diff --git a/frontend/server/api/omni/telegram/avatar.get.ts b/frontend/server/api/omni/telegram/avatar.get.ts
index 85b3676..0cc59fb 100644
--- a/frontend/server/api/omni/telegram/avatar.get.ts
+++ b/frontend/server/api/omni/telegram/avatar.get.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,29 @@ type TelegramFileMeta = {
   file_path?: string;
 };
 
+type TelegramChatPhoto = {
+  small_file_id?: string;
+  big_file_id?: string;
+};
+
+type TelegramGetChatResponse = {
+  ok?: boolean;
+  result?: {
+    photo?: TelegramChatPhoto;
+  };
+};
+
+type TelegramProfilePhotoSize = {
+  file_id?: string;
+};
+
+type TelegramGetUserProfilePhotosResponse = {
+  ok?: boolean;
+  result?: {
+    photos?: TelegramProfilePhotoSize[][];
+  };
+};
+
 function parseTelegramFileId(avatarUrl: string | null | undefined) {
   const raw = String(avatarUrl ?? "").trim();
   if (!raw.startsWith(TELEGRAM_FILE_MARKER)) return null;
@@ -25,6 +48,22 @@ function sanitizeCacheKey(input: string) {
   return input.replace(/[^a-zA-Z0-9._-]/g, "_");
 }
 
+async function fetchTelegramAvatarFileIdByExternalId(externalId: string) {
+  const getChatRes = await telegramBotApi<TelegramGetChatResponse["result"]>("getChat", {
+    chat_id: externalId,
+  });
+  const fromChat = String(getChatRes?.photo?.small_file_id ?? getChatRes?.photo?.big_file_id ?? "").trim();
+  if (fromChat) return fromChat;
+
+  const getUserPhotosRes = await telegramBotApi<TelegramGetUserProfilePhotosResponse["result"]>("getUserProfilePhotos", {
+    user_id: externalId,
+    limit: 1,
+  });
+  const firstPhotoSizes = Array.isArray(getUserPhotosRes?.photos?.[0]) ? getUserPhotosRes.photos[0] : [];
+  const candidate = String(firstPhotoSizes.at(-1)?.file_id ?? firstPhotoSizes[0]?.file_id ?? "").trim();
+  return candidate || null;
+}
+
 export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
   const auth = await getAuthContext(event);
   const query = getQuery(event);
@@ -48,9 +87,36 @@ export default defineEventHandler(async (event) => {
     throw createError({ statusCode: 404, statusMessage: "contact not found" });
   }
 
-  const fileId = parseTelegramFileId(contact.avatarUrl);
+  let fileId = parseTelegramFileId(contact.avatarUrl);
   if (!fileId) {
-    throw createError({ statusCode: 404, statusMessage: "telegram avatar is missing" });
+    const identity = await prisma.omniContactIdentity.findFirst({
+      where: {
+        teamId: auth.teamId,
+        contactId,
+        channel: "TELEGRAM",
+      },
+      select: {
+        externalId: true,
+      },
+      orderBy: {
+        updatedAt: "desc",
+      },
+    });
+
+    if (!identity?.externalId) {
+      throw createError({ statusCode: 404, statusMessage: "telegram identity is missing" });
+    }
+
+    const fetchedFileId = await fetchTelegramAvatarFileIdByExternalId(identity.externalId);
+    if (!fetchedFileId) {
+      throw createError({ statusCode: 404, statusMessage: "telegram avatar is missing" });
+    }
+
+    fileId = fetchedFileId;
+    await prisma.contact.update({
+      where: { id: contactId },
+      data: { avatarUrl: `${TELEGRAM_FILE_MARKER}${fileId}` },
+    });
   }
 
   const cacheKey = sanitizeCacheKey(fileId);
diff --git a/frontend/server/graphql/schema.ts b/frontend/server/graphql/schema.ts
index 8937bad..807308f 100644
--- a/frontend/server/graphql/schema.ts
+++ b/frontend/server/graphql/schema.ts
@@ -123,9 +123,11 @@ function resolveContactMessageAudioUrl(message: {
 function resolveContactAvatarUrl(contact: {
   id: string;
   avatarUrl: string | null;
-}) {
+}, hasTelegramChannel: boolean) {
   const raw = String(contact.avatarUrl ?? "").trim();
-  if (!raw) return "";
+  if (!raw) {
+    return hasTelegramChannel ? `/api/omni/telegram/avatar?contactId=${encodeURIComponent(contact.id)}` : "";
+  }
   if (raw.startsWith(TELEGRAM_AUDIO_FILE_MARKER)) {
     return `/api/omni/telegram/avatar?contactId=${encodeURIComponent(contact.id)}`;
   }
@@ -493,11 +495,13 @@ async function getContacts(auth: AuthContext | null) {
       if (total === 0) return true;
       return (visibleInboxesByContactId.get(c.id) ?? 0) > 0;
     })
-    .map((c) => ({
+    .map((c) => {
+      const channels = Array.from(channelsByContactId.get(c.id) ?? []);
+      return {
       id: c.id,
       name: c.name,
-      avatar: resolveContactAvatarUrl(c),
-      channels: Array.from(channelsByContactId.get(c.id) ?? []),
+      avatar: resolveContactAvatarUrl(c, channels.includes("Telegram")),
+      channels,
       lastContactAt: c.messages[0]?.occurredAt?.toISOString?.() ?? c.updatedAt.toISOString(),
       lastMessageText: c.messages[0]?.content ?? "",
       lastMessageChannel: c.messages[0]?.channel ? mapChannel(c.messages[0].channel) : "",
@@ -505,7 +509,8 @@ async function getContacts(auth: AuthContext | null) {
         ? (!readAtByContactId.has(c.id) || c.messages[0].occurredAt > readAtByContactId.get(c.id)!)
         : false,
       description: c.note?.content ?? "",
-    }));
+    };
+    });
 }
 
 async function getCommunications(auth: AuthContext | null) {