Hajra Naz
WhatsApp has officially announced one of its most requested features: usernames. The new feature lets people connect without sharing their phone numbers. It gives users more control over their privacy.
A phone number is still required. Users will need one to create and verify a WhatsApp account. That part of the signup process is not changing.
WhatsApp Usernames Are Finally Here
WhatsApp has been developing the username feature for several years. The company is now ready to roll it out, starting with a username reservation process before the full launch later this year.
From today onwards, you can stake a username if you’re an eligible user. Later on in the year, the wider rollout will happen. The next username has a minimum length of 3 characters and a maximum of 35 characters.
WhatsApp will reserve usernames for celebrities, public figures, and businesses. This is done to prevent impersonation. Everyone else can pick any username. It just has to comply with the platform’s community standards.
Meta, meanwhile, also hopes to simplify business and creatorship. They can choose the same username that already exists for Facebook or Instagram, provided it is still available.
Read More: WhatsApp to notify users when a contact changes their username soon!
How to Reserve Your WhatsApp Username
When the feature reaches your region, WhatsApp will notify you inside the app.
After receiving the notification, you can reserve your username by following these steps:
- Open Settings
- Tap Account
- Select Username
- Enter and confirm your preferred username
WhatsApp will also introduce a username key, an additional security feature that users can share with others to verify their identity before starting a conversation.
Why WhatsApp Is Using a Reservation System
Meta says the reservation process is necessary. WhatsApp now has more than 3 billion users worldwide. Without reservations, many people could try to claim the same username. The system is designed to reduce duplicate requests. It should also make the rollout smoother.
WhatsApp is also taking a different approach to privacy. Usernames will not be publicly searchable. People can only message you if they know your exact username.
Users will stay in control. They can change their username at any time. They can also remove it or stop using the feature whenever they want.
Privacy Is the Main Goal
According to WhatsApp, the biggest reason is privacy for adding usernames. The firm aims for users to have greater command over their personal data.
According to Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp Vice President and Head of Product, “Sharing a phone number can feel like quite an ask. A phone number is personal. It is connected to a lot of aspects of everyday life.
The usernames offer users another choice, she says. They can choose when to provide their phone number. They also set who gets to see it in the first place.
Read More: One WhatsApp Message May Have Been Enough to Breach Gemini AI, Research Says
No QR Code Support Yet
For now, users must share their usernames manually. They can type the username or tell someone directly.
WhatsApp does not support QR codes for usernames yet. People cannot start a chat by scanning a code. Instead, they must know your exact username before they can message you.
WhatsApp Is Catching Up to Its Rivals
WhatsApp is not the first messaging app to offer usernames.
For years, Telegram, Signal, and Wire have supported the feature. Their users can connect without having to exchange phone numbers. That puts those apps among the top options for privacy-minded people.
Now, WhatsApp is bringing that to its platform. This feature will provide an additional method for billions of users to protect their private information.
