WhatsApp Opens Username Reservations for 3 Billion Users Ahead of Launch Later This Year
Updated
Updated · 9to5Google · Jun 29
WhatsApp Opens Username Reservations for 3 Billion Users Ahead of Launch Later This Year
3 articles · Updated · 9to5Google · Jun 29
Summary
WhatsApp said users can start reserving usernames this week, even though the feature itself will roll out gradually over the coming months and may not appear immediately in the app.
3 billion users on the service means many names overlap, so WhatsApp is opening reservations early and letting creators, businesses and organizations claim matching Facebook or Instagram handles.
Settings > Account > Username will be the main path to claim a handle, though the option was not yet widely visible in the latest Android update at publication.
Later this year, usernames will become the default identifier for contacts instead of phone numbers, but starting a new chat will still require an exact username match rather than searchable handles.