WhatsApp, the messaging app used by over 3 billion people, is finally bringing usernames out of beta. Later this year, users will be able to connect without sharing their phone numbers, an addition the company says puts privacy front and center. But with great usernames come great land grabs: the race to reserve the best handle starts this week.
How to Reserve Your WhatsApp Username
According to WhatsApp, username reservations open this week globally. Users will see a notification in the app when the feature is available. To reserve, go to Settings > Account – the Username tab will appear if enabled. From there, you can create a new username or port over your existing handle from Instagram or Facebook. A username generator is also offered if you're stuck for ideas.
Alice Newton-Rex, vice president of Product at WhatsApp, explained the rationale: "Usernames are designed to give you control over who gets to see your phone number in the first place. It's an optional feature; you choose your own username, you can change it or remove it, and it doesn't have to match your handle or account name on any other app."
Privacy and Security Features
WhatsApp emphasized that the feature is built around user privacy. There is no public list of usernames for people to search through. Users can also enable an extra layer of security: a unique four-digit key that contacts must know in addition to the username to initiate a conversation.
Newton-Rex sees this as a natural next step for privacy-conscious users: "I do think that we'll see a lot of adoption, but that's going to be one of the things that we learn as we start rolling it out."
How It Compares to Competitors
WhatsApp is not hiding the influence of rival messaging apps. "Signal usernames are probably a good comparison," Newton-Rex said. "This will work in a very similar way." Signal rolled out usernames in 2024. Other apps take different approaches: Germ DM allows users to create "burner cards" so people can connect with multiple groups in different ways.
| Feature | Signal | Germ DM | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Username | Yes (new) | Yes (since 2024) | No (uses burner cards) |
| Phone number required? | Optional | Optional | Optional |
| Additional security for contact | Four-digit PIN | N/A | Burner cards |
| Public username directory | No | No | No |
Celebrity Name Protection and Reservation Period
If you were hoping to snag @kimkardashian, think again. WhatsApp is holding back high-profile names. "The highest-profile names, like public figures or government entities or celebrities, are held," Newton-Rex said. "So, they can only ever be claimed by their legitimate owners. Look-alike derivatives of known names are also held back as well." Even non-celebrities get first dibs: during this RSVP period before the wider launch, you have priority claim to your existing Facebook or Instagram account name.
That hold does not last forever. WhatsApp recommends grabbing your username this week as the global reservation rollout begins, while plenty of options remain. The feature remains fully optional, but for anyone tired of sharing their phone number to message a colleague or coordinate group chats, it offers a welcome layer of control.
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