WhatsApp to let users go by usernames, not phone numbers

WhatsApp says the feature is designed to give its three billion users a new layer of control over who can contact them.

Published On 30 Jun 202630 Jun 2026

WhatsApp will enable users to be identified by usernames rather than phone numbers, addressing a long‑standing privacy concern for its globally popular platform.

Meta announced on Monday that users can now reserve unique usernames, with a broader rollout planned for this year that will allow people to be located and contacted solely through their handles.

The change is positioned as a core privacy feature, offering no public directory or autocomplete suggestions, so users must know an exact username to contact someone for the first time.

WhatsApp provides end‑to‑end encrypted messaging across smartphones, tablets, and desktop computers. Previously, any user with a phone number could contact the account.

In a blog post, the company indicated that over the coming months users will be able to opt to be found and contacted exclusively via their username, without exposing their phone number, though a precise timeline was not provided.

“We have designed this as a core privacy feature,” said Alice Newton‑Rex, WhatsApp’s vice president of product.

“People will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time,” she added.

Current privacy controls remain limited to blocking individual users and silencing unknown callers.

Users may also add a profile name, which is shown only in group chats for participants lacking the user’s contact information.

Unique usernames in high demand

Desirable usernames are in high demand, prompting users to quickly claim available handles.

Established accounts on Meta’s social platforms—including Instagram and Facebook—will be eligible to claim corresponding usernames on WhatsApp.

Usernames must be three to thirty‑five characters long. To deter impersonation, WhatsApp will reserve usernames for high‑profile individuals or groups—including celebrities, public figures, and government entities.

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