WhatsApp is introducing a new feature that lets users save contacts using usernames, keeping private phone numbers hidden and safe.
WhatsApp is rolling out a brand new tool that allows people to save new contacts using unique online usernames instead of private phone numbers. This change means users can now add friends, family, or business partners to their phone chat app without giving away their personal telephone details.
The global update, which started appearing on Android phones and iPhones in mid August 2026, marks a major step in making online messaging safer for more than three billion people across the world.
The new design appears right inside the regular contact creation screen that phone users already know. When you open the chat app, tap the plus sign to save a new person, and open the form, you will now see a dedicated username box placed right between the name lines and the phone number box.
People who have already picked a special username handle can share it with others, allowing both sides to stay in touch without sharing confidential phone contacts.
The main reason for this major update is to shield everyday chat users from unwanted calls, spam messages, and online fraud. For many years, using WhatsApp meant everyone you messaged automatically got your personal phone number, which left many people vulnerable to strangers and scammers.
By letting people connect using public tags, users gain full control over their personal privacy, especially when chatting with broad community groups or brand-new business accounts.
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Tech news site WABetaInfo, which first spotted the change, explained that the new setup makes managing contacts much simpler and prepares the app for full username search tools. “In particular, WhatsApp just added a username field right alongside the name and phone number,” reports WABetaInfo.
They added that “users who already have a username due to the recent rollout can tell other people to save it together with the rest of the contact details,” noting that the app will eventually automatically fill in this information as the main feature spreads to every account. Tech outlet 9to5Mac also highlighted the change, pointing out that it brings the app up to speed with other popular chat applications that have long allowed username connections.
For everyday phone owners, using this tool is extremely simple and requires no complicated technical knowledge. If you want to save someone new, simply open WhatsApp, click on the new contact button, type in their chosen username, and hit save. The app handles the rest behind the scenes so you can talk freely without sharing your personal SIM card details.
In simple words, WhatsApp is fixing one of its biggest old problems by letting everyone use simple web names instead of personal phone numbers. This small extra box on your phone screen gives everyday people stronger safety, blocks unwanted callers, and makes chatting with new people far safer than before.
