WhatsApp has started allowing users to reserve unique usernames before the feature launches more widely later in 2026.
The new system will let people contact each other without revealing their phone numbers, addressing a major privacy limitation of the messaging service. Reservations are gradually becoming available through the WhatsApp mobile app, although usernames cannot yet be used to start conversations.
A WhatsApp username will act as an optional identifier connected to a user’s account.
Once the feature becomes active, people will be able to share their username instead of their phone number when connecting with someone new. Existing contacts and group members who already have access to a person’s number may continue to see it.
WhatsApp will not provide a public directory or suggest accounts based on similar names. A person will need to know the exact username before contacting its owner.
With more than three billion people using WhatsApp, Meta has opened reservations early to give users a better chance of securing the names they want before the full launch.
Username reservations are currently limited to WhatsApp’s mobile applications and are not available through WhatsApp Web or the desktop app. The feature is rolling out gradually, so it may not appear for every user immediately.
On an iPhone, users can open WhatsApp, tap the You section, select their profile, and choose Create Username or Reserve Username. They can then enter an available name and tap Save followed by Done.
Android users can tap the three-dot menu, open Settings, select their profile, and choose Create Username or Reserve Username. After entering an available handle, they can tap Save and Done.
Users should keep WhatsApp updated and watch for an in-app notification confirming that reservations are available for their accounts.
Every WhatsApp username must be unique and contain between three and 35 characters.
Usernames can include lowercase letters, numbers, periods, and underscores. However, they cannot consist entirely of numbers or contain words and phrases restricted by WhatsApp.
A person may also be given the option to reserve the same username they use on Facebook or Instagram, provided someone else has not already claimed it.
Meta has reserved some usernames associated with prominent public figures, politicians and celebrities to reduce impersonation. However, the company has not explained in detail how it will handle every possible variation or copycat account.
Users will be able to change or remove a reserved username.
Once a person gives up a handle, it will remain unavailable for 14 days before becoming available for another account. This delay gives the original owner time to reclaim it and may reduce immediate impersonation attempts.
Meta has not specified how frequently users will be permitted to change their usernames, although the platform is expected to apply limits.
People primarily interested in privacy may prefer a username that is different from the handles connected to their public Facebook and Instagram profiles.
WhatsApp plans to offer an optional authorization key for people receiving messages through usernames.
This additional code would prevent someone from sending a message merely because they discovered a person’s handle. A new contact would need both the correct username and the authorization key before starting a conversation.
The system is intended to reduce unwanted contact, account discovery and abuse while allowing users to keep their phone numbers private.
However, usernames could also create new opportunities for impersonation. Scammers may attempt to use handles resembling those of friends, businesses or public figures to convince victims that they are speaking with someone they trust.
Users should therefore verify unexpected messages through another communication method, particularly when someone requests money, account details, passwords or verification codes.
The Indian government has instructed WhatsApp to pause the username rollout in the country until Meta provides further details about the feature and its safeguards.
Authorities expressed concern that usernames could make it more difficult to identify people involved in fraud and could increase impersonation, phishing and other cybercrimes. The government requested a detailed explanation and supporting documents from WhatsApp within three days.
WhatsApp defended the feature, saying usernames are not yet fully active and that protections will be included to prevent misuse.
The dispute is significant because India is WhatsApp’s largest market, with more than 500 million users. The username rollout there could remain suspended until consultations between Meta and the government are completed.
WhatsApp has not provided a precise date for when reserved usernames will become fully functional.
Meta says the feature will launch later in 2026, while reservations and availability will continue expanding gradually over the coming months.
Users who want the same identity across WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and other services may therefore want to reserve their preferred handle as soon as the option appears.
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