How to Reserve Your WhatsApp Username and Keep Your Number Private

WhatsApp users will soon be able to reserve a username directly inside the app, giving them another way to protect their phone number when chatting with new contacts.

The feature is being rolled out gradually by Meta, which means not everyone will see the option immediately. To check if it is available on your account, you need to be using the latest version of WhatsApp.

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What the WhatsApp username feature does

The username feature allows users to create or reserve a unique handle inside WhatsApp.

Once active, this will let new contacts reach you without automatically seeing your phone number. It adds another layer of privacy, especially for people who use WhatsApp for work, community groups, bookings or public-facing communication.

The feature must be set up from your primary mobile device. It is not available on WhatsApp Web or WhatsApp Desktop.

How to reserve your WhatsApp username

First, update WhatsApp through your phone’s app store to make sure you are using the latest version.

Then open WhatsApp and go to your settings menu.

On Android, tap the three vertical dots in the top right corner.

On iOS, tap the “You” profile icon in the bottom right corner.

Next, tap Account and select the Username option.

From there, choose Create username or Reserve username, depending on what appears in your region.

Type your preferred handle. It must be unique and between 3 and 35 characters long.

You may also be able to automatically claim your existing Instagram or Facebook handle by connecting WhatsApp to the same Meta Accounts Centre.

Once you have chosen your username, tap Save or Done to secure it.

What to do if you do not see the option

If the Username option does not appear in your account settings, the feature has not reached your account or region yet.

Meta is rolling it out in phases, so users should keep checking for app updates.

When your username becomes active

Reserving a username does not mean people can immediately search for you or message you with it.

Nobody can see, search for or use your reserved username until the feature officially goes live in your country.

WhatsApp will send an in-app notification once the feature becomes active.

Extra privacy controls

Once usernames are active, your phone number will remain hidden from new chats.

To reduce the risk of random people guessing your handle, you can also enable a four-digit username key.

This means people will need to enter the key before they can message you using your username.

Why it matters

For users who rely on WhatsApp daily, the username feature could make it easier to connect without sharing personal phone numbers.

It is especially useful for people who use WhatsApp for business, bookings, groups or public communication and want more control over who sees their number.

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