WhatsApp usernames: chat without sharing phone number

This feature could be particularly useful for creators, small businesses and organisations that want to keep a consistent identity across Meta’s platforms. Meta says these users will have the option to claim their existing Instagram or Facebook username on WhatsApp, helping them maintain the same handle across services.

Privacy is the main point here. WhatsApp says there will be no public directory to browse, and the app will not suggest usernames to other users. Someone will need to know your exact username before they can contact you for the first time. There will also be an optional username key, which adds another layer of control by requiring others to know that key before they can send a message using your username.

Once usernames are fully launched, people or businesses you message for the first time will no longer see your phone number if you have enabled a username. That said, this does not mean phone numbers are going away entirely. WhatsApp accounts are still tied to mobile numbers, and the new username feature is positioned more as an extra layer of privacy rather than a replacement for the existing system.

To reserve a username, WhatsApp says users should update to the latest version of the app, then go to Settings > Account > Username. However, the rollout does not appear to be available to everyone at the time of writing. I tried checking for the option on my iPhone 17 Pro, but it was not available yet, which seems to suggest the reservation process may be rolling out in stages or that availability may vary by platform and country for now.

Update: Meta says WhatsApp usernames will roll out gradually over the coming months, and users will be notified in the app when the feature becomes available in their country.