WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that will allow its three billion users to connect with each other using unique usernames rather than phone numbers, the Meta-owned messaging platform has announced. The feature will be introduced globally over the coming months, with users able to reserve a name through the app starting this week. Once fully activated, people will be able to chat by exchanging usernames only, without revealing their phone numbers. The company described the change as a privacy feature, with WhatsApp’s head of product, Alice Newton-Rex, saying she had heard from users that they did not always want to share their phone numbers, particularly in group chats.

The username system will be optional, and phone numbers will still be required to set up a WhatsApp account in the first place. There will be no public directory of usernames. The platform said it has put safeguards in place, including optional username keys—short numerical codes that can be added so that only people with both the username and the key can make contact.

---

How It Works

Usernames will be limited to 35 characters. Users will be able to remove or change their names at any time. Some high-profile names—such as those of public officials and celebrities—will be reserved and not made available to the general public.

The feature can be accessed through account or profile settings in the app once it becomes available. It cannot be set up through WhatsApp Web or Desktop. The company has told users who have not yet seen the option to “make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp downloaded and keep an eye on your app.”

Creators, small businesses, and organisations will have the option to claim the username they already use on Instagram or Facebook for consistency across Meta’s platforms. Anyone else wishing to match their WhatsApp username to those on other Meta apps will need to link their accounts through Meta’s Accounts Centre, which shares some data across multiple platforms, including Threads and Messenger.

According to WhatsApp’s official announcement of the username feature and product specifications, the rollout will be “gradual over the coming months,” with users notified when their username is activated.

As our coverage of Meta’s integration of its messaging platforms and data-sharing practices has tracked, the Accounts Centre has been a key mechanism for linking user identities across the company’s services.

---

Privacy Implications

The phone number has been central to WhatsApp since its launch in 2009. It functioned as the user’s identity on the platform—no separate account or password was required. The simplicity helped drive WhatsApp’s growth to three billion accounts. But it also meant that anyone who had a user’s phone number could potentially contact them on the app.

The shift to usernames brings WhatsApp into line with competitors. Signal introduced username-based messaging in 2024, and Telegram has offered similar features. The broader messaging market has been moving toward phone-number privacy as a standard.

Newton-Rex said the change would “give users control over how they choose to show up” on the app. But privacy experts have cautioned that the feature does not change WhatsApp’s broader data practices.

Carissa Veliz, a professor at Oxford University and author of Privacy is Power, told the BBC: “It is a good feature, but even if it does offer more privacy, remember WhatsApp is not a privacy-friendly app overall. It collects much metadata about users for marketing purposes. We have to remember that WhatsApp is owned by Meta—one of the tech companies with the worst track records when it comes to privacy.”

WhatsApp does not use the content of private chats for advertising. Those messages are protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning the company cannot read them. But it does collect metadata—such as general location and basic account information—to support its advertising business. The username protects a user’s phone number from other users. It does not change what data Meta collects.

According to WhatsApp’s privacy policy and data collection documentation, the platform gathers information, including usage patterns, device information, and IP addresses. The username feature does not alter these practices.

---

Safety Concerns

The phone number has historically functioned as a barrier to unwanted contact on WhatsApp. A person could only message someone if they had their number. The username removes that friction. WhatsApp says it has “multiple layers of defense in place” and that its systems “detect and block abuse patterns.”

The optional username key—a short numerical code—adds a layer of protection, meaning that a username alone would not be sufficient to make contact if the user has enabled the key. The company has also confirmed that users will still be able to block and report unwanted messages.

Some users on social media have raised concerns that usernames could make scams easier. The company told one X user who asked about safeguards that it had measures in place to protect against abuse.

The minimum age for using WhatsApp remains 13. Messaging apps are not included in the UK’s upcoming social media ban for under-16s, which is due to be implemented next year. The username feature arrives in a regulatory environment where child safety on messaging platforms remains a subject of active debate.

As our analysis of child safety and age verification on messaging platforms has examined, the exclusion of messaging apps from the UK’s under-16 social media ban has been a point of contention among child safety advocates.

---

FAQ

Can I use WhatsApp without a phone number?

You still need a phone number to create a WhatsApp account. The new feature allows you to chat with others without revealing your number by using a username instead. Your phone number remains hidden from other users once the feature is active.

How do I reserve a WhatsApp username?

The option will appear in your account or profile settings in the WhatsApp app once it becomes available. It cannot be done through WhatsApp Web or Desktop. The company says to keep the app updated and watch for the notification.

Is the username feature compulsory?

No. Usernames are optional. You can continue using WhatsApp with your phone number as before.

Can I change my username later?

Yes. You can change or remove your username at any time. Names are limited to 35 characters.

Does this mean WhatsApp is now completely private?

No. While the username hides your phone number from other users, WhatsApp’s parent company, Meta, still collects metadata for marketing purposes. The content of private messages remains protected by end-to-end encryption.