WhatsApp announced on June 29, 2026, that users can now reserve usernames — a feature that will allow people to share their profiles without disclosing their phone number. The usernames will officially roll out later this year, but the reservation process is open starting today.
Usernames can be between 3 and 35 characters. WhatsApp said there are no restrictions on username selection beyond compliance with the company’s policies. Meta, which owns WhatsApp, is separately reserving usernames for top celebrities, VIPs, and organizations. Businesses and creators who want consistency across platforms can claim their existing Facebook or Instagram username as their WhatsApp username.
Users will receive a notification when the reservation option becomes available in their country. From there, they can navigate to Settings > Account > Username to set their handle. WhatsApp will also offer a “username key” option, requiring others to know that key before they can message a user.
Meta cited its user base of over 3 billion as the reason for the reservation process — to prevent duplication. Usernames will not be searchable within the app; only people who know a user’s exact username will be able to make contact. Users can turn off the feature or change their username at any time. A phone number will still be required to create a WhatsApp account.
“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,” said Alice Newton-Rex, vice president and head of Product at WhatsApp. “So usernames are designed to give you control of who gets to see your phone number in the first place.”
At launch, users will need to share their username verbally or by text — there is currently no QR code option for connecting without a phone number. Competing messaging apps Telegram, Signal, and Wire have offered username functionality for several years.
Source: TechCrunch