Or, if you're into Lua: ``` Updates = messages.startBot({bot=InputUser, peer=InputPeer, start_param='string', }) ```