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A phone number is still required to create a WhatsApp account, but once a username is set, new contacts will no longer need to see it. Crucially, there will be no public directory of usernames on the app, and WhatsApp will not suggest names as users type. "People will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time," the company said. Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp's VP of Product, has described the design as a core privacy feature built deliberately without a browseable directory.
Meta noted that the reservation process was designed to avoid duplication across its user base of more than 3 billion. Users can turn the feature off or change their username at any point. For now, there is no option to scan a QR code to connect using only a username, so handles must be shared verbally or by text. The full functionality is expected to arrive gradually over the coming months, with in-app notifications letting users know when it goes live in their region.
WhatsApp Opens Username Reservations for 3 Billion Users
June 30, 2026
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5:32
WhatsApp has opened username reservations ahead of a full launch later this year, letting its more than 3 billion users connect without sharing phone numbers. The Meta-owned app is also adding an optional username key for extra control over who can message you.
WhatsApp Finally Decouples Your Identity From Your Phone Number
WhatsApp announced on Monday that its more than 3 billion users can begin reserving unique usernames, a long-awaited privacy feature that will, for the first time, allow people to connect on the platform without sharing their phone numbers. The Meta Platforms-owned messaging app said in a blog post that usernames will officially roll out later this year, with the reservation period beginning this week so users can claim their preferred handles ahead of the full launch.How It Works
Users who receive the feature can reserve a username by going to Settings, then Account, then Username in the latest version of the app. Usernames must be between three and 35 characters and cannot violate the company's policies. WhatsApp said it will notify users when the reservation option becomes available in their country, as the rollout is happening in phases.A phone number is still required to create a WhatsApp account, but once a username is set, new contacts will no longer need to see it. Crucially, there will be no public directory of usernames on the app, and WhatsApp will not suggest names as users type. "People will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time," the company said. Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp's VP of Product, has described the design as a core privacy feature built deliberately without a browseable directory.
An Extra Lock On The Door
WhatsApp is also introducing an optional "username key," a secondary credential that someone must know in addition to the username before they can send a message. Think of it as a second factor for first contact, adding another layer of control over incoming messages and helping to cut down on spam from strangers.Businesses, Creators And Impersonation
Companies, organisations, and creators with existing accounts on Instagram or Facebook will get the chance to claim those same usernames on WhatsApp, keeping branding consistent across Meta's apps. To prevent impersonation, WhatsApp said it is reserving usernames for high-profile people and groups such as celebrities, public figures, and government entities.Meta noted that the reservation process was designed to avoid duplication across its user base of more than 3 billion. Users can turn the feature off or change their username at any point. For now, there is no option to scan a QR code to connect using only a username, so handles must be shared verbally or by text. The full functionality is expected to arrive gradually over the coming months, with in-app notifications letting users know when it goes live in their region.
Published June 30, 2026 at 5:48pm
