WhatsApp is preparing one of its biggest privacy updates in years by introducing usernames. The feature will let users start conversations without sharing their phone numbers.

The rollout, announced by Meta, reflects a broader shift across messaging platforms. Companies increasingly favour identity systems that protect user privacy instead of relying on phone numbers. Services such as Telegram, Signal and Discord have supported usernames for years. WhatsApp’s move stands out because the platform serves more than three billion users.

The company has started accepting username reservations ahead of a wider rollout later this year.

Phone Numbers Are Becoming a Privacy Concern

For more than a decade, WhatsApp has relied on mobile phone numbers to identify users and connect conversations. The approach simplified onboarding, but it also exposed personal information whenever users started new chats.

The issue has become more visible as messaging apps have expanded beyond conversations with friends and family. Community groups, schools, businesses and local organisations often require people to exchange contact details before they can communicate.

Many users now treat phone numbers as sensitive information. Those numbers often connect to banking services, authentication tools and other online accounts. As a result, many people hesitate to share them with strangers.

WhatsApp aims to reduce that exposure by separating identity from phone numbers during first-time interactions.

How WhatsApp Usernames Will Work

Users can reserve a unique username through the app before the feature launches more widely.

Once users enable usernames, new contacts will see their chosen username instead of their phone number. Existing contacts will continue to communicate as they do today.

WhatsApp will not offer a public directory or searchable username database. Instead, people must know a user’s exact username before they can start a conversation.

The company has also introduced an optional username key. Users who enable it can require others to enter the key before sending the first message.

WhatsApp also includes a username generator. The tool suggests alternatives if someone has already claimed a preferred name.

Businesses, creators and organisations can reserve usernames that match their Instagram or Facebook accounts. The option helps them maintain a consistent identity across Meta’s platforms.

Catching Up While Taking a Different Approach

Usernames have become standard across several messaging platforms.

Telegram lets users communicate without revealing their phone numbers. Signal introduced usernames as an alternative identifier, while Discord has always centred its identity system on usernames.

WhatsApp takes a different approach to discovery. The company will not make usernames searchable. Instead, users must already know the exact username before they can start a chat.

That decision supports WhatsApp’s focus on private communication. It also limits unsolicited messages from strangers.

A Gradual Rollout

WhatsApp has opened username reservations before the global launch. The approach gives users time to secure their preferred names.

The company plans to expand the feature over the coming months. Users will receive an in-app notification when usernames become available in their country.

Usernames will remain optional. Existing phone-number-based messaging will continue without interruption. The new feature simply gives users another way to identify themselves.

The update marks an important shift for WhatsApp. Instead of treating phone numbers as the only identity for messaging, the platform now gives users more control over how they connect with new people.