California : Meta parent company and popular messaging app WhatsApp has announced a major privacy-focused feature that will allow users to connect without sharing their phone numbers.
The messaging platform has begun rolling out username reservations, giving users an opportunity to secure their preferred username before the feature officially launches later this year.
The new feature is designed to make conversations with new contacts more private. Whether meeting a classmate, neighbor, or joining a community group, users will be able to chat without revealing their personal phone numbers.
“That’s why we’re introducing usernames for WhatsApp. Starting this week, you can reserve a username to use later this year when we launch this feature.” WhatsApp said.
The company noted that with more than three billion users worldwide, early reservations will help people choose the username that matters most to them.
WhatsApp also introduced a built-in username generator to help users create unique names.
For creators, businesses, and organizations, the platform will allow them to claim their existing Instagram or Facebook usernames to maintain a consistent online identity.
The company emphasized that privacy remains a core focus of the feature.
“There’s no directory to browse and no suggestions – people will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time.”
It also added an optional username key that users can enable for additional control over who can message them.
Once usernames officially launch, users who enable the feature will no longer have to share their phone numbers when messaging someone or a business for the first time.
Users can reserve their username by navigating to Settings > Account > Username on the latest version of WhatsApp.
The company said the feature will roll out gradually over the coming months, with users receiving a notification when it becomes available in their country.
