WhatsApp is finally moving away from phone numbers as the only way to find and message people. The app is rolling out a username feature that lets users connect without exposing their number to anyone.
Why WhatsApp is making this change
For years, starting a WhatsApp conversation meant sharing your phone number first, even with a business or a stranger. WhatsApp says that requirement has kept many people from reaching out at all. Usernames remove that barrier. Once set up, a person can share a username instead of a number, and decide separately whether to ever reveal the number behind it.
How it works
Users can pick a unique username inside the app, or import one they already use on Facebook or Instagram. That username can then be used to start chats and voice or video calls, with the phone number staying private unless the user chooses to share it. Phone numbers won’t disappear entirely. They’ll likely stick around as a backup identifier, but they won’t be required to make contact anymore.
What it means for businesses
WhatsApp is also introducing something called a Business-Scoped User ID, a unique identifier that lets companies message customers without ever seeing their phone number. This ID will show up in webhook notifications and work across current and future versions of WhatsApp’s business tools. Companies using WhatsApp’s API have been given until June 2026 to update their systems to support it.
Rollout timeline
The username feature is currently in a phased rollout, available to a limited set of users first. WhatsApp has not given an exact date for global availability, but the company says broader access should follow as testing wraps up later in 2026. Users can check if the feature has reached them by opening WhatsApp Settings and looking for a Username section.
This is one of the biggest privacy changes WhatsApp has made in years. For a platform used by billions of people specifically because it’s tied to a phone number, cutting that requirement loose is a significant shift, and one that could make the app noticeably more comfortable for anyone who has ever hesitated to hand out their number.