WhatsApp has been working on adding unique usernames to the app for about a while now but the feature might be just around the corner.
The username feature in WhatsApp aims to make it easier to share your personal details without giving out your personal phone number. We know that this feature has been in development for nearly two years, with the top messaging app stealthily working to make it happen.
There’s no exact release date just yet, but clues in both the Android and iOS beta versions suggest that the feature is nearly ready according to a report by WeBetaInfo (via Android Police). The plan is to let people reserve their preferred usernames before the rollout, so you can lock in your top choice before everyone else jumps in.
Once this goes live, usernames will pop up in your profile tab under a new “Username” section. If someone doesn’t have your number saved, they’ll just see your username instead. It’s a quick way to keep your phone number private when you’re meeting new people or sharing your contact info.
This development follows last year’s discovery of a related feature – a PIN code protection feature that blocks unwanted messages. Even if someone knows your username, they still need your code to chat with you. That means users have more control over who can actually reach out.
Of course, WhatsApp is setting some ground rules for usernames to keep things tidy and secure. You need at least one letter (you can use lowercase letters), then numbers, periods, or underscores. Usernames have to be between 3 to 30 characters, but they can’t start or end with a period, start with “www” or end with domain endings likes “.com” or “.net”.
The early reservation phase should open up soon, and after that, the full release begins once everything’s running smoothly. When it finally lands, WhatsApp’s long-awaited username feature is going to make sharing your contact information in the app far simpler and way more private.
In other news, WhatsApp has also recently unveiled its translation feature that lets users translate messages in their preferred language without leaving the app.
