After years of waiting, WhatsApp is finally rolling out usernames.
While the feature itself will only launch later this year, WhatsApp has started allowing users to reserve their preferred username starting today so you can secure the handle you want.
With the username feature, you can now chat with someone on WhatsApp without revealing your actual personal mobile number.
Why you should reserve your WhatsApp username
For the longest time, WhatsApp has relied solely on phone numbers as your identity. That means you’ll have to share and expose your actual phone number whenever you chat with an individual or join a public group.
With usernames, the move will help to ensure better privacy.
Once the feature is enabled later this year, you can share your username instead of your phone number when sharing your WhatsApp contact, similar to exchanging Instagram accounts.
This adds another layer of privacy, especially if you’re joining community or public groups, buying or selling items online, networking at public events, sharing your WhatsApp contact online or running a small business or creator account.
WhatsApp also says there won’t be a public directory, username search or account suggestions. Someone must know your exact username before they can contact you for the first time.
On top of that, an optional username key can be enabled to further control who can message you.
Also when you send a message to a business account, they will no longer see your phone number if username is enabled.
How to reserve your username
Reserving your WhatsApp username only takes a few steps.
Just make sure you’re on the latest version of WhatsApp, go to Settings > Account > Username.
If your Instagram or Facebook username is available, WhatsApp also lets you use the same handle, making it easier to use the same identity across Meta’s platforms.
The arrival of WhatsApp usernames won’t come as a surprise to long-time followers of the app. Reports about the feature first surfaced several years ago, with WhatsApp gradually testing username support in beta versions before today’s reservation rollout.
This also brings WhatsApp closer to other messaging platforms such as Telegram and WeChat, which have supported usernames for years. Instead of relying solely on phone numbers, usernames provide a more privacy-friendly way to connect with new people while keeping your personal number private.
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