WhatsApp has officially started the username reservation phase, one of the most anticipated features. Starting today, anyone can reserve a unique handle between 3 and 35 characters to chat without sharing their phone number. Meta has already reserved names for celebrities, organizations, and public figures, but there are no restrictions for other users as long as they comply with the platform's policies.
Username reservation from 3 to 35 characters for a private profile
The reservation process is straightforward: users will receive a notification when the option is available in their country, then they can go to Settings > Account > Username to choose their handle. It is also possible to set a username key that others will need to know to send messages. The company explained that the reservation process avoids duplicates across its user base of over 3 billion. As reported in a previous article, WhatsApp has been working on this feature for years and is now rolling it out globally.
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No public username search only exact contacts
A distinctive feature is that usernames will not be searchable within the app. Only people who know your exact handle can contact you, providing an additional layer of privacy. You can turn off the feature or change your username at any time. Alice Newton-Rex, Vice President and Head of Product at WhatsApp, stated: “When you meet someone new, sharing your phone number can feel like a big step. Your phone number is personal and tied to so many other parts of your life. Usernames are designed to give you control over who gets to see your phone number in the first place.” Currently, users need to share their username verbally or via text; QR code scanning is not yet available.
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A privacy step forward already adopted by rivals
Competing apps like Telegram, Signal, and Wire have had usernames for years, allowing users to keep their phone numbers private. With this launch, WhatsApp aligns with industry standards, following a leadership change last week. The feature is especially useful for those who want to use WhatsApp for professional or occasional contacts without exposing personal data. For more background on instant messaging history, you can visit the Wikipedia page about WhatsApp.
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/29/whatsapp-now-lets-you-reserve-usernames
