WhatsApp has introduced a long-awaited username feature that allows users to share their profiles without revealing their mobile phone numbers, offering greater privacy while keeping phone numbers mandatory for account registration. The feature, which has remained under development for several years, is expected to roll out more widely later this year after an initial reservation phase.
Users will be able to create usernames containing between three and 35 characters, while the platform will begin allowing reservations from now. Moreover, celebrities, public figures, and organisations will receive priority access before the feature becomes available to all eligible users. Businesses and content creators will also have the option to match their WhatsApp usernames with their existing accounts on Meta Platforms‘s other platforms.
Once the feature becomes available in a user’s country, WhatsApp will send a notification allowing username reservation through the Settings menu under Account and Username. Additionally, users can generate a username key that others will need before starting a conversation, adding another layer of privacy and control over incoming contacts.
The company said the reservation system is designed to avoid duplicate usernames across its global community of more than three billion accounts. However, usernames will not appear in public searches, meaning people must know the exact username before initiating contact. Users will also retain the flexibility to change or disable their usernames whenever they choose.
Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s Vice President and Head of Product, said the new feature gives users greater control over their personal contact information. Currently, usernames can only be shared directly through text or spoken communication because the platform does not yet support QR code sharing. Meanwhile, competing messaging apps such as Telegram, Signal, and Wire have offered username-based communication for several years.