WhatsApp has started rolling out a username feature that allows users to connect without sharing their phone numbers. The rollout is currently limited, but it marks one of the platform’s biggest privacy-focused changes in years, according to a report by TELECOMTALK.

Until now, users needed a phone number to contact someone on the platform. With this feature, people can choose a public identity similar to platforms like Telegram and Instagram, while keeping their phone numbers hidden from those who contact them via usernames.

The feature has been in development since at least 2023, with references appearing in beta versions of the app before wider testing began earlier this year. WhatsApp is now gradually enabling it for select users on Android, iOS, web, and desktop platforms.

How the feature works: Users who gain access will see a new “Username” option inside profile settings. Once set up, users can share their username instead of their mobile number while chatting with new contacts. However, phone numbers will still remain linked to accounts for login, verification and recovery purposes.

WhatsApp says usernames are optional, meaning users can continue using the app exactly as before without creating one.

Rules for creating usernames: The rollout also comes with several restrictions. Usernames must be between 3 and 35 characters long, contain at least one letter, and cannot begin with “www.” or end with domains such as “.com” or “.net”. Only lowercase letters, numbers, periods and underscores are allowed.

Meta account integration and privacy concerns: Earlier reports from beta trackers suggested that WhatsApp may also integrate usernames with Meta’s broader account system. In some cases, users could claim usernames already linked to their Instagram or Facebook accounts through Meta’s Accounts Center verification process.

That integration could also create new privacy concerns. Using the same username across WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook may make it easier for strangers to connect identities across platforms.

Extra privacy controls may come later: Previous beta reports had also pointed to an optional ‘username key’ system — a four-digit code that users could share alongside their username to limit who can contact them for the first time. However, WhatsApp has not publicly confirmed a wider rollout timeline for that feature.

Gradual rollout after years of testing: The company introduced the feature gradually to avoid disrupting WhatsApp’s existing phone number-based infrastructure. The feature is currently available to a small group of users, with a broader rollout expected over the coming months.

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