By Sharon Kyomugisha
WhatsApp is introducing usernames, a major privacy update that will allow users to chat without first handing over their phone numbers.
The Meta-owned messaging platform says the change is meant for moments when a phone number feels too personal to share, whether with a new classmate, neighbour, business contact, event acquaintance, or members of a group one has just joined.
For years, WhatsApp has used phone numbers as the main identity key on the app. That made communication direct, but it also meant that joining a group or starting a new chat often exposed a personal number to people one may not know.
The new username system is designed to change that. Users will be able to reserve a unique WhatsApp username and later use it as a contact point instead of sharing their mobile number.
WhatsApp says username reservations begin this week ahead of the feature’s full rollout later this year. The company says it is opening the process early because more than three billion people use the platform, making popular names likely to be taken quickly.
Users who need help choosing a handle will have access to a username generator. Creators, small businesses and organisations will also have an option to claim the same username they already use on Instagram or Facebook, helping them maintain a consistent identity across Meta’s platforms.
The company says usernames will not turn WhatsApp into a searchable social media platform. There will be no public directory, no browsing list and no suggested accounts. A person will need to know the exact username before making first contact.
WhatsApp is also adding an optional username key, giving users another layer of control over who can message them through a username. With the key enabled, knowing the username alone will not be enough to start a chat.
Once the feature goes live, a person or business receiving a first-time message will not see the sender’s phone number if the sender has enabled usernames.
The update addresses a privacy concern that has followed WhatsApp for years. A phone number is no longer just a calling line. It is tied to mobile money, banking alerts, authentication codes, work contacts, family networks, delivery services and official records.
By introducing usernames, WhatsApp is giving users a way to remain reachable while keeping one of their most personal digital identifiers private.
Users on the latest version of WhatsApp can reserve a username by going to Settings, Account, then Username.
WhatsApp says the feature will be rolled out gradually over the coming months, with users notified in the app when it becomes available in their country.
