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WhatsApp’s Latest Beta Lets You Set up a Username, so You Don’t Have to Share Your Phone Number

The beta feature lets users keep their phone numbers private and requires a 4-digit key to message new usernames.

  • According to WABetaInfo, WhatsApp has started a "phased rollout" of a new username feature to a "limited" number of beta users on Android and iOS.
  • The main benefit of WhatsApp usernames is the ability to keep your phone number private, allowing users to share an identifier rather than their personal contact information.
  • Restrictions for Usernames include a 3-35 character length, no "www." prefixes or domain endings, and users can optionally set a 4-digit "username key" for added security.
  • You can link existing Facebook or Instagram usernames to your profile, though WhatsApp still requires a phone number to use the app, limiting complete anonymity for now.
  • Availability is set to expand over the coming months as WhatsApp transitions the feature from beta versions to broader access among users.
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WhatsApp started user name testing on its platform. The function allows you to identify accounts without sharing the phone number. Deployment reaches a limited group of users.The tool arises as part of a development that started in 2023.Its goal is to facilitate the connection between people and strengthen privacy.Each user will be able to create a unique identifier preceded by the @ symbol.How user names will workUsers with access to the test m…

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UPDATE For a long time, users have been waiting for the launch of their usernames in the WhatsApp mega-messaging app – as has been the case with Signal and Telegram for a long time. Now it's time and the roll-out starts. This is what the WhatsApp-specialist publisher WABetaInfo points out. However, only very few users have access to the usernames, at least Android and iOS. In the profile settings, users can check whether they are already part of…

The new username system, which the messaging service has been testing for several months, will be rolled out in the coming weeks. WhatsApp has reportedly already begun this process with a limited number of users.

Meta is testing a feature in a beta phase that many users have been waiting for and that fundamentally changes how to reach WhatsApp. Those who use WhatsApp have always had to pass on their phone number in order to be accessible. This should change, as the blog WABetaInfo, which specialises in WhatsApp news, reports. The service is currently testing the possibility of assigning an individual user name in a running beta phase. The function is pla…

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WABetaInfo broke the news in on Wednesday, April 8, 2026.
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