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WhatsApp is preparing to introduce a long-requested feature: usernames. According to details uncovered by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is testing a new feature that would allow users to communicate without revealing their phone numbers. This update would enable users to create unique usernames, marking a significant change in how conversations are initiated on the platform.
Currently, WhatsApp requires users to exchange phone numbers to start a chat—an approach that has long raised privacy concerns. This potential update brings WhatsApp in line with platforms like Telegram and Signal, which already allow users to communicate without revealing personal contact details. The move responds to growing demand for privacy-enhancing tools, especially among users who are increasingly reluctant to share phone numbers in casual or professional interactions.
Under the new system, users would create a unique identifier, which others could use to start a chat. While the username will still be tied to a phone number behind the scenes, only the handle will be visible to others. WhatsApp will enforce basic formatting rules: usernames must contain at least one letter and may include numbers, underscores, and periods, but cannot begin with “www.”
Users will have the option to change their handles, with updates visible to contacts—a transparency feature that could help prevent impersonation. WhatsApp is also gradually rolling out a handle availability checker on its web platform, making it easier to claim a preferred username as soon as the feature launches.
While WhatsApp has not officially confirmed the release, ongoing tests suggest the feature may roll out to users worldwide in the near future. If implemented, it would mark one of the most significant updates to WhatsApp’s privacy model in years, giving users more control over how they connect—especially in public groups, temporary chats, or professional exchanges.
