Overview
- WhatsApp began rolling out unique usernames on July 4, 2026, and some users can already reserve an @handle while wider activation continues over the coming months.
- The handles use an @usuario format, work on Android and iPhone, can be up to 35 characters long, and are optional additions to accounts.
- WhatsApp keeps phone numbers as the account backbone for registration and recovery so usernames do not replace numbers but offer a way to share an identifier instead of a phone line.
- To limit unwanted contact, WhatsApp says there will be no public searchable directory and that people must know the exact username to start a chat; reports also describe an optional 'username key' code and special protections to block impersonation of public figures.
- Users can reserve, change or delete usernames inside the app and manage them through Meta Accounts Center, a change that could help creators and small businesses present consistent public IDs while lowering exposure to spam and harassment.