WhatsApp Usernames Launch: How to Claim Yours Before Privacy Changes

WhatsApp is introducing usernames to allow users to connect without sharing their phone numbers, according to reporting from the Sydney Morning Herald and Nine.com.au. The update removes a requirement that accounts be linked exclusively to a mobile number for identification and contact discovery.

The messaging platform is now inviting users to reserve their unique usernames ahead of a wider launch. This change allows individuals to share a handle rather than a private telephone number when initiating chats with new contacts, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

How do WhatsApp usernames work?

The new system separates a user’s identity from their SIM card. Traditionally, WhatsApp required a phone number to create an account and to find other people on the app. Under the new system, users can create a unique username that acts as a public identifier.

According to Nine.com.au, the company is urging users to make this change early to secure their preferred handles. Once a username is reserved, other users can search for that specific handle to start a conversation. This process eliminates the need for the recipient to save a phone number into their device’s local address book before communicating.

The Times of Israel reports that the messenger will begin offering these usernames as part of a broader shift in how the app handles user connectivity.

Why is WhatsApp changing its rule?

Ynetnews reports that WhatsApp is altering one of its oldest operational rules, noting that the platform has required phone numbers for 17 years. The shift is primarily a privacy upgrade.

Phone numbers are often linked to other personal data and can be used by third parties to find a user’s real identity or other social media accounts. By using a username, users can maintain a layer of anonymity. This is particularly relevant for business interactions, professional networking, or chatting with strangers in groups where sharing a phone number would pose a security or privacy risk.

The ability to mask a phone number addresses a long-standing criticism of the platform. Competitors like Telegram and Discord have long used handle-based systems, allowing users to be discoverable without exposing their primary contact method.

Who is promoting the privacy update?

To highlight the new feature, WhatsApp has partnered with Anthony Joshua. Bandt.com.au reports that Joshua has been seen brainstorming and experimenting with different username ideas to promote the privacy upgrade.

The campaign focuses on the practical application of the tool, demonstrating how high-profile individuals can manage their public presence on the app without compromising their private contact information.

What are the privacy implications for users?

The transition from phone-based identity to username-based identity changes how data is exposed on the platform. In the previous model, any user who had a person’s phone number could verify if that number was registered on WhatsApp.

The new system provides several distinct advantages:

While the phone number remains necessary for account verification and registration, it no longer needs to be the primary method of discovery.

What happens next for WhatsApp users?

The rollout is currently in a phase where users are encouraged to reserve their handles. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, this reservation period ensures that users can claim their preferred names before the feature becomes globally available to the entire user base.

Once the feature is fully deployed, the method of adding new contacts will likely shift toward a search-based system. Users will be able to type a username into the search bar to find a contact, similar to the functionality found on other modern social messaging platforms.