Meta will begin global reservations for WhatsApp usernames, giving users a new way to connect without sharing their phone number when messaging someone for the first time.
The feature is designed as a privacy tool rather than a public social media handle. From Tuesday 30 June, more than three billion WhatsApp users globally, including millions of Australians, can reserve their preferred username before the full rollout later this year.
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How WhatsApp usernames will work
Users will be able to choose a unique WhatsApp username. It does not need to match their handle on Instagram, Facebook or any other Meta app.
People will need to know someone’s exact username to contact them. WhatsApp said there will be no public directory, no browsing function and no suggested contacts based on usernames.
The company said the feature is aimed at situations where users may want to chat without sharing a phone number, such as meeting a new classmate, connecting with someone at an event, or joining a group chat with people they do not know personally.
A privacy feature, not a public profile
WhatsApp already protects personal messages and calls with end-to-end encryption by default, meaning not even WhatsApp can read them.
Usernames build on that privacy position by letting people connect without exposing their phone number. Once the feature launches, a person or business contacted for the first time will not see a user’s phone number if that user has enabled a username.
WhatsApp has also built an optional username key. When enabled, others will need to know that key before they can message a user via their username.
Creators and businesses can claim existing handles
For creators, small businesses and organisations, WhatsApp will offer an option to claim an existing Instagram or Facebook username on WhatsApp.
For everyday users, WhatsApp said usernames should be unique and shared only with people they want to contact them. The app will also include a username generator for users who want help choosing one.
How to reserve a WhatsApp username
Users on the latest version of WhatsApp can reserve their username by going to Settings, then Account, then Username.
WhatsApp said usernames will roll out gradually over the coming months. Users will be notified in the app when the feature becomes available in their country.