WhatsApp is introducing a new feature that will allow users to identify and contact each other through usernames instead of phone numbers, marking a significant privacy-focused change for the messaging platform.
The Meta-owned service said the feature will be rolled out gradually over the coming months, with some users already able to reserve unique usernames ahead of a broader launch later this year.
The company, which says WhatsApp has more than three billion users worldwide, said users will receive notifications when the feature becomes available in their country.
Under the new system, users will be able to choose to be found and contacted using only their usernames rather than sharing their phone numbers.
WhatsApp said usernames must contain between three and 35 characters and can only be reserved through the smartphone app by navigating to the Username section within Account settings after updating to the latest version.
There will be no public directory of usernames and no autocomplete suggestions, meaning users must know an exact username before initiating contact.
Alice Newton-Rex, WhatsApp's vice president of product, said, "We have designed this as a core privacy feature."
The company also said optional username keys, consisting of short numbered codes, can provide an additional layer of privacy by requiring both the username and its key before a user can be contacted.
WhatsApp said it has opened early username reservations because it expects strong demand for desirable handles before the wider rollout.
Companies, organizations and creators with existing Instagram and Facebook accounts will also be able to claim matching usernames on WhatsApp.
To reduce impersonation risks, the company said it will reserve usernames for high-profile individuals, public figures, celebrities and government entities.
Alongside the username feature, WhatsApp said it has introduced additional safeguards against abuse, including limits on how many new people an account can contact, improved systems to detect abuse patterns and new protections intended to help users defend themselves from scammers.
The company has not provided a specific timeline for the global rollout but advised users to keep the latest version of WhatsApp installed to access the feature when it becomes available.