WhatsApp usernames | WhatsApp has announced a major privacy update that will allow users to connect without sharing their phone numbers.
The Meta owned messaging platform will introduce unique usernames, giving people a new way to chat while keeping their mobile numbers private.
The feature will begin rolling out globally over the next few months to WhatsApp’s more than three billion users. Starting Monday, users can reserve a unique username through the app. However, using a username will remain optional.
WhatsApp usernames strengthen user privacy
Once the feature becomes available, WhatsApp users can connect simply by exchanging usernames instead of phone numbers. As a result, users can protect their personal contact details while chatting with new people, especially in group conversations and online communities.
The company said users can create, change, or remove their usernames at any time. Usernames can contain up to 35 characters. However, WhatsApp will reserve the names of certain public figures and celebrities to prevent impersonation.
Moreover, users will continue to have access to existing safety features. They can block, report, or mute unwanted contacts just as they do now.
Alice Newton Rex, WhatsApp’s Head of Product, said many users had requested a way to communicate without revealing their phone numbers. She explained that the feature gives people greater control over how they present themselves on the platform.
No public directory for usernames
WhatsApp clarified that it will not create a public directory of usernames. Therefore, people cannot search randomly for other users through a username database.
The company also confirmed that phone numbers will still be required to create and verify a WhatsApp account. However, once usernames become fully available, individual phone numbers will no longer appear during conversations when users choose to connect through usernames.
This approach allows users to maintain privacy without changing the account registration process.
WhatsApp usernames | Privacy experts remain cautious
Although WhatsApp protects private conversations with end to end encryption, privacy experts say users should still understand how the platform handles data.
Carissa Véliz, Professor at the University of Oxford and author of Privacy Is Power, welcomed the username feature. However, she noted that WhatsApp still collects metadata, including information about who users contact and when they exchange messages.
She also pointed out that Meta uses such metadata to support advertising across its platforms. Meanwhile, WhatsApp stressed that it never uses the contents of private messages for advertising because end to end encryption prevents the company from reading personal chats.
Similar feature already available on Signal
Industry experts say WhatsApp is following a growing trend among secure messaging platforms. Signal introduced usernames in 2024, allowing users to communicate without sharing phone numbers.
Therefore, WhatsApp’s latest update is expected to improve privacy while helping the platform remain competitive in the global messaging market.
The company also confirmed that users can modify or remove their usernames whenever they want. This flexibility allows people to manage their identity on the platform more easily.
Leadership change at WhatsApp
The privacy update comes shortly after WhatsApp announced a leadership change. The company confirmed that Kunal Shah, founder of an Indian fintech startup, will become the new head of WhatsApp. He succeeds Will Cathcart, who led the messaging platform for the past seven years.
Meanwhile, WhatsApp continues to introduce new privacy and security features as competition among global messaging apps intensifies.
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