New WhatsApp feature to replace phone numbers
WhatsApp might soon be rolling out a new feature…
It's taken long enough, but WhatsApp is reportedly finally rolling out something that feels like it should have existed from day one: usernames.
The Meta-owned messaging app has always required your phone number to sign up or sign in to your account, but that might soon change.
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According to Mashable, the latest beta version (25.17.10.70) shows the app is testing a feature that lets you pick your own unique username.
This is described as a personal handle, similar to what Telegram or Instagram already uses.
How it works
Users will be able to choose a name made up of letters, numbers, dots, and underscores.
Usernames won't be able to start with "www." or end in something like ".com." This is specifically to prevent users from pretending to be websites.
There are a few rules to keep things clean and secure:
- Contain at least one letter
- Be between three and 30 characters long
- Include only lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), periods, and underscores
- Avoid domains (e.g., .com)
- Not start or end with a period or contain consecutive periods
- Not begin with "www."
This update will allow users to chat without sharing their phone numbers.
It means a lot more privacy, especially in group chats or when messaging someone for the first time.
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And don't worry about missing any updates. If someone in your chat changes their username, you'll get a heads-up with a little system message.
While this feature is still being fine-tuned behind the scenes, it looks like a wider rollout is coming soon.
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