{"id":990,"date":"2026-07-21T21:01:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T21:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/verifiedonionlinks.com\/updates\/?p=990"},"modified":"2026-07-21T21:04:36","modified_gmt":"2026-07-21T21:04:36","slug":"whatsapp-usernames-will-let-you-chat-without-sharing-your-phone-number","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/verifiedonionlinks.com\/updates\/whatsapp-usernames-will-let-you-chat-without-sharing-your-phone-number\/","title":{"rendered":"WhatsApp Usernames Will Let You Chat Without Sharing Your Phone Number"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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ersonal and sometimes you want to connect without handing it over. that’s why we’re introducing usernames for WhatsApp.

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\u2026\u2014 WhatsApp (@WhatsApp) June 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

How Would It Work<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When usernames launch, WhatsApp says the first message to a person or business will show the username, not the phone number, as long as the sender has enabled the feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is worth noting that WhatsApp is not turning usernames into a people search engine. The company says there will be no public directory and no name suggestions, so a new contact must know the exact username before starting a conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Meta-owned chat app is also adding an optional username key, an extra code that someone must know before messaging through a username.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, a reserved handle should not be confused with anonymity. WhatsApp accounts still require phone numbers, and numbers already shared with contacts or visible in existing group chats can still be seen after the feature is enabled. The privacy gain applies mainly to new conversations started through the username system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Picking a name will not be a free-for-all. WhatsApp\u2019s Help Center says<\/a> usernames must be between 3 and 35 characters and can use lowercase letters, numbers, the _ symbol, and periods. AP also reported<\/a> that WhatsApp will hold back names linked to celebrities, public figures, government entities, and other high-profile accounts to limit impersonation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company says<\/a> accounts with existing Instagram or Facebook usernames will get an option to claim those names on WhatsApp, if available. For brands that already handle customer conversations on WhatsApp, losing a familiar name could create confusion once people start sharing usernames in place of phone numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n