The messaging app – WhatsApp – is soon rolling out a new feature that allows users to create usernames and chat without revealing their numbers.
To date, WhatsApp has required users to share phone numbers to establish connections—a setup that has long raised privacy concerns, especially in group chats and business interactions.
The soon-to-launch username feature is set to change that, giving users more control over their privacy by allowing them to connect without ever revealing their number.
Per WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is developing a username feature in beta version 25.17.10.70, though it’s not yet live for users.
How will this work…
When users create WhatsApp usernames, they will be required to follow specific rules: usernames must be 3–30 characters long, completely unique, and include at least one letter—only lowercase letters, numbers, periods, and underscores are allowed, and they can’t start with “www.” or end with extensions like “.com”.
Once your username is created, WhatsApp shows a fun confetti animation to confirm it’s active. People who don’t have your number will now see your username in chats and groups instead.
