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WhatsApp is introducing a new feature that will allow users to chat without sharing their phone numbers. Instead, people can exchange unique usernames to connect on the platform.
The feature is being rolled out globally to WhatsApp’s three billion users over the coming months. Starting this week, users can begin reserving their usernames through the app, though it will not be mandatory.
Once fully activated, WhatsApp users will be able to connect using only usernames. Phone numbers will no longer be visible to others on the platform. Usernames can be changed or removed at any time, and there will still be options to block or report unwanted messages.
Usernames will be limited to 35 characters. Some high-profile officials and celebrities will have their names reserved so they cannot be used by others—meaning users won’t be able to register as “Donald Trump,” for example.
Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s head of product, said the company heard from users who didn’t always want to share their phone numbers, especially in group chats. She said the feature aims to “give users control over how they choose to show up” on the app.
However, privacy experts urge caution. Professor Carisa Veliz from Oxford University noted that while the feature offers more privacy, “WhatsApp is not a privacy-friendly app overall.” She pointed out that the platform collects metadata about users for marketing purposes, and is owned by Meta—”one of the tech companies with the worst track records when it comes to privacy.”
WhatsApp does not read private messages, which are protected by end-to-end encryption, but it does use data like general location and basic account information for advertising.
How to Reserve a Username
Users can find the option to reserve a username through their account or profile settings in the app. The feature cannot be accessed via WhatsApp Web or Desktop.
Creators, small businesses, and organisations will have the option to claim the same username they use on Instagram or Facebook. Others wishing to match their usernames across Meta apps will need to link their accounts through Accounts Centre, which means data will be shared across platforms like Threads and Messenger.
Some users have reported on social media that the option has not appeared for them yet. WhatsApp advises people to make sure they have the latest version of the app installed and to keep an eye on updates.
Addressing Concerns
Some have raised concerns that usernames could lead to more scams. WhatsApp says it has “multiple layers of defense in place” and that optional username keys—short numbered codes—can be added, meaning people can only contact you if they have both your username and the key. The company also said its systems “detect and block abuse patterns.”
The feature mirrors a similar service introduced by the secure messaging app Signal in 2024.
There will be no public username directory, and phone numbers will still be required to create a WhatsApp account in the first place.
The minimum age for using WhatsApp remains 13. Messaging apps will not be included in the UK’s upcoming social media ban for under-16s, due to take effect next year.
In a separate development, WhatsApp recently announced that Kunal Shah, founder of an Indian fintech start-up, will take over as head of the platform, replacing Will Cathcart, who is stepping down after seven years.
