WhatsApp has announced a new privacy-focused feature that would allow users to connect without sharing their phone numbers by introducing unique usernames on the messaging platform.The Meta-owned platform said users can begin reserving usernames this week, ahead of the feature’s gradual rollout later this year.Announcing the update, WhatsApp said usernames are designed to offer “a more private way to connect”, especially when interacting with new contacts or joining group conversations where sharing a personal phone number may not be desirable.Head of WhatsApp Kunal Shah also shared the announcement on X.Timing is everything. Joined WhatsApp early enough to claim my username before we release this to the world. Time to get yours.A more private way to connect. Coming soon to your WhatsApp. https://t.co/ZIq3S5n7gc— Kunal Shah (@kunalb11) June 29, 2026″Timing is everything. Joined WhatsApp early enough to claim my username before we release this to the world. Time to get yours. A more private way to connect. Coming soon to your WhatsApp,” he wrote.In a blog post titled It’s time to reserve your WhatsApp username, the company said users often hesitate to share their phone numbers with people they have just met.”When someone new walks into your life–a classmate, a neighbour, someone you meet at an event–sharing a phone number can feel like a big step. That’s because a phone number is personal and it’s tied to so many parts of your life. Sometimes you just want to chat without handing over your digits,” the company said.WhatsApp said the same concern also applies to group chats, where users may want to participate without revealing their personal phone numbers to strangers.”That’s why we’re introducing usernames for WhatsApp. Starting this week, you can reserve a username to use later this year when we launch this feature,” the company said.With more than three billion users globally, WhatsApp said opening reservations in advance would give users a fair opportunity to secure their preferred usernames before the feature becomes widely available.The platform advised users to choose a unique username that is known only to people they want to connect with. A built-in username generator will also suggest available options if a preferred username has already been taken.Creators, small businesses and organisations will have the option to claim the same usernames they already use on Instagram or Facebook, helping maintain a consistent online identity across Meta’s platforms.Emphasising privacy, WhatsApp said there will be “no directory to browse and no suggestions”, meaning users will need to know someone’s exact username to initiate contact. The company is also introducing an optional username key, which users can enable to add an extra layer of privacy by requiring a unique key before receiving a first message.Users can reserve a username by updating to the latest version of WhatsApp and navigating to Settings > Account > Username. The company said the feature will be rolled out gradually over the coming months, and users will receive an in-app notification when it becomes available in their country.ANI inputs