“For years, starting a conversation on WhatsApp meant giving someone your phone number. That is about to change as the messaging platform prepares one of its biggest privacy updates in years.”
WhatsApp is introducing a new username feature that will allow people to connect with each other without revealing their phone numbers.
The feature, which will be rolled out gradually over the coming months, will be available to the platform’s three billion users worldwide.
Once activated, users will be able to start conversations simply by exchanging unique usernames instead of phone numbers.
WhatsApp says the update is designed to give users greater control over their privacy, especially when joining group chats or connecting with people they do not know personally.
The company will begin allowing users to reserve usernames this week through the app, although creating one will remain optional.
Users will also be able to change or remove their usernames whenever they choose.
According to WhatsApp, usernames can contain up to 35 characters, with only a few restrictions.
Certain high-profile names linked to public figures and celebrities will be protected to prevent impersonation, making it unlikely that someone will be able to register usernames such as Donald Trump or other well-known personalities.
Speaking about the change, Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s Head of Product, said the company had listened to users who wanted another way to stay in touch without exposing their personal phone numbers.
“We hope this feature will give users control over how they choose to show up on WhatsApp.”
The rollout will happen in stages, meaning not everyone will see the option immediately.
Users who want to reserve a username can do so through their account or profile settings once the feature becomes available.
The option is currently limited to the mobile app and cannot be accessed through WhatsApp Web or the desktop version.
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Meta says creators, businesses and organisations will also be able to claim usernames that match their existing accounts on Instagram or Facebook.
Other users who want the same username across different Meta platforms will need to link their accounts through the company’s Accounts Centre, which shares some account information between services such as Messenger, Threads, Facebook and Instagram.
Some users have already complained on social media that they cannot yet access the feature.
WhatsApp has advised them to update to the latest version of the app and wait as the rollout continues.
The new system closely resembles a feature introduced by the encrypted messaging app Signal last year.
Privacy experts have welcomed the additional protection but say it does not solve every concern surrounding WhatsApp.
Carissa Véliz, a professor at Oxford University and author of Privacy Is Power, said hiding phone numbers is useful but warned users should remember who owns the platform.
“It is a good feature, but even if it does offer more privacy, remember WhatsApp is not a privacy-friendly app overall.”
She added:
“We have to remember that WhatsApp is owned by Meta – one of the tech companies with the worst track records when it comes to privacy.”
WhatsApp says private messages remain protected by end-to-end encryption, meaning the company cannot read users’ conversations.
However, Meta still collects certain account information and metadata, including general location and basic profile details, to support its advertising business.
The company has also acknowledged concerns that usernames could make it easier for scammers to contact people.
In response, WhatsApp says it has “multiple layers of defense” against abuse, including optional username keys that require both a username and a unique code before someone can start a conversation.
It also says its security systems are designed to identify and block suspicious behaviour automatically.
The privacy update comes during a period of leadership change at WhatsApp, with Kunal Shah, founder of an Indian fintech company, recently announced as the platform’s new head following the departure of Will Cathcart, who led the messaging service for the past seven years.
