WhatsApp to introduce usernames for private profile sharing

WhatsApp, the messaging platform owned by Meta, announced today that it will introduce usernames, allowing users to share their profiles without disclosing their phone numbers. While the feature will let users hide their contact details when sharing profiles, WhatsApp will still require a phone number to create an account on the application. The official rollout of usernames is expected later this year, following a change in WhatsApp leadership during the past week.

Under the new system, users will be able to choose usernames between 3 to 35 characters. To prevent duplication across its user base of over 3 billion users, Meta is reserving specific usernames for top celebrities, VIPs, and organizations. Businesses and creators can claim their Facebook or Instagram usernames on WhatsApp to maintain uniformity across platforms. Once the feature is available, usernames will not be searchable within the app. Only people who know an exact username will be able to contact that user, and individuals can turn off the feature or change their username at any point. Additionally, WhatsApp will provide an option for users to set a username key that others will need to know to message them.

Alice Newton-Rex, vice president and head of Product at WhatsApp, framed the update as a way to give users more control over their personal information. “When you meet someone new, whether it’s a classmate, a neighbour, or someone you met at an event, sharing your phone number can feel like a big step. Your phone number is personal, and it’s tied to so many other parts of your life,” Newton-Rex said. She added that usernames are designed to give users control over who gets to see their phone number in the first place.

With this update, WhatsApp finally matches a privacy feature that has been standard on rival messaging apps, including Telegram, Signal, and Wire, for several years. These platforms have long allowed users to keep their phone numbers private by using usernames instead. The transition represents a significant shift for WhatsApp, which has historically tied user identity directly to active phone numbers.

Why it matters

This update brings WhatsApp in line with long-standing features on rival platforms, addressing a major privacy concern for its massive user base by decoupling identity from phone numbers.