WhatsApp is set to introduce a new username feature aimed at giving users greater control over their personal information, marking one of the platform’s most significant privacy updates in recent years. The Meta-owned messaging service announced that the feature will be rolled out globally over the coming months to its more than three billion users, allowing people to connect without revealing their phone numbers during conversations.

According to the company, users can begin reserving their preferred usernames from Monday through the app, although adopting the feature will remain optional. Those who choose to use it will be able to communicate with others through a unique username, while a valid phone number will still be required to create and maintain a WhatsApp account.

The privacy-focused update is expected to be particularly useful in situations where users interact with people they do not know personally, such as group chats, community discussions and other online spaces. Once the feature becomes available, phone numbers will no longer be displayed during username-based conversations, reducing the need to disclose personal contact details while maintaining communication on the platform.

WhatsApp says the new system has been designed with safeguards to limit abuse. Usernames will be restricted to a maximum of 35 characters, while measures have been introduced to reduce the risk of impersonating public figures and celebrities. The company also says there will be no public directory of usernames, and users will continue to have access to existing safety features, including the ability to block and report unwanted contacts.

Explaining the reason for the update, WhatsApp’s Lead Product Development, Alice Newton-Rex, said the company received feedback from users seeking alternative ways to stay connected without always sharing their phone numbers, particularly in group conversations. She said the feature is intended to give people more choice over how they present themselves and interact with others on the messaging platform.

The announcement comes as WhatsApp prepares for a change in leadership. The company recently named Kunal Shah as its incoming head, succeeding Will Cathcart after seven years in the role. While the leadership transition continues, the planned rollout of the username feature reflects the platform’s broader effort to strengthen user privacy while preserving the safety tools already available to its global community.