WhatsApp usernames: claim yours now before they go live
WhatsApp is rolling out usernames later this year, letting its three billion users connect without sharing phone numbers—and you can reserve yours today. The new feature allows people to set a unique handle and share that instead of their digits, keeping personal contact information private in group chats, work settings, or public events.
A handle instead of a phone number
The change addresses a common privacy concern: your phone number is linked to banking, healthcare, family, and countless other accounts. WhatsApp now offers a way to share a username while keeping the number hidden. When messaging someone for the first time, they’ll see the username instead of the digits—provided you’ve enabled the feature. There’s no public directory and no algorithm suggesting usernames, so only someone who already knows the exact handle can reach you. For extra control, users can add an optional “username key,” a secondary credential required before anyone can message them.
Claim first, customize later
To avoid last-minute scramble when the feature goes live, WhatsApp has opened reservations now. You can set your preferred handle through Settings > Account > Username in the latest app version—it takes about ten seconds. Creators and businesses can claim the same username they use on Instagram or Facebook to keep branding consistent across platforms. For those stuck for ideas, WhatsApp built a username generator that suggests unique handles in seconds. The company frames this as its “latest step to make WhatsApp even more private,” extending its reputation for end-to-end encryption to the layer before any conversation begins.
Source: Security Affairs. AI-assisted editorial synthesis — TechnoExpress.