WhatsApp is set to replace phone numbers with usernames. Here’s what the update means, how it works, and when it’s expected to roll out.
For as long as WhatsApp has existed, your phone number has been your ticket in. From creating your account to chatting with friends, numbers have been at the centre of everything. But that could change soon.
WhatsApp is testing a new username feature, giving people the option to connect without sharing their numbers. Instead of handing out digits, you’ll be able to create a unique username, just like on Instagram, Telegram, or X.
This development, first spotted in WhatsApp’s beta testing programme, is one of the most significant privacy updates the app has attempted in years. And if it rolls out widely in 2025, it could alter how over two billion people use WhatsApp every day.
At the moment, WhatsApp’s system is simple; You sign up with your number, and that number becomes your identity. If someone wants to chat with you, they need your digits. When you join a group, your number is automatically visible to everyone else in it.
That design has always raised questions around privacy. Once you share your number, you lose control over who has it and how it’s used. For many people, that’s fine when it’s just family and friends. But in larger groups, business chats, or online communities, it can feel intrusive.
The WhatsApp username update aims to solve this by offering a second option. Instead of giving out your number, you’ll be able to create a username that’s unique to you. Think of it like an Instagram handle, something short, personal, and easy to share.
If someone wants to add you, they can simply type in your username instead of asking for your number. The feature is expected to include privacy controls too, so you can decide whether or not to let others see your actual phone number once they connect.
(Pulse)
