WhatsApp is adding usernames, giving its more than three billion users a way to chat without handing over their phone number. As Technobaboy reports, the feature is rolling out worldwide over the coming months, with users able to reserve a username in the app's account settings ahead of a wider launch.
Key Takeaways
- WhatsApp usernames let you be reached by a handle instead of your phone number.
- The Meta-owned platform announced the change on June 30, 2026, and is rolling it out in phases.
- Usernames must be 3 to 35 characters, using lowercase letters, numbers, periods, and underscores.
- An optional username key acts like a PIN that new contacts must know to message you first.
- The feature does not work on WhatsApp Web or Desktop, and Meta still collects metadata for ads.
What is changing on WhatsApp
For years, connecting on WhatsApp meant sharing your phone number. The new usernames feature closes that long-standing privacy gap. Al Jazeera reports that WhatsApp announced the change on Monday, June 30, 2026, saying it has begun letting users reserve unique usernames before a broader rollout later this year, after which people will be able to choose to be found and contacted only by their handle.
WhatsApp frames usernames as especially useful in group chats, where you may not want every participant to see your number. Blocking and reporting tools remain in place, and high-profile names will be restricted to prevent impersonation.
How WhatsApp usernames work
Per Technobaboy and corroborating coverage, usernames can be up to 35 characters and must be at least three, containing at least one letter and using only lowercase letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. They cannot begin with "www." or end with internet domains like ".com" or ".net." You can change or remove a username at any time.
Crucially, WhatsApp says there is no public directory of usernames and no autocomplete suggestions — meaning someone needs your exact handle to reach you for the first time. An optional username key functions like a PIN that new contacts must enter before they can message you, and you can reset that key to shut off unwanted inbound requests.
Creators and businesses can claim consistent usernames across Meta platforms through Accounts Centre, helping brands keep a unified handle.
The privacy caveats
The feature has real limits. It does not work on WhatsApp Web or Desktop, so it is a mobile-first change for now. And while usernames hide your phone number, privacy experts quoted by Technobaboy caution that WhatsApp still collects metadata for advertising. End-to-end encryption continues to protect the contents of messages, but data such as location and age can be used for ad targeting — so a username is a layer of contact privacy, not total anonymity.
The move echoes the broader tension around Meta's handling of user data and security, from subscription experiments to incidents like a Meta AI support chatbot flaw that exposed Instagram accounts.
When you can reserve a username
The rollout has already started and will expand over the coming months, reaching accounts gradually rather than all at once. To claim a handle once it appears for your account, update WhatsApp to the latest version and head to Settings > Account > Username.
FAQ
How do I reserve a WhatsApp username?
Update WhatsApp to the latest version, then go to Settings > Account > Username. The option is rolling out in phases, so it may not appear on every account immediately.
What characters are allowed in a WhatsApp username?
Usernames must be 3 to 35 characters, include at least one letter, and use only lowercase letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. They cannot start with "www." or end in domains like ".com."
Does a username hide my phone number completely?
It lets new contacts reach you without seeing your number, but WhatsApp still collects metadata, and the feature does not yet work on WhatsApp Web or Desktop.
Source: Al Jazeera
