WhatsApp to let users reserve usernames instead of sharing phone numbers
WhatsApp is letting users reserve usernames before a wider rollout later this year. The change could keep strangers from reaching you with just a phone number.
Meta said on June 29 that WhatsApp has started letting users reserve usernames ahead of a broader rollout later this year, a shift meant to cut down on the need to hand out phone numbers in everyday conversations. The move targets one of the app’s long-standing privacy gaps: until now, anyone with a person’s number could contact them on WhatsApp.
The new system is built around exact handles, not discovery by browsing. Meta said there will be no directory and no username suggestions, which means a person will need to know the precise username before making first contact. Users will also be able to add a username key, an extra layer that limits who can message them. Even with usernames, WhatsApp will still require a phone number to create an account, so the change is about public-facing contactability rather than full anonymity.
Meta said reservations are available in the latest version of WhatsApp under Settings, then Account, then Username. A username generator will also be offered for people who want help picking one. The company said the rollout will happen gradually over the coming months and will vary by country, with users notified in the app when the feature reaches them.
Meta is opening reservations early because of WhatsApp’s scale. The app has more than 3 billion users worldwide, and the company has said creators, small businesses and organizations may want to keep the same handle across services. That means some users will be able to claim a WhatsApp username that matches their Instagram or Facebook identity, making it easier to keep a consistent presence across Meta’s platforms.
The username change fits into a broader privacy push inside WhatsApp. Meta previously added Silence Unknown Callers and Privacy Checkup in 2023, and it introduced Incognito Chat with Meta AI in 2026 as another privacy-oriented feature. Meta also reported 3.56 billion average daily active people across its family of apps in March 2026, underscoring how many users will be exposed to the new identity system as it rolls out.
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