Overview
- WhatsApp began rolling out a dedicated username field on the New Contact screen this Thursday to select iOS and Android users running beta and some stable builds.
- The field appears between name and phone number and lets people save a contact’s unique handle alongside existing details so chats can start without sharing a primary phone number.
- Early testers reported a false-negative error that said “This username is not on WhatsApp” even when handles exist, showing the feature is still maturing during the phased rollout.
- WhatsApp has confirmed that contacts saved by username will follow the app’s standard privacy rules for things like status visibility, and the app will auto-fill usernames from chat info once handles are widely available.
- The change follows a username reservation phase earlier this year that let users claim handles to curb impersonation, and it could reduce the need to exchange phone numbers for personal and business connections.