WhatsApp will now let you pick "username" to hide phone number | Check how to register

The Meta-owned messaging platform WhatsApp has officially announced the global rollout of unique usernames, introducing one of the application's most significant privacy-centric updates. Under the guidance of newly appointed CEO Kunal Shah, the platform is moving away from its traditional reliance on phone number exchanges for initial conversations. Starting June 29, 2026, the company will open up username reservations gradually across different global regions, encouraging users to claim their preferred handles before a wider public release later this year.

This strategic shift aims to provide an explicit privacy-first layer for daily communication, especially when interacting with new acquaintances, classmates, or neighborhood groups without revealing sensitive personal details. Unlike traditional social media platforms, WhatsApp will not support a public directory for browsing handles, meaning another individual must know an exact username to initiate a message. Additionally, a new optional security feature called the "Username Key" has been deployed, which requires first-time contacts to enter an adjustable passcode before sending a message.

To secure a preferred handle, users must update to the latest version of the application, navigate to their account settings, and select their chosen username under the account section. The names can be up to 35 characters long, and the platform will automatically protect well-known public figures and celebrities from impersonation by blocking unauthorized reservation of their names. WhatsApp has clarified that current contact structures, chat histories, blocklists, and end-to-end encryption protocols will remain completely unaffected by this update.