There’s a small but very real moment of hesitation that happens when someone new asks for your number. A classmate, a neighbor, someone you just met at an event and handing over your digits can feel like more of a commitment than it should. WhatsApp seems to have picked up on that exact feeling, because the platform now confirms that WhatsApp plans to let people chat without swapping phone numbers, introducing usernames as a more private way to connect. For an app used by over three billion people, this is a genuinely significant shift in how conversations get started.
What’s Changing
Starting this week, WhatsApp users can begin reserving a username through the app. The feature itself won’t go fully live until later this year, but the early reservation window lets people lock in the name they want before millions of others do the same.
Once the feature is fully rolled out, your phone number will no longer be visible to new contacts. Instead, people will need your exact username to message you for the first time, giving you far more control over who can reach you and how.
How to Reserve Your Username
The process is simple and takes just a few seconds on the latest version of the app. Here’s how to do it:
– Open WhatsApp and go to Settings
– Tap Account, then select Username
– Choose your own username or use the in-app generator for suggestions
– Reserve it once it’s confirmed as unique
Usernames can be up to 35 characters long. Creators, small businesses, and organizations also have the option to claim a name matching their existing Instagram or Facebook handle, which helps keep branding consistent across platforms.
What Stays the Same
It’s worth being clear about what this update does not change. A phone number will still be required to create a WhatsApp account in the first place, so this isn’t a way to use the app anonymously from scratch. There’s also no public directory of usernames, meaning people can’t search or browse for you. Someone has to already know your exact username before they can message you.
For added control, users can also set an optional username key, an extra code that others need alongside your username before they’re able to send that first message.
