WhatsApp will now let you chat without sharing your phone number

WhatsApp rolls out a new "username feature" amid privacy concerns for its users.The widely used messaging app has officially launched username reservations, allowing billions of users to connect and chat with new people without ever exchanging their personal phone numbers.

This long-awaited privacy update addresses a major blind spot by letting you hide your mobile number from strangers, classmates, or members of large group chats.

Meta's owned WhatsApp announced on June 29 that users across the world can reserve usernames starting this week, marking a key step towards a major shift in how people connect on the world's largest messaging platform.

“Usernames are designed to give you control over who gets to see your phone number in the first place,” says Alice Newton-Rex, vice president of Product at WhatsApp. “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.”

WhatsApp usernames will not be publicly discoverable or suggested to other users, unlike social media handles. The feature is designed to reduce the need to share phone numbers.

WhatsApp said in a post on X, "your phone number is personal and sometimes you want to connect without handing it over. that's why we're introducing usernames for WhatsApp."

One of the World's most widely used messaging app also guided users how to get that feature activated on their cellphones.

"Starting this week, you can reserve a username to use later this year when we launch the feature. It takes just a few seconds, make sure you have the latest version of WhatsApp and then go to Settings > Account > Username."

Notably the username option is most in-demand feature of WhatsApp. It’s an additional and more privacy-friendly way for WhatsApp users to connect without sharing phone numbers.

The messaging app company further updated that username reservations will open up this week on the platform, and users would be able to see a notification in the app when it’s available.