Meta has announced that WhatsApp users can now reserve usernames ahead of a broader launch planned for later this year, introducing a long-awaited privacy feature that allows people to connect without sharing their phone numbers.
The company says the feature is designed to give users more control over their personal information while making it easier to start conversations with new contacts.
Starting this week, users running the latest version of WhatsApp can reserve a unique username in Settings > Account > Username, though the feature itself will not be fully available until later this year. Meta said it is opening reservations early because WhatsApp now serves more than three billion users, increasing the likelihood that many people will compete for the same names.
When usernames become available, users who enable the feature can communicate with new contacts without exposing their phone numbers. Instead, conversations can begin using a username, reducing the amount of personal information shared with people met through social events, community groups, schools, or other situations where exchanging a phone number may feel unnecessary.
Unlike many social networking services, Meta said WhatsApp usernames are designed with privacy as the primary goal rather than discoverability. The company stated there will be no searchable public username directory, and the app will not recommend usernames to other users. Instead, someone must know a person's exact username before initiating contact for the first time.
To provide another layer of protection, Meta is introducing an optional username key, which users can require others to know before they are allowed to send the initial message. Although the company did not disclose technical details about how the username key will function, it is intended to help reduce unwanted contact and spam.
For users unsure which username to choose, WhatsApp includes a built-in username generator that suggests available alternatives. Meanwhile, creators, businesses, and organizations will have the option to claim the same username they already use on Instagram or Facebook, allowing them to maintain a consistent identity across Meta's platforms.
The feature could also simplify participation in group conversations. Meta cited examples such as joining neighborhood chats or school sports groups, where users may prefer not to immediately disclose their personal phone numbers to everyone in the group.
Username reservations are optional, and users who do not reserve one can continue using WhatsApp with their phone number as they do today. Likewise, existing contacts who already have the user's phone number will continue to communicate normally.
Meta said usernames will roll out gradually over the coming months, with availability varying by country. The company plans to notify users within WhatsApp when the feature becomes available in their region.
Signal introduced usernames in 2024, allowing users to hide their phone numbers from new contacts while requiring the exact username to initiate conversations. The feature similarly focused on reducing unnecessary exposure of personal information while preventing random users from discovering or messaging accounts.
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