How does WhatsApp’s new username feature work? Here’s how you can chat without phone number

WhatsApp users will soon have a new way to connect without revealing their phone numbers. Ahead of a broader update planned for later this year, the messaging platform has started rolling out username reservations, allowing people to claim a unique handle before the feature becomes widely available.

The move marks one of WhatsApp’s biggest privacy-focused changes, giving users the option to start conversations using a username instead of sharing their mobile number.