Introduction

WhatsApp is testing a username reservation feature in its Android beta, letting some testers check availability and secure a unique handle tied to their account. First spotted by WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, the experiment hints at a future where users can be found and messaged without exposing their phone numbers.

What’s new in the beta

In the latest Android beta builds, a new profile option surfaces for a subset of testers to choose and reserve a unique username. The interface checks availability and appears to associate the handle with the user’s account. WhatsApp has not announced public availability or final behavior, and the feature remains under development.

• Username reservation: Lets testers pick a unique handle and confirm if it’s available.
• Privacy-minded: Suggests a pathway to connect without sharing phone numbers.
• Limited rollout: Only visible to select Android beta users; details may change before release.
• Ecosystem fit: Mirrors how WhatsApp Channels and other platforms (like Telegram and Signal) use handles to improve discovery and privacy.

Why it matters

If broadly released, usernames could be one of WhatsApp’s most significant identity shifts in years. For users, it would reduce friction when meeting new contacts and add privacy by default—no more handing out numbers just to chat. For businesses and creators, a consistent handle could simplify customer support and audience growth across links, QR codes, and social profiles. Strategically, it aligns WhatsApp with a broader industry move toward handle-based identity, while maintaining end-to-end encryption and user control.

Availability and next steps

This capability is currently experimental in the Android beta and not available to everyone. WhatsApp has not confirmed timelines, regional availability, naming rules, or whether handles will be globally unique, changeable, or monetized. Expect iterations before any public rollout.

“As with all features under development, the final implementation may change or be removed before release.”
— WABetaInfo