WhatsApp has opened username registration for its more than 3 billion users, letting people claim their preferred WhatsApp username before the feature formally launches. The registration window is live now, ahead of what the company suggests is an imminent rollout. Until now, a phone number has been the only identifier on the platform, meaning every user who wants to be found must share personal contact details.
The feature has been in development for over a year. It first appeared in a beta version of the app, and Meta, which owns WhatsApp, has now moved to a public reservation phase. “It’s time to reserve your WhatsApp username,” reads a post on the platform’s official website.
How to reserve your WhatsApp username
To register a username, open the WhatsApp mobile app on iOS or Android and go to account settings. Under the “Your account” section, tap “Username.” A screen appears with the message: “Usernames are coming soon. Reserve yours today.”
Two options are available from there. The first is to create a new, original WhatsApp username. The second is to link the WhatsApp account to an existing Instagram or Facebook profile and import the handle already used on those platforms.
Claiming an Instagram or Facebook handle
WhatsApp noted in a blog post that creators, small businesses, and organisations may want to maintain a consistent presence across platforms. For those users, the company said it “reserved an option to claim their existing Instagram or Facebook username on WhatsApp.”
In practice, a username that appears unavailable through direct registration may become accessible after logging in to a linked Instagram or Facebook account, provided the same handle is used there. Users with established profiles on Meta’s other platforms can secure a matching WhatsApp handle through that route.
Why WhatsApp is adding usernames
WhatsApp’s phone number requirement has long been a friction point. Adding a contact on the platform means both parties must first exchange mobile numbers. That creates an obvious problem for anyone who uses WhatsApp in a professional or public capacity. Journalists, creators, and small business owners may not want to tie a personal mobile number to their public WhatsApp presence.
Usernames resolve that by letting people share a handle instead of a number. The change brings WhatsApp more in line with competitors like Telegram and Signal, both of which already support username-based identification. Once the feature goes live, WhatsApp users will be able to share a chosen name in place of their phone number to receive messages.
WhatsApp now has more than 3 billion monthly active users. At that scale, desirable usernames are expected to fill up fast. Anyone with a specific WhatsApp username in mind, particularly one not already linked to an existing Instagram or Facebook account, should reserve it now.