WhatsApp continues to test feature to use a username instead of phone numbers

WhatsApp, the Meta-owned global messaging app, has been working on a feature for a while now that will allow you to give a username instead of your phone number to those you want to message. This is a highly requested feature that has apparently taken a long time to implement since it was spotted in a beta last year. However, it now appears that additional work is underway to test this feature, indicating that it is still on the table.

Unlike the United States, where Apple's iMessage and old-school SMS have a stronghold in messaging, the rest of the world uses other solutions. WhatsApp is one of them in countries like India, Latin America, and parts of Europe, which then translates to users living in the United States who have friends and family in those places.

For users around the world, the WhatsApp team has been working on introducing the option to generate usernames. News on the progress of this feature has been quiet for a while, but based on the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 24.3.10.72 (as spotted by WABetaInfo), it looks like this feature is about to take off.

Image source: WABetaInfo

In this version, the section of the application where users can choose a username is present again. This time, however, the app will initiate a validation process to ensure that the chosen username is valid. Validation involves ensuring that the username is unique and only allows alphanumeric characters (az and 0-9). This provides the ability to keep your phone number hidden, which provides many privacy benefits.

Currently, exchanging contact information for WhatsApp involves revealing your phone number, which can be worrying for those who prefer some anonymity, whether for security or personal reasons. Although users will likely still need a number to create an account, the ability to choose a username allows them to be more selective about who sees it.

Additionally, this feature could be useful to those who want a username that is much easier for friends and family to remember, rather than a series of numbers. Unfortunately, WhatsApp has yet to provide an official timeline for when usernames will be available to all users, but we hope it becomes a priority for the app's developers this year.