U.S.A June 30, 2026 - WhatsApp users will soon be able to use usernames instead of phone numbers to connect with others, with the messaging platform announcing that username reservations will open this week ahead of the feature's rollout later this year.
In a statement on Monday, Meta, WhatsApp’s parent company, said that the new privacy feature will be rolled out to more than three billion account holders, giving them greater control over how they communicate.
Reservations for user names are currently open. According to the platform, the user names will be limited to 35 characters, with exceptions to high-profile individuals and celebrities whose names won’t be available to anyone else.
The company has said that the user names will be rolled out gradually over the coming months and users shall be notified when this feature is available in their country.
“When someone new walks into your life , a classmate, a neighbor, someone you meet at an event — sharing a phone number can feel like a big step. That’s because a phone number is personal and it’s tied to so many parts of your life. Sometimes you just want to chat without handing over your digits,” Meta stated.
To reserve a username, go to Settings, tap your profile, tap Create username, then create a username. In areas where usernames are still rolling out, tap Reserve username and then Create username.
If the username is available, you will receive confirmation, and if it's not available, you can generate username suggestions based on your input.
The platform has also indicated that users can use their Facebook or Instagram usernames, as long as they are not taken. This will be possible by adding WhatsApp to the same account centre, which is optional.
You will tap Settings, tap the area around your profile photo, Creater username, then tap Use Instagram username or use Facebook username.
Users can change their usernames later; however, there is a limit to how many times you can change your username. Once you change your username, your previous username may become available for others to claim.
WhatsApp said that once fully activated, users will be able to communicate by exchanging usernames only, with options still available to block or report unwanted messages.
“With over three billion people on WhatsApp, a lot of names overlap, which is why we’re opening reservations early so everyone has the opportunity to select the username that matters to them,” it added.