WhatsApp introduces usernames, letting users connect without sharing their phone numbers

WhatsApp has finally announced one of its most anticipated features: usernames. The new feature will allow users to connect and share their profiles without revealing their phone numbers. However, a phone number will still be required to create a WhatsApp account.

The Meta-owned messaging platform has been working on usernames for several years and has now detailed how the feature will work. Users will be able to reserve a unique username ahead of its broader rollout later this year. Usernames can be between three and 35 characters long, with Meta reserving certain names for high-profile celebrities, public figures and organisations.

Apart from complying with WhatsApp's policies, there are no additional restrictions on choosing a username. Businesses and creators will also be able to use their existing Facebook or Instagram usernames to maintain a consistent identity across Meta's platforms.

Announcing the feature Kunal Shah global head of WhatsApp wrote in a post on X, adding that joining WhatsApp early allowed him to claim his preferred username ahead of the public launch. He also encouraged users to reserve their own usernames once the feature becomes available in their region.

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The feature will roll out gradually, and users will receive a notification once username reservations become available in their region. They can then set a username by navigating to Settings > Account > Username. WhatsApp will also introduce an optional username key, allowing users to require others to know a unique key before they can initiate a conversation.

Meta said the username reservation system is designed to prevent duplicate usernames across WhatsApp's user base of more than 3 billion people. Usernames will not be searchable within the app, meaning only users who know someone's exact username will be able to initiate a conversation. Users will also have the flexibility to change or disable their username at any time.

Initially, usernames can only be shared manually through text or verbally, as WhatsApp does not yet support QR code-based username sharing. While rivals such as Telegram, Signal and Wire have offered username-based messaging for years, WhatsApp is now bringing the feature to its platform to give users an additional layer of privacy.