In the coming months, users worldwide can begin reserving username for WhatsApp options ahead of a gradual rollout, allowing people to connect without sharing phone numbers through a privacy-focused feature.
According to WhatsApp the update is designed to give users more control over how they communicate, especially when chatting with new people, joining group conversations, or interacting with businesses. While phone numbers will still be required to create an account, the company believes the WhatsApp username feature will offer a safer way to start conversations without exposing personal contact details.
A New Way to Connect
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is preparing one of its biggest platform changes in recent years by introducing WhatsApp usernames as an alternative to phone numbers. Users can begin reserving usernames this week before the feature is gradually released later this year.
“Usernames are our latest step to make WhatsApp even more private,” WhatsApp said In a blog post. “There’s no directory to browse and no suggestions – people will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time.”
Once the feature becomes available, users who enable a username will no longer reveal their phone number when messaging a person or business for the first time. Instead, their chosen username will appear.
Users looking to add WhatsApp username settings can do so once the feature becomes available on their accounts.
“Once we launch usernames, when you message a person or business for the first time they will no longer see your phone number, if you enabled your username,” WhatsApp said.
The messaging platform, which has more than three billion users worldwide, said WhatsApp usernames can be reserved by updating the app to its latest version and navigating to Settings > Account > Username.
Users are encouraged to choose a unique username that is known only by people they want to contact them. A built-in username generator will also suggest available names. This WhatsApp username feature is expected to make it easier to manage online identities.
Creators, businesses, and organizations will be able to claim usernames that match their existing Instagram or Facebook accounts, helping them maintain a consistent identity across Meta’s platforms and making it easier to add WhatsApp by username.
Privacy Improvements with Added Safety Measures
WhatsApp says usernames are designed to improve privacy by reducing the need to share personal phone numbers, particularly in group chats or when speaking with people for the first time. Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s head of product, said the feature was developed after users requested another way to stay connected without revealing their contact details.
Usernames can contain up to 35 characters and can be changed or removed whenever users choose. The comoany confirmed that certain WhatsApp usernames linked to public figures and celebrities will be protected to reduce the risk of impersonation.
Users will also be able to add WhatsApp contact by username instead of relying on phone numbers when starting new conversations. To address concerns about scams, the company says it has several systems in place to detect abusive activity.
It is also introducing optional username keys, short numerical codes that can be added to a username, allowing users to receive messages only from people who know both the username and its key.
The option to add WhatsApp username protections with these keys adds another layer of security. Privacy experts note that while the feature helps protect phone numbers, it does not change how Meta collects metadata outside encrypted conversations.
WhatsApp, however, maintains that personal messages remain protected by end-to-end encryption and are not used for advertising.
The feature will roll out over the coming months, with WhatsApp notifying users when usernames become available in their country. Although phone numbers will remain the foundation of every account, the username for WhatsApp feature is expected to give users a more private and flexible way to connect on the platform.
As more people add whatsapp username, choosing the right username for WhatsApp may become an important part of managing their online identity.
