WhatsApp Just Introduced Usernames and Here's How to Claim Yours
For years, the only way to reach someone on WhatsApp was to know their phone number. That's changing. WhatsApp, the Meta-owned app used by more than three billion people, has begun rolling out usernames, a feature that lets you connect with people without ever handing over your digital footprint's most personal detail.
What's Actually Happening
Starting in late June 2026, WhatsApp opened up username reservations on the latest version of the app for both Android and iOS. It's important to note the distinction: the feature itself isn't fully live yet. What you can do right now is reserve your preferred username before someone else grabs it, ready for when the full feature switches on.
Given the sheer size of WhatsApp's user base, name collisions are inevitable, so the early reservation window is meant to give everyone a fair shot at the handle they actually want, rather than a random variation once the floodgates open.
The rollout is happening in phases. The first wave landed on July 7, 2026, covering users in Algeria, Azerbaijan, Ghana, Libya, and Nepal. A second wave follows on July 20, with the rest of the world expected to get access from September 2026 onward. If you don't see the option yet, it's simply a matter of waiting for your region's turn.
Why This Matters
Right now, sharing your WhatsApp contact means sharing your phone number, a detail many people would rather keep private, whether it's a new coworker, a group chat, or a customer reaching out to a business. Once shared, there's no taking it back.
Usernames fix that. You'll be able to give someone an @handle instead, and they can start a conversation with you without ever seeing your number. Your phone number still logs you into the app and remains essential for account recovery, but it stops being something you have to hand out to every new contact.
There's also a deliberate privacy design choice worth knowing: WhatsApp usernames don't work like Instagram handles. There's no searchable directory and no partial-match suggestions. Someone needs to know your exact username to message you for the first time.
For extra protection, WhatsApp is also introducing a username key: a four-digit code you can require alongside your username, restricting who can message you to only the people who know both.
How to Set Up Your Username
Setting up (technically, reserving) your username takes under a minute:
- Make sure WhatsApp is updated to the latest version.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Account.
- Tap Username.
- Type in the username you want. If it's taken, WhatsApp will suggest alternatives, or you can use the built-in username generator for ideas.
A few format rules apply: usernames must be between 3 and 35 characters, use only lowercase letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, and include at least one letter.
If you run a business, creators and brands can claim their existing Instagram or Facebook handle as their WhatsApp username, keeping their identity consistent across Meta's platforms. Businesses using the WhatsApp Business API have already been able to reserve usernames since June 2026, and a related backend change, the Business-Scoped User ID (BSUID) is rolling out to help companies keep track of customers who message them via username instead of phone number.
The Takeaway
WhatsApp usernames won't replace phone numbers outright, but they add a long-requested privacy layer for a platform that's become central to how billions of people communicate. The safest move right now is simple: update your app, head to Settings, and lock in the username you actually want before the global rollout makes competition for good handles fierce.