# WhatsApp is launching usernames: here’s how to reserve yours

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-06-29 17:07 UTC · Category: Technology

## Executive Summary
WhatsApp has officially initiated a username reservation system, allowing users to communicate without sharing their personal phone numbers.

## Intelligence Brief
WhatsApp is launching a new feature that enables users to secure unique usernames for their accounts. This change removes the previous requirement for individuals to exchange phone numbers to initiate contact on the platform.


Coverage from WIRED, 9to5Mac, Bloomberg.com, BBC, and The Verge highlights the launch of the reservation system. Reports emphasize that this update is being rolled out to the service's global user base of 3 billion people.


Future updates will clarify the specific privacy settings associated with these new identifiers. Coverage does not yet specify the full range of customization options or the timeline for when usernames will be fully integrated into daily messaging functions.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Meta Store | It’s Time to Reserve Your WhatsApp Username | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxNS0xLaHhRSUd3TjRaUFRiNFFTc2dUbnBzcFM1dFFXRk9fVk4tNE94eXZTVGpka2w3djBtR2Zma2JqUWNDX0NUcXFSYUlGVENGVERPYmpDNXYzc3dFcUk3WDFTclc5X0tDX2hzRmU4SC1YT3pURy1HVGJlMVlmNnd5WXQ3UdIBiAFBVV95cUxOaXJ4cEZnQk1kLXZxbGZ1VEZFRXpKaTFmbzFlYTBkaFV4ajJtQ2JKTmF2UjdvNzBxdjgwa1VlMVZIM3dCVTVwUWRQbTNYNGZFTnB5cFVWZENySW5aYXI4YTVpaWZpZE82TGdOS0ZxQ1pfeUVVLVdYT2FxV3dSRVJZVE9HT0JRQkZ5?oc=5) |
| NBC4 Washington | WhatsApp will allow users to go by usernames instead of phone numbers for added privacy | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxOTVlXUFlyVlY2dS1LaUV0N2k1Wi1oVGNzYmRESDFsOElXcXVTcmlBNUtJMFFHa281M3lHS25NUVZKWEQxbERCRW8wdFZkeXdBV0pnNUVVeXE0WDZua3FseF9IRjR1ODVHWktBWFZDNHdLT3FxcHpaaWVsOWlFN3VqZnZ2RGVsdGpTSm4yVEdYTHlTSEJNWVlOLV9wZEkwUEp1eEM4dHhualNMYTDSAbMBQVVfeXFMTkVwOTVNbkNvSTNKODZUandhUC01c3FtVmtidms0ak5XSUd0NDZVRm5qUEZQUk5MaHZ6YUdqUzdVUi1kQ1Bia2pSRWlTd3JieHBsOFpJSndKX0FSOEJUYzBfWVlyS1ViNEk1Mk16RGRpUTFmbThRYjBhSGlnc2JFaDlZWlE3dnhiN3VFTlB5Y0I4YVVDdF9RVDNfcnBLLU9zWlkyMFE5QXF) |
| AP News | WhatsApp will allow users to go by usernames instead of phone numbers, closing a privacy blind spot | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMimwFBVV95cUxNMVlEeFJub3BiWjBEc0V1T2lSRm9HX05iS19lWGVNdGxSWXlQenFTZUZOSjF1a3o3SjlZQ2tfb2ZwU0V6QUdDTkk3blBaMklQWGs5bTlLaGdxTG9CSURzZzZCVDU4a3YwSEtTOEZNdDVfVV84b3ltR2hfQ2M1b1NGQ0h2TWpyamR4ZUtXXy0tcG5tR2VpWEZOWnJubw?oc=5) |
| Gizmodo | You Need to Claim Your WhatsApp Username Right Now | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiiAFBVV95cUxQX2JBQ1RTcUJaTW44ZlliVlFaaGFjT253MWE1aGgySUhtX29RdDc1Tm01MHFoYkRiN0p2eGVsdG0yY1gtTmVvNEh4empwM050T0YzaDQzT1FtVUdqUFBjSDdvenc0YjEwcS1JWGE0Rk5SVHhwbGZhTzd6blZaNkNvTVFNUzU5Rld1?oc=5) |
| BBC | WhatsApp to let people chat without swapping phone numbers | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiWkFVX3lxTE4ycW9mQmxDTXFXZWNIZW02MTZuRXhUM3piYVo2LWpMZGU3RmFHNTFyN25MTUJYNE10d0FEREhsT05nc3VTZXNPME9taE9sMmhzbzhHaWtEV3IyQQ?oc=5) |
| 9to5Google | WhatsApp usernames launch ‘later this year’ – here’s how to get yours now | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxOSC1CYk5OMkZmS0xvbE1QNEd1OE1BYjBBZ3NqMndfaE13WTg0RTdhNEk5Zlo5aS1KWml4aEcxU0dLV1MzZUd5dnFnMElLRE02WS1xUjBuclVMYl9icmFTX3ZUMVlKZ0tmbkhxVk02U1lJaFA5YXhhaGdDV3ZtOHNqY1pkOU10V3VvUGVlcHVWTnlFX19rQ2VpZXFKNXZYcS1tV2E5UVV3?oc=5) |
| WIRED | Usernames Are Coming to WhatsApp Soon. Here's How to Reserve Yours | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxNSEdjdE1GZzlQdnVIOW5hbmUxeFpOYjgzZ2VTSWFfRVJOaFF4aEdtSDNTWjZNeWJWVU9OeGJDNWF1UEphYktyZHJCeC13c1NVNnljSUhpcjNQTVFSRVlqMzF3b3UwOVNvbnV4Z1NKMFFtN1NqREFtRWRVVUoyRlBtZHdrVlBBc2VuaGVvLWljOA?oc=5) |
| 9to5Mac | WhatsApp username reservations are now open, here’s how to claim yours | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiogFBVV95cUxNX0pLN21mWFE3a0JEZldHQ3RVaVhleVAzVHl6c3kzc0lORVB1Z01vbUJMa2ZmY0NVZ3JwaXY3ekx1U284NFlOdkN0ZkNlMzFwZnNHX1d2d1EzSU00NXBmeGJUZVFXTTF4VkFKcGFHeDdKZmpvcUFRaFhwVGtjLS0yM2RfdkxFMktWcnFSREdkbWJnWjRrNFpXc09EbXlVeXVYb3c?oc=5) |
| Bloomberg.com | WhatsApp Opens Username Reservations to 3 Billion Users | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxOMHVjWjlTR2F4YlV2a0dlUUZoQkRFVUp0TmxlbG1hSFlpRFRLMm1QbGxWRG5pZWJ6Z0VneThCMS0zT3Qtbk92SjhZQWhoSXVmTmRVVFlhdTZwYWpybEdiMDZpNG5mZFhmS2xSWHlEbDE2OVVXZWdsVU82ZVJyWDJsT1BXcWdBZ01YQ3pIY1lQVm1pdmIxcGRRb20wZmtpbTBqMjNPRVAyQ3d2QQ?oc=5) |
| BBC | WhatsApp to let people chat without swapping phone numbers | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiXEFVX3lxTE5xSUM5eWQ4SjdVbEdWNVpVNzQ3MmRIS0Y4SU1DaGhtQzY4M1BiTzdsREtEVEItYjF6SXBUMzZEZmlMWTZhM1YyUUg3RjRFQ18wQ0ZVQ1RibVF2SnN0?oc=5) |
| The Verge | WhatsApp is launching usernames: here’s how to reserve yours | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxONHN6bFZzdk55dU9LQXowb3U2aU9iSzRfbTk5eHI5N1d1ZVNTV1U1cjN4YU5jR0pyMno3ZjZWYnBFTnkwelluVENtQlBvdVA3UXg5MDBKVThWTjRUQ1VzREZVNUdLN0Vjc1h1NlRySmV2Qk5CSTJrSkdqZGV0T3ktVWxvVWlFOUtJUS1yMl9mVmFxZw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-06-29/whatsapp-is-launching-usernames-here-s-how-to-reserve-yours*