WhatsApp on Thursday introduced usernames, a feature users have been anticipating for years, allowing people to share their profiles and connect without revealing their phone numbers — though the Meta-owned messaging app will still require a phone number for account creation.
The rollout marks a significant evolution for the world’s most popular messaging platform, which has more than 3 billion users. Starting today, users can reserve their usernames, with the feature set to fully launch later this year. Individuals can choose any username between 3 and 35 characters, subject to WhatsApp’s policies.
The company is reserving certain usernames for top celebrities, VIPs, and organizations to prevent impersonation. Businesses and creators can also claim their existing Facebook or Instagram usernames for consistency across Meta’s ecosystem.
Register for Tekedia Mini-MBA edition 20 (June 8 – Sept 5, 2026).
Register for Tekedia AI in Business Masterclass.
Join Tekedia Capital Syndicate and co-invest in great global startups.
Users will receive a notification when the reservation option becomes available in their country. Once active, they can navigate to Settings > Account > Username to select their handle. WhatsApp is also introducing a username key that others will need to know in order to message them.
The company emphasized that usernames will not be searchable within the app. Only those who know the exact username can initiate contact. Users can turn off the feature or change their username at any time.
“When you meet someone new, whether it’s a classmate, a neighbor, 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,” Alice Newton-Rex, Vice President and Head of Product at WhatsApp, said in a briefing. “So usernames are designed to give you control of who gets to see your phone number in the first place.”
At present, users will need to share their username verbally or via text, as there is no QR code scanning option for contact without knowing a phone number.
Meta noted that the reservation process is necessary to avoid duplication across its massive user base. The feature gives WhatsApp parity with rivals like Telegram, Signal, and Wire, which have offered usernames for years, allowing users to keep their phone numbers private.
The introduction of usernames represents WhatsApp’s latest attempt to address growing privacy concerns while preserving the phone-number-based verification system that has been central to its security model and massive scale. By decoupling profile sharing from phone numbers, the company aims to make the app more appealing for users wary of exposing personal contact details, particularly in professional, social, or public contexts.
This change comes shortly after WhatsApp underwent a leadership transition, suggesting a renewed focus on user experience enhancements. The timing also aligns with broader industry trends, as messaging platforms face increasing pressure to offer more flexible and privacy-centric features amid heightened awareness of data security.
Analysts see the ability to link usernames across Meta’s platforms as an opportunity for businesses and creators to streamline communication and branding efforts. A uniform handle across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook simplifies customer outreach and content distribution, potentially strengthening Meta’s ecosystem lock-in.
However, the feature has limitations. Without searchability or easy QR code sharing, usernames may not immediately transform how people connect on the app. Users will still need to exchange handles manually, which many believe could slow adoption in some scenarios. Additionally, the continued requirement for a phone number to create an account maintains WhatsApp’s core identity verification method, which the company argues enhances security against spam and fraudulent accounts.
Balancing Privacy, Security, and Scale
WhatsApp’s approach underpins a careful balancing act. While usernames enhance privacy for everyday interactions, the platform’s scale and reliance on phone numbers have long been credited with helping curb abuse. The company’s decision to reserve premium usernames for notable figures, which also aimed to prevent impersonation and maintain trust, has been lauded.
The move, however, is expected to have meaningful implications for user behavior. In regions where sharing phone numbers carries social or safety risks, usernames may encourage greater engagement. For global users, it offers a more modern, flexible way to connect without compromising the app’s fundamental security architecture.
As competitors like Telegram have demonstrated, username systems can coexist with phone-based verification, providing users with choice and control. WhatsApp’s implementation, while delayed compared to some rivals, benefits from the company’s vast user base and integration within Meta’s broader social ecosystem.