WhatsApp is introducing usernames, and for the three billion people who use the app, that is a bigger deal than it might first seem. The feature gives users an extra layer of privacy, letting them connect with businesses or new contacts without handing over their phone number.
The full feature has not launched yet, but WhatsApp is opening up username reservations this week, and the reason for the early start is straightforward: with three billion users on the platform, the company wants to give people a fair chance to secure the name they actually want before the rush begins.
How to reserve your username
To claim a username, head to Settings, then Account, then Username. You can choose your own as long as it is unique, or use the in-app generator if you would rather let the app do the thinking. For creators, organisations, and small businesses, WhatsApp will allow you to claim your existing Instagram or Facebook name.
Reservations will roll out globally, and WhatsApp will send a notification when the feature becomes available in your country.
What happens when it goes live
Once usernames are fully active in the coming months, other users and businesses will no longer see your phone number when you message them for the first time. Anyone who wants to reach you will need to know your exact username. There is also an optional key you can set, meaning a contact will need both your username and the key before they can send you a message.
During the reservation phase, the key is a four-digit code, but it will be upgraded to an alphanumeric format when usernames officially go live.
WhatsApp follows Signal’s lead
With this move, WhatsApp is following in the footsteps of Signal, the privacy-focused messaging app that introduced usernames in 2024 as a way to keep phone numbers hidden from other users. The difference is the scale. WhatsApp is the dominant messaging platform across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, so bringing this level of privacy to that audience is a meaningful shift in how people can control who gets access to their contact details.
For Ugandans and East Africans who use WhatsApp as a primary business communication tool, being able to share a username instead of a phone number could meaningfully reduce unwanted contact and spam from unfamiliar parties.
