WhatsApp to Introduce Usernames, Allow Chats Without Sharing Phone Numbers

WhatsApp has announced plans to introduce usernames, a new feature that will allow users to connect and chat without sharing their phone numbers.

The messaging platform said the feature would be rolled out to its more than three billion users worldwide over the coming months, with account holders expected to begin reserving usernames from Monday.

Under the new system, users will be able to exchange unique usernames instead of phone numbers when initiating conversations, a move the company says is aimed at improving privacy and giving users greater control over their personal information.

WhatsApp said usernames would be optional and users would retain the ability to change or remove them at any time.

Speaking on the development, WhatsApp’s Head of Product, Alice Newton-Rex, said many users had expressed concerns about sharing their phone numbers, particularly in group chats and interactions with unfamiliar contacts.

“We have heard from users that they do not always want to share their phone numbers in order to stay connected with others,” she said.

She added that the feature would “give users control over how they choose to show up” on the platform.

The usernames will be limited to 35 characters and certain names associated with prominent public figures and officials will be restricted to prevent impersonation.

Despite the introduction of usernames, the company said phone numbers would still be required to create a WhatsApp account. However, individual numbers will no longer be visible to other users once the feature becomes fully operational.

The platform also clarified that there would be no public directory of usernames and that existing safety tools, including blocking and reporting functions, would remain available.

Privacy advocates have welcomed the additional layer of protection but raised concerns about broader data practices.

Professor Carissa Véliz of Oxford University said the feature could improve privacy for users, though she noted that concerns remain about data collection by the platform’s parent company.

“It is a good feature, but even if it does offer more privacy, remember WhatsApp is not a privacy-friendly app overall,” she said.

The introduction of usernames follows a similar move by the Signal messaging platform, which launched its own username feature in 2024.

WhatsApp remains one of the world’s most widely used messaging applications, with a minimum user age of 13 years. The platform is also expected to remain exempt from the United Kingdom’s planned social media restrictions for users under the age of 16.