WhatsApp Opens Username Reservations, Letting Users Hide Phone Numbers

WhatsApp began allowing users to reserve usernames globally on Monday, a privacy feature that will let people connect on the platform without sharing their phone numbers. The optional feature, announced by Meta, is rolling out gradually and will become active for all users later this year.

More than 3 billion people across 180 countries use WhatsApp, and the company said it opened reservations early because many usernames overlap. "With over three billion people on WhatsApp a lot of names overlap, which is why we're opening reservations early so everyone has the opportunity to select the username that matters to them," Meta said in a statement.

How WhatsApp Usernames Work

Users can reserve a username by navigating to Settings, Account, and Username after updating to the latest version of the app. Once the feature goes live, people who do not have a user's phone number in their contact list will see only the username. A phone number remains required to create an account.

Meta included additional privacy controls:

• An optional username key that others must know before they can message a user.
• No directory or search function for usernames, meaning people need to know the exact username to initiate contact.
• Some usernames are reserved for governments, public figures, and businesses and cannot be claimed by regular users.
• Users can change or delete a reserved username at any time, but deleting it makes the name available for others.

Implications for Privacy and Competition

The move brings WhatsApp closer to the privacy features offered by its encrypted messaging rival Signal. Signal introduced custom usernames in February 2024 after public testing that began in November 2023. WhatsApp's rollout has been anticipated for several years, with the feature reportedly in development since at least 2023.

The ability to hide phone numbers addresses a long standing privacy concern. Phone numbers can expose users to spam, unsolicited contact, and potential social engineering attacks. By decoupling identity from a phone number, WhatsApp reduces the attack surface for phishing and harassment. The feature is strictly optional, with no requirement to use usernames.

What comes next: WhatsApp will notify users in each country when usernames become active. The reservation period is intended to let users claim names before the full launch. Meta has not specified a precise date for the feature's activation, but the company described it as coming "later this year."