WhatsApp has officially announced the upcoming arrival of usernames within the messaging app. This is a feature that users have eagerly awaited, as it will enable them to connect with others without the necessity of directly sharing their phone number. The concept is straightforward: while the phone number will remain a crucial part of the account, users will be able to utilize a unique identifier to initiate conversations with new contacts, thereby reducing the exposure of their personal number. This functionality has been a staple in other applications for a considerable time, such as Telegram since 2014.
The company justifies this change as an enhancement to user privacy. WhatsApp provides everyday scenarios, like meeting someone at an event, joining a group where not everyone is known, or wanting to communicate with someone without disclosing a sensitive piece of information like a mobile number. According to WhatsApp, usernames will become available for reservation starting this week, with the full feature being rolled out later this year.
The process for creating your own username will be quite simple. First, ensure you have the latest version of WhatsApp installed. Then, navigate to Settings > Account > Username. This is where you’ll be able to reserve your desired identifier for when the feature is fully operational. If the option doesn’t appear yet, don’t worry. WhatsApp has indicated that the rollout is being conducted gradually, and the app itself will notify you when it becomes available in your region.
A key aspect is that WhatsApp does not intend for this to become a public people-finder. There will be no open directory of usernames or suggestions as you type, meaning that to contact someone for the first time, you will need to know their exact username. Additionally, the company will introduce an optional username key, designed so that another person requires more than just the simple identifier to initiate a conversation.
This privacy improvement will primarily benefit new contacts. WhatsApp explains that when the feature is active, initiating a conversation for the first time with a person or business will not display the phone number if the user has enabled their username. However, this will only apply to new contacts who add you. Existing contacts who already have your number, or groups where it has been previously shared, may still see it.
WhatsApp has considered content creators, small businesses, and organizations, enabling them to claim the same username on WhatsApp that they already use on Instagram or Facebook. They will also reserve certain high-profile names to prevent third parties from appropriating identifiers belonging to celebrities, public figures, governments, or recognized entities.
The rationale behind opening a username reservation phase before the full launch is clear: WhatsApp boasts over 3 billion users, meaning there will be an immense number of duplicate names, personal brands, or nicknames that many people will want to secure promptly. Usernames will need to be between 3 and 35 characters long, which also limits the combinations available for short or very popular names.
In practice, this change brings WhatsApp closer to solutions already implemented by other messaging apps. Signal, for example, introduced usernames in 2024, and since then, this concept has been solidifying as a way to separate public contact identity from the real phone number. WhatsApp, however, maintains a more controlled approach: there will be no open user search, and the identifier will be optional.
