diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2b4067bd3..218e967ee 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ Minimal `~/.clawdis/clawdis.json`:
 ### Telegram
 
 - Set `TELEGRAM_BOT_TOKEN` or `telegram.botToken` (env wins).
-- Optional: set `telegram.requireMention`, `telegram.allowFrom`, or `telegram.webhookUrl` as needed.
+- Optional: set `telegram.groups` (with `telegram.groups."*".requireMention`), `telegram.allowFrom`, or `telegram.webhookUrl` as needed.
 
 ```json5
 {
diff --git a/src/auto-reply/reply.ts b/src/auto-reply/reply.ts
index 91d4a0ac6..10cd9eda7 100644
--- a/src/auto-reply/reply.ts
+++ b/src/auto-reply/reply.ts
@@ -995,8 +995,8 @@ export async function getReplyFromConfig(
     const webAuthAgeMs = getWebAuthAgeMs();
     const heartbeatSeconds = resolveHeartbeatSeconds(cfg, undefined);
     const groupActivation = isGroup
-      ? normalizeGroupActivation(sessionEntry?.groupActivation) ??
-        defaultGroupActivation()
+      ? (normalizeGroupActivation(sessionEntry?.groupActivation) ??
+        defaultGroupActivation())
       : undefined;
     const statusText = buildStatusMessage({
       agent: {
diff --git a/src/config/config.ts b/src/config/config.ts
index 1a04a2348..f5508d497 100644
--- a/src/config/config.ts
+++ b/src/config/config.ts
@@ -1235,7 +1235,7 @@ const LEGACY_CONFIG_RULES: LegacyConfigRule[] = [
   {
     path: ["telegram", "requireMention"],
     message:
-      "telegram.requireMention was removed; use telegram.groups.\"*\".requireMention instead (run `clawdis doctor` to migrate).",
+      'telegram.requireMention was removed; use telegram.groups."*".requireMention instead (run `clawdis doctor` to migrate).',
   },
 ];
 
@@ -1280,8 +1280,10 @@ const LEGACY_CONFIG_MIGRATIONS: LegacyConfigMigration[] = [
       const groupChat =
         (routing as Record<string, unknown>).groupChat &&
         typeof (routing as Record<string, unknown>).groupChat === "object"
-          ? ((routing as Record<string, unknown>)
-              .groupChat as Record<string, unknown>)
+          ? ((routing as Record<string, unknown>).groupChat as Record<
+              string,
+              unknown
+            >)
           : null;
       if (!groupChat) return;
       const requireMention = groupChat.requireMention;
@@ -1331,18 +1333,22 @@ const LEGACY_CONFIG_MIGRATIONS: LegacyConfigMigration[] = [
   },
   {
     id: "telegram.requireMention->telegram.groups.*.requireMention",
-    describe: "Move telegram.requireMention to telegram.groups.*.requireMention",
+    describe:
+      "Move telegram.requireMention to telegram.groups.*.requireMention",
     apply: (raw, changes) => {
       const telegram = raw.telegram;
       if (!telegram || typeof telegram !== "object") return;
-      const requireMention = (telegram as Record<string, unknown>).requireMention;
+      const requireMention = (telegram as Record<string, unknown>)
+        .requireMention;
       if (requireMention === undefined) return;
 
       const groups =
         (telegram as Record<string, unknown>).groups &&
         typeof (telegram as Record<string, unknown>).groups === "object"
-          ? ((telegram as Record<string, unknown>)
-              .groups as Record<string, unknown>)
+          ? ((telegram as Record<string, unknown>).groups as Record<
+              string,
+              unknown
+            >)
           : {};
       const defaultKey = "*";
       const entry =
diff --git a/src/telegram/bot.test.ts b/src/telegram/bot.test.ts
index 19df8842d..a6cade3e4 100644
--- a/src/telegram/bot.test.ts
+++ b/src/telegram/bot.test.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@ import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from "vitest";
 import * as replyModule from "../auto-reply/reply.js";
 import { createTelegramBot } from "./bot.js";
 
-const loadConfig = vi.fn(() => ({}));
+const { loadConfig } = vi.hoisted(() => ({
+  loadConfig: vi.fn(() => ({})),
+}));
 vi.mock("../config/config.js", () => ({
   loadConfig,
 }));
diff --git a/ui/src/ui/controllers/config.ts b/ui/src/ui/controllers/config.ts
index 3c2b78acb..4b4023650 100644
--- a/ui/src/ui/controllers/config.ts
+++ b/ui/src/ui/controllers/config.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,14 @@ export function applyConfigSnapshot(state: ConfigState, snapshot: ConfigSnapshot
           .filter((v) => v.length > 0)
           .join(", ")
       : "";
+  const telegramGroups =
+    telegram.groups && typeof telegram.groups === "object"
+      ? (telegram.groups as Record<string, unknown>)
+      : {};
+  const telegramDefaultGroup =
+    telegramGroups["*"] && typeof telegramGroups["*"] === "object"
+      ? (telegramGroups["*"] as Record<string, unknown>)
+      : {};
   const allowFrom = Array.isArray(telegram.allowFrom)
     ? toList(telegram.allowFrom)
     : typeof telegram.allowFrom === "string"
@@ -67,7 +75,9 @@ export function applyConfigSnapshot(state: ConfigState, snapshot: ConfigSnapshot
   state.telegramForm = {
     token: typeof telegram.botToken === "string" ? telegram.botToken : "",
     requireMention:
-      typeof telegram.requireMention === "boolean" ? telegram.requireMention : true,
+      typeof telegramDefaultGroup.requireMention === "boolean"
+        ? telegramDefaultGroup.requireMention
+        : true,
     allowFrom,
     proxy: typeof telegram.proxy === "string" ? telegram.proxy : "",
     webhookUrl: typeof telegram.webhookUrl === "string" ? telegram.webhookUrl : "",
diff --git a/ui/src/ui/controllers/connections.ts b/ui/src/ui/controllers/connections.ts
index a1ab69d81..3791dbdac 100644
--- a/ui/src/ui/controllers/connections.ts
+++ b/ui/src/ui/controllers/connections.ts
@@ -147,7 +147,24 @@ export async function saveTelegramConfig(state: ConnectionsState) {
       if (token) telegram.botToken = token;
       else delete telegram.botToken;
     }
-    telegram.requireMention = state.telegramForm.requireMention;
+    const groups =
+      telegram.groups && typeof telegram.groups === "object"
+        ? ({ ...(telegram.groups as Record<string, unknown>) } as Record<
+            string,
+            unknown
+          >)
+        : {};
+    const defaultGroup =
+      groups["*"] && typeof groups["*"] === "object"
+        ? ({ ...(groups["*"] as Record<string, unknown>) } as Record<
+            string,
+            unknown
+          >)
+        : {};
+    defaultGroup.requireMention = state.telegramForm.requireMention;
+    groups["*"] = defaultGroup;
+    telegram.groups = groups;
+    delete telegram.requireMention;
     const allowFrom = parseList(state.telegramForm.allowFrom);
     if (allowFrom.length > 0) telegram.allowFrom = allowFrom;
     else delete telegram.allowFrom;
diff --git a/ui/src/ui/views/connections.ts b/ui/src/ui/views/connections.ts
index 64d176e72..ea3485406 100644
--- a/ui/src/ui/views/connections.ts
+++ b/ui/src/ui/views/connections.ts
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ function renderProvider(
               />
             </label>
             <label class="field">
-              <span>Require mention</span>
+              <span>Require mention in groups</span>
               <select
                 .value=${props.telegramForm.requireMention ? "yes" : "no"}
                 @change=${(e: Event) =>