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WhatsApp has begun letting users reserve usernames ahead of the feature’s official launch later this year, marking a major shift in how people can connect on the messaging platform without having to share their phone numbers.
The new feature will be optional, meaning users can continue using WhatsApp as usual if they choose not to create a username.
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However, not every username will be available. WhatsApp says users may be unable to reserve certain names if they are already owned by another WhatsApp user or belong to the verified owner of the same username on Instagram or Facebook.
Usernames linked to public figures, celebrities, government institutions or Meta Verified accounts will also be protected to prevent impersonation. If a preferred username is unavailable, WhatsApp will suggest alternative options through its built-in username generator.
To improve user safety, the platform has introduced several anti-scam measures. Although usernames can now be reserved, they will not be searchable once the feature officially launches.
When someone receives a message from a person they have never interacted with before, WhatsApp will indicate that it is a first-time contact and display the sender’s country, helping users identify unfamiliar messages more easily.
The company also says it will continue monitoring user reports and blocked accounts to identify and remove scammers from the platform.
As an added layer of privacy, WhatsApp is introducing a username key, an optional security feature that requires anyone trying to contact a user for the first time to know both the username and a unique security key.
Users will have the ability to reset the key whenever they wish, automatically invalidating the previous one for new contacts.
Those who want to use the same username across WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook will be required to temporarily link their Meta accounts to verify ownership. After verification, they can disconnect the accounts or choose a different username that is exclusive to WhatsApp.
WhatsApp also confirmed that usernames will not be permanent. Users will be free to change them whenever they want, provided their preferred new username has not already been claimed.
The company has warned users against misleading claims that protected or high-profile usernames can be reserved by anyone, emphasising that such names are reserved only for their rightful owners.
According to WhatsApp, early username reservations are intended to give users time to secure their preferred names while allowing the company to collect feedback and fine-tune the feature before its full rollout later this year.
