You Will Be Able to Use a Username on WhatsApp Without Displaying Your Phone Number

For more privacy, WhatsApp will allow you to choose a nickname instead of exposing your phone number to everyone. And you will even have a search bar to find contacts more easily!

WhatsApp is well known for its security features, such as end to end encryption, disappearing messages, blocking screenshots for certain messages, sending ephemeral voice messages, and Chat Lock mode to hide and lock specific conversations.

However, WhatsApp falls short in some areas compared to its competitors, particularly in group chats where each participant's phone number is visible. This visibility allows strangers to contact you directly, which is not ideal. Meta, WhatsApp's parent company, might address this issue soon. The specialized site WABetaInfo has discovered a new feature in development that allows users to choose a username.

In May 2023, it was reported that users might soon be able to use unique nicknames for privacy reasons, rather than displaying their phone numbers. This feature is still under development, with gradual improvements being made. For example, in December, a beta version of the Android app included a search bar for finding contacts by nickname. This search bar allowed users to type a name, nickname, or phone number to find and start a conversation with the desired contact.

In February, Meta enhanced this feature further by allowing users to log into the app using their username instead of their phone number in a beta version for iOS devices and other platforms.

Recently, WABetaInfo found this functionality in the web version of WhatsApp. Users will be prompted to choose a username, which will serve as their public identifier, and check its availability during setup. This feature is still under development and will be available on various platforms soon.

The new username feature offers two main benefits: enhanced security by not requiring you to share your phone number, and easier contact searching, saving you time scrolling through your contact list. It provides more anonymity and control over personal information while simplifying the process of connecting with others. Setting up a username will be optional, and you can delete it at any time if you choose to.