WhatsApp has begun rolling out a new username reservation feature, giving users an alternative way to connect without immediately sharing their phone numbers. The update marks one of the platform's biggest privacy-focused changes in recent years and is expected to gradually reach users worldwide.

The new feature allows users to create and reserve a unique username through Settings > Account > Username. Once configured, the username can be used as an additional identity on the platform, making it easier for people to communicate while keeping their mobile numbers private during new interactions.

According to the rollout, usernames must follow a defined set of rules. They must contain between three and thirty-five characters, begin with a letter and can include numbers, periods and underscores. Usernames must also be unique, preventing multiple accounts from using the same identity.

WhatsApp said the feature is part of a broader effort to strengthen user privacy while making it easier to discover and connect with others. The company plans to expand the functionality later this year by allowing usernames to replace phone numbers when initiating conversations with new contacts. Existing chats and saved contacts, however, will continue to remain linked to registered phone numbers.

Alongside usernames, WhatsApp is also introducing an optional username key designed to improve account security. The additional identifier is intended to help users verify they are contacting the correct person while reducing the chances of spam, impersonation and unwanted contact requests from strangers.

The announcement has generated positive reactions from many early users who see the feature as a long-awaited privacy improvement. Several technology leaders and early adopters welcomed the update, noting that it brings WhatsApp closer to messaging platforms that already allow users to connect through usernames instead of phone numbers.

At the same time, some users have raised concerns about potential misuse. Questions have emerged over username impersonation, account discovery and whether the new system could increase unsolicited messages if popular usernames become targets for spam.

WhatsApp is expected to introduce additional safeguards as the rollout expands, including verification tools and stronger protections against abuse. The company has emphasized that usernames are designed to complement existing account security rather than replace established privacy features.

The launch represents another step in WhatsApp's ongoing efforts to improve user privacy while modernizing how people connect on the messaging platform. As the feature becomes more widely available, usernames are expected to change the way millions of users share their identities without exposing personal phone numbers.