WhatsApp is rolling out a long-awaited usernames feature that will allow users to connect without sharing their phone numbers, in what the messaging platform describes as a major privacy enhancement.
The feature will be introduced gradually over the coming months to the app's more than three billion users worldwide. Starting this week, some users will be able to reserve a unique username through the WhatsApp mobile app, although creating one will remain optional.
Once the rollout is complete, users will be able to add and message one another using usernames instead of exchanging phone numbers. WhatsApp says users will still have access to existing safety tools, including the ability to block and report unwanted contacts.
Usernames can be up to 35 characters long and can be changed or removed at any time. Certain high-profile names, including those of public officials and celebrities, will be reserved to prevent impersonation.
Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp's Head of Product, said the new feature was developed in response to feedback from users who were uncomfortable sharing their phone numbers, particularly in group chats.
She said the update would "give users control over how they choose to show up" on the platform.
Users will be notified when the feature becomes available on their accounts. To reserve a username, users can open the WhatsApp app, navigate to the "You" tab, select "Account," and choose the username option when it appears. The feature is currently only available through the mobile app and cannot be accessed via WhatsApp Web or Desktop.
Meta said creators, businesses and organisations will be able to claim the same usernames they use on Instagram or Facebook to maintain a consistent identity across its platforms. Other users who want matching usernames across Meta services will need to link their accounts through the Accounts Centre, which shares some account information between Meta-owned platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Messenger.
Some users have reported that the option to reserve a username has not yet appeared. WhatsApp has advised users to update to the latest version of the app and wait for the phased rollout to reach their accounts.
While the feature has been welcomed as a step forward for user privacy, some experts have cautioned that it does not address broader concerns around Meta's data collection practices.
Carissa Véliz, a professor at Oxford University and author of Privacy Is Power, said the feature offers users greater control over who can access their phone numbers but noted that WhatsApp still collects metadata, including account information and approximate location, for advertising purposes.
WhatsApp maintains that the contents of private conversations remain protected by end-to-end encryption and are not used for advertising.
To address concerns about scams and impersonation, the company said it has built multiple security measures into the usernames system. Users can choose to enable optional username keys—short numerical codes that must accompany a username before someone can initiate contact. WhatsApp also said its systems actively monitor and block suspicious behaviour.
Phone numbers will still be required to register for a WhatsApp account, but once usernames are fully implemented, users will no longer need to reveal their numbers when connecting with others. WhatsApp also confirmed there will be no public directory of usernames.
The launch comes shortly after Meta announced a leadership change at WhatsApp, with Indian fintech entrepreneur Kunal Shah set to take over as head of the platform following the departure of Will Cathcart after seven years in the role.