WhatsApp has opened username reservations as it prepares to launch a feature that will let users communicate without exchanging phone numbers.
Starting this week, users on the latest version of the app can claim a username by going to Settings, then Account, then Username.
The feature is designed to address the friction that comes with sharing a phone number with new contacts. Once usernames go live, when someone messages a person or business for the first time, they will no longer see that person’s phone number, provided the username setting has been enabled.
There is no public directory to browse, and usernames will not be suggested to strangers. Someone will need to know your exact username to initiate contact.
For additional control, WhatsApp has built in an optional username key. Anyone who wants to message you would need to know both your username and this key before they can reach you for the first time.
WhatsApp said the scale of its user base, which now exceeds three billion people, means there is significant overlap in names, prompting the decision to open reservations early.
A username generator is available within the app for anyone who needs help choosing one. Creators, small businesses, and organisations also have the option to claim their existing Instagram or Facebook username on WhatsApp.
The company said usernames will roll out gradually over the coming months, with in-app notifications sent to users when the feature becomes available in their country.
