WhatsApp has unveiled a new username feature that will allow users to connect with others without revealing their phone numbers, marking one of the platform’s biggest privacy updates in recent years.
The new feature, announced by Meta, is designed to make it easier for people to start conversations while keeping their mobile numbers private. It is expected to be particularly useful when chatting with new classmates, neighbours, business contacts, event attendees or members of newly joined groups.
Since its launch, WhatsApp has relied on phone numbers to identify users. While this has made communication straightforward, it has also meant that anyone starting a conversation or joining a group could see another person’s phone number, even if they were strangers.
The introduction of usernames changes that. Users will be able to create a unique WhatsApp username that others can use to contact them instead of their mobile number.
WhatsApp says reservations for usernames will begin this week ahead of the feature’s wider rollout later this year. The company is opening the reservation process early because the platform has more than three billion users, meaning popular usernames are expected to be claimed quickly.
To make the process easier, WhatsApp will include a username generator for users struggling to find an available name. Content creators, businesses and organisations will also be able to use the same usernames they already have on Instagram or Facebook, helping them maintain a consistent identity across Meta’s platforms.
Despite the change, WhatsApp says it will not become a social media platform. There will be no public directory, searchable profiles or account suggestions. Anyone wishing to contact another user must know their exact username.
The messaging service is also introducing an optional username key that adds another layer of privacy. When enabled, simply knowing a person’s username will not be enough to send them a message.
Once the feature is activated, people receiving a first-time message from someone using a username will not see the sender’s phone number.
The update addresses a long-standing privacy concern, as phone numbers today are linked to banking services, mobile money accounts, authentication codes, workplaces, family contacts and other sensitive personal information. By allowing communication through usernames, WhatsApp aims to give users greater control over their personal information while remaining easy to reach.
Users running the latest version of WhatsApp will be able to reserve a username by opening Settings, selecting Account, and then tapping Username.
WhatsApp says the feature will be introduced gradually over the coming months, with users receiving in-app notifications once it becomes available in their country.
