WhatsApp has started rolling out usernames to a limited number of users on Android and iOS, marking a major shift in how people may soon connect on the app without having to share their phone numbers.
The feature has been in development for quite some time, and according to WABetaInfo, it is now finally appearing for a very small group of users running the latest versions of WhatsApp. For those with access, a new username option shows up within profile settings, allowing them to create a unique identity that can be shared instead of a mobile number.
This is a pretty significant privacy-focused update. For years, WhatsApp has tied communication almost entirely to phone numbers, which works, but also exposes a personal contact detail many users would rather keep private. Usernames change that by making it possible to search for and message someone using a handle instead.
That said, WhatsApp is putting several restrictions in place. Usernames must include at least one letter, can only use lowercase letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, and must be between 3 and 35 characters long. They also cannot begin with “www.” or end in domain-style extensions such as “.com” or “.net,” presumably to avoid impersonation and confusion.
One of the more interesting details here is that WhatsApp may require usernames to be available across Meta platforms. If the same name is already in use on Instagram or Facebook, users may need to verify ownership through Meta’s Accounts Center before claiming it on WhatsApp. That creates a more unified identity system across Meta’s apps, but it also raises privacy concerns, especially for users who prefer to keep WhatsApp separate from their Facebook or Instagram presence.
WhatsApp is also said to offer an optional username key, which acts like an extra layer of protection. In practice, this means someone may need both your username and a four-digit key before they can contact you for the first time.
For now, the rollout remains very limited. But if Meta expands access over the coming weeks as expected, usernames could become one of WhatsApp’s biggest privacy upgrades in years.
