WhatsApp has introduced usernames, a major privacy feature that will allow users to connect with others without immediately sharing their phone numbers.
The Meta-owned messaging platform announced the update in a blog post on Monday, saying users can now begin reserving their preferred usernames ahead of the full launch later in the year.
According to WhatsApp, the feature is designed to give users more control over their privacy, especially when joining group chats, meeting new people or interacting with businesses and organisations.
The company said phone numbers are personal and often linked to many parts of a person’s life, adding that some users may want to chat without handing over their digits.
“You want to join the parent chat for the soccer team but you’re not ready to give your phone number to people you’ve never met. That’s why we’re introducing usernames for WhatsApp,” the platform said.
Users who update to the latest version of WhatsApp can reserve a username by going to Settings, selecting Account and tapping Username.
How WhatsApp usernames will work
WhatsApp said usernames will not work like a public directory where people can search randomly for others.
Instead, anyone who wants to contact a user for the first time will need to know the person’s exact username.
The platform is also introducing an optional username key, which will give users another layer of control over who can reach them through their username.
Once the feature is fully launched, a person or business messaging a user for the first time will no longer see the user’s phone number if the username option has been enabled.
WhatsApp said creators, small businesses and organisations will also be able to claim usernames already linked to their Instagram or Facebook accounts, helping them maintain a consistent identity across Meta platforms.
The company added that the rollout will be gradual, with users notified inside WhatsApp when usernames become available in their country.
The move marks one of WhatsApp’s biggest privacy changes in recent years, as the app has long relied on phone numbers as the main way for users to connect.
Meta has continued to introduce new features across WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram as it seeks to improve privacy, user control and cross-platform identity management.
