WhatsApp to roll out usernames for privacy
Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp has announced a new feature that will allow users to create usernames, enabling them to connect and chat without revealing their phone numbers.
The company explained in a post on X that the update is designed to enhance user privacy, especially in situations where people want to interact without sharing personal contact details.
It stated: “Your phone number is personal and sometimes you want to connect without handing it over. That’s why we’re introducing usernames for WhatsApp.”
According to WhatsApp, the feature will allow users to set a unique, customizable handle that can be shared in place of a phone number when joining chats or group conversations.
The rollout will begin gradually this week, allowing users on the latest version of the app to reserve their preferred usernames through Settings > Account > Username, with wider availability expected later in 2026.
The company clarified that phone numbers will still be required for account registration and identity verification, meaning the new usernames will complement, rather than replace, existing login systems.
WhatsApp added that the development aligns it more closely with other messaging platforms such as Telegram, which has long supported the use of public usernames for communication.
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