WhatsApp is introducing a major update that will allow its three billion global users to connect using unique usernames rather than exchanging phone numbers. The rollout will take place over the next few months, with users able to start reserving their names from Monday.
The feature is entirely optional, and users will have the flexibility to change or remove their usernames at any time. Usernames will be limited to 35 characters. To prevent impersonation, WhatsApp will place restrictions on the names of high-profile officials and celebrities, meaning you are unlikely to see users freely adopting names like Donald Trump.
WhatsApp, which is owned by Meta, has framed the introduction of usernames as a significant privacy enhancement. Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp’s head of product, explained that the feature addresses user feedback from people who were uncomfortable sharing their personal phone numbers, particularly when interacting in group chats. She emphasized that this change will “give users control over how they choose to show up” on the platform.
Once the feature is fully implemented, individual phone numbers will no longer be visible on the app. However, phone numbers will still be required to create a WhatsApp account, and the company has confirmed that there will be no public directory of usernames. The secure messaging app Signal introduced a similar username service back in 2024.
Despite the new feature, some experts caution that WhatsApp still has a complicated relationship with user privacy. Carisa Veliz, an Oxford University professor and author of Privacy is Power, stated that while usernames are a positive step, WhatsApp is “not a privacy-friendly app overall” due to its track record and its ownership by Meta.
While WhatsApp cannot read the contents of private messages because they are secured by end-to-end encryption, Veliz noted that the app “collects much metadata about users for marketing purposes”. The platform uses data—such as who you are messaging and when—to support its advertising operations.
The username rollout coincides with a major leadership transition at the company. Will Cathcart is stepping down after seven years as head of the platform, and Kunal Shah, the founder of an Indian fintech start-up, will be taking over the role.
Furthermore, as the UK prepares to implement a social media ban for users under 16 next year, messaging apps like WhatsApp—which has a minimum user age of 13—will not be included in the restrictions.