- WhatsApp begins a gradual rollout of usernames for a limited group of accounts on Android and iOS.
- It will be possible to chat, call and make video calls without showing your phone number, using an identifier like @username.
- Usernames have strict formatting requirements and are integrated with the Meta ecosystem (Instagram and Facebook).
- Extra privacy options are added, such as an optional four-digit key to filter who can initiate conversations.
For more than a decade, WhatsApp has relied on the phone number as main key to identify each user. This way of working, very different from other messaging applications, required sharing your personal mobile phone number to be able to talk to someone. Now, the Meta platform is starting to make moves and is finally activating the user names, a feature that has been in testing for years and promises to change the way we contact each other within the app.
The change is happening gradually and, for the moment, only some accounts in the most recent versions WhatsApp users for Android and iOS are seeing the new option appear. This is a gradual rollout, as the company usually does with major new features, to ensure everything works correctly before making it available to everyone. reserve your usernamealso in key markets such as Spain and the rest of Europe.
What are WhatsApp usernames and why are they important?
Until now, to start a conversation in the application it was essential to have the telephone number of the person being referredThis works reasonably well among friends and family, but it poses problems when we talk about businesses, one-off contacts, buying and selling, online communities, or situations where we prefer to maintain some distance from our personal mobile phone.
With the new feature, each person will be able to choose a unique identifier, type @userwhich will allow you to locate her and open a chat without seeing her number. The approach is similar to what Telegram and other social networks already offer, such as SignalBut in the case of WhatsApp, it represents a significant shift, because it breaks with one of its historical foundations: that everything revolves around the phone number.
The main advantage is clear: usernames add a extra layer of privacy and controlThe phone number will still be required to register the account on WhatsApp's servers, but it will no longer need to be publicly displayed. For many users in Spain who use the app both personally and professionally, this separation between public identity and private mobile number can be especially useful.
Furthermore, the feature opens the door to new uses of the service in public environmentsFrom talking to a professional who gives you a quote without giving them your number, to participating in groups or communities where you don't want just anyone to be able to see your phone number or add you to their contacts, something similar to X username market.
Where does the feature appear and how do I check if I already have a username?
According to WABetaInfo, a website specializing in tracking beta versions of the app, WhatsApp has begun to activate the option for a small group of usersYou don't necessarily need to use the beta version, but you do need to have the app updated to the latest version available on your mobile device.
To check if your account is already part of the rollout, simply open the app and go to your profile settings. The process is usually very similar across different platforms: WhatsApp > Settings > ProfileOn that screen, in addition to your name, photo, information and phone number, a new section should appear called something like “Username”.
If the field is displayed, you can tap it to begin setting up your alias. The system will guide you step by step: enter the name you want, the app checks if It complies with the regulations and is available.And, if everything matches up, it will be linked to your account. From that moment on, you can share that identifier with other people so they can find you and message you without needing to see your number.
If the option doesn't appear yet, there's not much else to do other than keep the app updated And wait. Meta is rolling out the new feature gradually over the next few months, so it should reach more users little by little, including in Spain.
Requirements and rules for choosing a username on WhatsApp
As with any system of public identifiers, WhatsApp has established a series of fairly strict conditions to avoid impersonation, confusion with web addresses or names that are impossible to manage at a technical level.
Regarding length, the name must have between 3 and 35 charactersAccording to the most recent tests observed in the betas, some initial references pointed to a slightly lower limit of up to 30 characters, but the latest versions agree on that range of 3 to 35. In any case, it is not possible to use extremely short identifiers or endless strings.
Regarding the allowed characters, only the following are permitted: lowercase letters (az), numbers (0-9), periods (.), and underscores (_)The name must include at least one letter, so aliases consisting solely of numbers are not accepted. Additionally, in some test versions, the first character must be a letter to prevent unclear combinations or names that appear to be automated codes.
There is also a list of specific prohibitions: names cannot start with “www.” or end with domains domains such as .com, .net, .es, or similar. Starting or ending with a period, or using multiple periods in a row, is also prohibited. The goal is to reduce the possibility of someone trying to slip in addresses that appear legitimate or suspicious.
If the name passes these technical checks, it will still have to pass a more delicate filter: the integration with the rest of Meta's servicesAnd that's where Instagram and Facebook come into play.
Integration with Meta: names shared with Instagram and Facebook
Meta has not designed WhatsApp usernames as an isolated system, but as one more piece of its unified account ecosystem, What are you looking for connect with other messaging apps.
In practice, if the identifier you want to use already exists on Instagram or Facebook, WhatsApp will consider it. “reserved” for the legitimate holder from that profile. Only that person could claim it on WhatsApp, and to do so they would have to prove that they also control that user on the other networks through the Meta Account Center.
This joint verification system has one clear positive aspect: prevent mass impersonationsNo one can register on WhatsApp using the name of a famous Instagram account or an established brand without also controlling that profile on other platforms. This is a way to protect public identities and reduce the risk of fraud.
However, it also raises a question of cross-cutting privacyIf you decide to use the same name on WhatsApp, Instagram And with Facebook, you're making it easy for anyone who knows your username to find your profiles across all those networks with a simple search. This might make sense for those seeking personal or professional brand consistency, but not everyone will want that level of connection between their various online identities.
To try to balance these two worlds, Meta allows users who already have a registered name on one of its networks to also claim it on WhatsApp, provided that Link the accounts in the Accounts CenterThis process serves as proof that the same person is behind the different profiles, and once completed, the name is also associated with the WhatsApp account.
How to use usernames to chat, call, and add contacts
The essence of this new feature is that, instead of having to ask for or give out a mobile number, it will be enough to share a username preceded by an @ symbolThe other person will be able to enter that identifier into the WhatsApp contact search and, if it exists and meets the requirements, they will see the option to start a chat.
In the tests currently underway, this system is not limited to text messages. Meta has explained that usernames can also be used for calls and video callsThis reinforces the idea that the alias becomes the main contact information within the platform, at least in the part visible to other users.
However, the phone number doesn't disappear entirely. It will still be required for create the account and validate the registration the first time you enter WhatsApp, and also to be able to synchronize you lista de contactosFrom then on, it will be "hidden" behind your username, so only you will decide who you actually share your phone with.
To find someone using this system, simply type their name in the contact search field when you're about to start a conversation. If the user also has an extra security measure activated, the user passwordYou will need to enter that code before you can send the first message.
Once the chat is open, the user experience doesn't change much from what we know: you can write, send voice notes, share files or make calls in the same way as before, with the difference that the initial link will no longer be the number, but that @username identifier.
More privacy: optional passwords and spam filter
In addition to hiding the phone number, WhatsApp is testing an extra layer of control. Some of the improvements detected in the beta versions show the possibility of associating a password with the username. optional four-digit key, something like a small PIN that acts as an access filter.
If you decide to activate this protection, knowing your alias won't be enough to message you for the first time: the other person will have to also enter that four-digit codeThis way, you can share the name publicly (for example, on a professional website or social media profile) and reserve the password only for those you really want to be able to open a direct chat with you.
This measure has the potential to become an effective tool against spam and messages from unknown sendersThe idea is not just to hide the number, but to offer a small amount of access control without having to block half of the community or change phones if too much noise starts coming in.
In professional contexts, this can be particularly useful. A freelancer, an online store, or a technical service could publish their username to receive inquiries, but restrict access to verified clients or those who have previously submitted a form, thus reducing the volume of unwanted contacts.
However, this is a feature still under development, and there's no guarantee it will appear exactly the same or have the same functionality in the final release. Meta typically adjusts these kinds of details based on internal testing and early user feedback.
Gradual rollout, timelines and what to expect in Spain and Europe
Meta has been working on the idea of usernames on WhatsApp since at least 2023, when the first ones appeared. clues in test versionsSince then, the company has been refining the integration with the rest of the platform's tools and with its social media ecosystem.
In recent months, several milestones have been reached: from the first hidden menus in profile settings, to systems of advance name reservation and verification tests through the Account Center. Now, everything points to the project entering its most serious phase, with a real rollout to regular user accounts, albeit a very limited one.
The plans that are known point to an expansion staggered over the coming monthsFirst, a small group of testers and users with the latest versions of Android and iOS; then, a gradual expansion to more regions and profiles, provided that no serious security or performance problems appear.
In markets like Spain, where WhatsApp is the dominant messaging tool Both in personal life and in communication with companies, government agencies, and services, the introduction of usernames can have a significant impact. From neighborhood associations that will no longer need to share the administrator's personal mobile phone number, to professionals who will be able to better separate their private and professional lives.
Although there are no official dates confirmed, the various leaks agree that the event will take place. It will be extended throughout this year and next.As always in these cases, the new features may take a little longer to reach some countries or specific devices, but the intention is that the option will eventually be available globally.
With everything we're seeing in the beta versions and early rollouts, WhatsApp usernames are shaping up to be one of the deeper changes in the history of the applicationThey provide more privacy, fit with our everyday use of the service, and connect the app to the Meta ecosystem in a more coherent way, although they also raise new questions about how we want our different digital identities to relate to each other.
