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WhatsApp Just Announced Usernames. Over 3 Billion Users Will Be Competing for the Best Names.

This is a major privacy feature that lets you chat without giving strangers your phone number.

Username reservations have started before the full rollout later this year, so if the feature is available on your account, you may want to reserve your preferred username early.

Here's how:

1. What does this mean?

Instead of sharing your phone number, you'll be able to share a unique username. When the feature becomes available, people who don't already have your phone number saved will see your username instead, helping protect your privacy.

2. How to reserve your username

Update WhatsApp to the latest version.
Go to Settings → Account → Username.
Choose your preferred username and save it.

Note: The feature is rolling out gradually, so if you don't see the Username option yet, you'll need to wait until it's reaches your account.

3. Enable Username Key for extra privacy

WhatsApp has also introduced an optional Username Key. When enabled, someone needs both your username and your Username Key before they can message you for the first time. This adds another layer of protection against unwanted messages.

Source: about.fb.com
Meta Official Announcement (June 29, 2026).

cc: @seun and moderators please push to front page to help educate people

This is a unique improvement on the side of WhatsApp. Undue access into someone's account will now be restricted. And also random joining someone to WhatsApp groups will also be a thing of the past.

Telegram have that feature

My user has already been crested there since ages

Make I rush go collect Donald Trump as username ... Before the real can now be donald_trump_2

I thought it was only for WhatsApp Business app.

Zuckerberg has been trying to turn it into a social media and not a messenger (with pages/community and verification badge).

Dreal1247:
This is a unique improvement on the side of WhatsApp. Undue access into someone's account will now be restricted. And also random joining someone to WhatsApp groups will also be a thing of the past.

Dey play

It will only help scammers the more. It’s more now like a social App..

You’ll be shocked when they clone your WhatsApp username and use the same username to message you or your people..

WhatsApp is a personal app for people. It is mainly for you to talk to your close and personal people, it was never meant for commercial, hence WhatsApp business was created should incase you wanna go commercial… It’s people that doesn’t really understand what WhatsApp is meant for..

PulaPower:
Dey play

It will only help scammers the more. It’s more now like a social App..

You’ll be shocked when they clone your WhatsApp username and use the same username to message you or your people..

WhatsApp is a personal app for people. It is mainly for you to talk to your close and personal people, it was never meant for commercial, hence WhatsApp business was created should incase you wanna go commercial… It’s people that doesn’t really understand what WhatsApp is meant for..

It cannot be cloned. Any chosen name is already chosen and cannot be used by any other person

happney65:
It cannot be cloned. Any chosen name is already chosen and cannot be used by any other person

Dey play

Good 👍

Dreal1247:
This is a unique improvement on the side of WhatsApp. Undue access into someone's account will now be restricted. And also random joining someone to WhatsApp groups will also be a thing of the past.

faceland:
I thought it was only for WhatsApp Business app.

Zuckerberg has been trying to turn it into a social media and not a messenger (with pages/community and verification badge).

Whatsapp doesn't feel original anymore. I'll miss when It used to be a messaging app