Overview
- WhatsApp began a global reservation period on Monday, June 29, 2026, letting users claim a unique @username inside the app via Settings > Account > Username to hold it for future use.
- Reserving a username does not remove the requirement to register with a phone number and the app will notify users in‑app when the ability to message or be found by username is enabled.
- Usernames must follow format rules (letters, numbers, dots and underscores), are unique, can be linked to Instagram or Facebook via Meta’s Center of Accounts, and creators and businesses can reclaim matching names from those platforms.
- WhatsApp added safety measures including optional four‑digit PINs required to message by username, limits on name changes, and pre‑reserving high‑value names (celebrities, government and verified accounts) to reduce impersonation.
- The move brings WhatsApp closer to rivals that long offered usernames while keeping the phone number as the account anchor and avoiding a public username directory, which means first‑time contacts must know an exact @ to reach someone.