WhatsApp has started rolling out username reservations globally ahead of its full feature launch later this year. The update will let users start chats without sharing phone numbers, using unique usernames instead. Users can reserve names via Settings > Account > Username, though the feature is not yet active for messaging.

WhatsApp has begun rolling out username reservations for its global user base, ahead of a full feature launch planned later this year. The move allows users to start a chat or be added by a new contact without sharing their phone number, marking one of the most significant changes to how identity works on the messaging app since its inception.

Why is WhatsApp introducing usernames?

Explaining the rationale, WhatsApp said in a blog post that sharing a phone number with someone new, whether a classmate, a neighbour, or someone met at an event, can feel like a big step, since a phone number is personal and tied to many other parts of a person's life. The company added that with over three billion people on WhatsApp, names overlap significantly, which is why reservations are opening early so users have the opportunity to select a username that matters to them.

What reservation means right now?