WhatsApp Introduces Username Reservations for Enhanced Privacy

WhatsApp has officially announced one of its most anticipated features: usernames. The new addition will allow users to share their WhatsApp profiles without revealing their phone numbers, although a phone number will still be required to create a WhatsApp account.

The Meta-owned messaging platform has been developing the username feature for several years and has now shared details about how it will work.

Beginning today, WhatsApp is allowing users to reserve usernames ahead of the feature’s wider rollout, which is scheduled for later this year. Users can choose a username between 3 and 35 characters long. The company said that usernames for well-known celebrities, public figures, and organisations will be reserved. Aside from complying with WhatsApp’s community policies, there are no additional restrictions on selecting a username. Meta also noted that businesses and creators wishing to maintain consistent branding will be able to claim the same usernames they already use on Facebook or Instagram.

Users will receive a notification once username reservations become available in their country. Afterwards, they can visit Settings > Account > Username to create their preferred username. WhatsApp will also introduce an optional username key, allowing users to require others to know a unique key before they can initiate a conversation.

Meta explained that the reservation process is designed to prevent duplicate usernames across WhatsApp’s global community of more than 3 billion users. The company also confirmed that usernames will not appear in search results within the app. Only people who already know a user’s exact username can contact them. In addition, users can turn off the feature or change their username at any time.

“When you meet someone new, whether it’s a classmate, a neighbour, or someone you met at an event, sharing your phone number can feel like a big step. Your phone number is personal, and it’s tied to so many other parts of your life,” said Alice Newton-Rex, Vice President and Head of Product at WhatsApp, during a company briefing. She added that usernames are intended to give users greater control over who can see their phone number in the first place.

At launch, users will need to share their username manually, either verbally or through a text message. WhatsApp does not currently offer a QR code option that allows people to connect using usernames without exchanging phone numbers.

Several competing messaging platforms, including Telegram, Signal, and Wire, have supported usernames for years, enabling users to communicate while keeping their phone numbers private. Following recent leadership changes within WhatsApp, the company is now preparing to roll out the long-awaited feature to its users.