After years of anticipation and months of groundwork, WhatsApp has begun rolling out username reservations worldwide today, letting users claim a unique handle ahead of the privacy-focused feature’s full launch later this year.
Starting today, users will begin receiving an in-app notification when the reservation option becomes available to them. Once it does, the username can be claimed through Settings > Account > Username.
When usernames fully launch, WhatsApp users will be able to message new contacts and businesses, or join group chats, without having to share their phone number in the process. The company emphasizes that the feature is optional, but frames usernames as an added privacy layer – giving users more control over who gets to see their number.
WhatsApp is opening reservations early for a practical reason: with more than three billion users on the platform, demand for popular names is going to be high. The company recommends choosing a username that’s only shared with people users actually want to hear from.
Beyond personal accounts, WhatsApp has also set up a claims system for creators, small businesses, and organizations that want to maintain a consistent identity across platforms. This allows accounts to claim the same username they already use on Instagram or Facebook, helping to preserve their existing online presence.
One thing WhatsApp is explicitly not building is a user directory or recommendation system. Usernames are designed to stay private. As the announcement makes clear, “people will need to know your exact username to contact you for the first time.” There’s no way to search for or browse users by their handle.
For an additional layer of control, users will also be able to create an optional username key – a secondary requirement that others will need to provide before making contact for the first time.
While reservations are beginning to roll out today, usernames themselves will become available more gradually over the coming months, region by region. Users will receive an in-app notification once the feature is live in their country.
To learn more about WhatsApp’s username reservation system, follow this link.
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Robert Haba is the founder and editor-in-chief of Droid Tools. A lifelong gadget enthusiast with over a decade following the Android ecosystem, he built this publication to cut through the noise and give readers honest, real-world coverage of the tech they actually use.
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