Overview
- WhatsApp began letting users reserve a unique @username this week, with the reservation option available in Settings > Account > Username in the latest app version.
- Usernames are optional and do not replace the phone number as the account’s base identifier, but they will hide a user’s phone number from people who message them for the first time.
- WhatsApp will not create a public username directory so people must know the exact @username to start a chat, and the company will notify users when the contact-by-username feature is activated.
- To limit abuse, WhatsApp pre‑reserved high‑value names for public figures and brands, enforces character and change rules, and offers an optional four‑digit contact PIN that others must know to message you.
- Meta is preparing business tooling so creators and companies can claim matching Instagram/Facebook names and use a Business Scoped User ID to handle username‑based conversations once the feature is fully live.