WhatsApp’s username support is due this year, and although the messaging giant hasn’t officially shared information about the feature just yet, it doesn’t mean that it hasn’t made progress.

Last we checked, WhatsApp was working on letting users reserve their Facebook and Instagram usernames for WhatsApp. This time around, the messaging giant has been spotted bringing username functionality to chats, albeit in beta.

WhatsApp

Spotted in version 2.26.1.32 of the WhatsApp beta for Android by the folks over at WABetaInfo, the messaging giant is already making its intentions clear, highlighting what usernames will look like within chats.

Essentially being developed to help protect sensitive data like personal phone numbers, the upcoming feature will let users assign a username to their WhatsApp account. This means that the next time someone asks for your WhatsApp contact details, you’d only need to share your username, and not your phone number.

Considering that you’d be able to port over your Instagram username, the functionality effectively bridges your social identity across platforms with essentially one username to rule ’em all.

Expect usernames to be available this year

A screenshot highlighting what usernames will look like on a contact information screen.
Credit: WABetaInfo

You’ll be able to find new contacts via their unique ‘@’ handle. Additionally, when you initiate a conversation via a username, their phone number (and yours) will remain invisible.

As seen in the image above, usernames will take up the phone number’s space in individual contacts’ contact information screen (right at the top). Your or the contact’s phone number will only become available if the two of you already have each other’s phone number saved.

It’s worth noting that once rolled out, opting for usernames will be completely optional. If you do opt for one though, your core WhatsApp experience will remain the same. The only difference would be that you’d be able to hide your phone number from new contacts, group members, and businesses, complete with new settings that come along with the functionality.

Although we don’t have a concrete timeline, we expect WhatsApp to roll out usernames this year, with the option to reserve usernames likely coming in the first half of 2026.