WhatsApp Introduces Usernames to Chat Without Sharing Phone Numbers

Meta has begun rolling out a major update to WhatsApp that allows users to communicate without revealing their personal phone numbers. The new feature introduces dedicated usernames, enabling users to start conversations with people and businesses by searching for a precise username instead of a phone number. This rollout is currently available for Android and iOS users and marks a significant shift in WhatsApp’s functionality, aligning it more closely with apps like Telegram and Signal.

To enhance privacy, WhatsApp has implemented an optional "Username Key," a unique code that prevents strangers from contacting users by guessing their usernames. This key is automatically enabled for minors and must be known along with the exact username to initiate a new chat. Existing contacts who have saved a user’s phone number will not be affected by this change.

Users can find new contacts by entering the full and exact username in the chat search bar, as WhatsApp has deliberately avoided creating a public username directory to prevent mass username scanning by scammers. If the contacted user has an active username key, the app will prompt for it before opening the chat window.

Despite these changes, phone numbers remain necessary for account registration and identity verification with Meta. Current contacts will continue to see phone numbers unless users adjust settings for future contacts. WhatsApp will notify users in chat windows if a contact changes their username to help verify identity.

The new interface and username feature will gradually become available to all users in Israel in the coming weeks. Users who reserved usernames recently will receive notifications indicating their username is ready. This update reflects Meta’s effort to make WhatsApp a more flexible global communication tool supporting multiple digital identities with end-to-end encryption.