TL;DR
WhatsApp has been spotted testing username support in its Android beta, showing '@' handles replacing phone numbers on contact info screens. The feature — expected to arrive this year — would let users share a username instead of a phone number and may allow porting Instagram or Facebook usernames.
What happened
In the WhatsApp beta for Android (version 2.26.1.32) observers found early username support integrated into chat and contact screens. The beta build, reported by WABetaInfo, shows unique '@' handles appearing where a phone number typically sits on an individual contact's info page. When conversations begin via a username, neither participant's phone number is revealed unless they already have each other's numbers saved. WhatsApp appears to be positioning usernames as an optional layer users can adopt to keep their phone numbers private from new contacts, groups and businesses. The implementation also hints at cross-platform continuity: users may be able to reuse or port Instagram and Facebook usernames. While testers and trackers expect a broader rollout this year, specific timelines and detailed mechanics—such as reservation interfaces and exact privacy controls—remain unclear.
Why it matters
- Helps reduce exposure of personal phone numbers when connecting with new contacts
- Creates a single, discoverable identifier that can bridge social profiles across platforms
- Gives users more choice over how they share contact details without changing core WhatsApp functionality
- Could change how people add and find contacts on the service, shifting discovery from numbers to handles
Key facts
- Username UI was observed in WhatsApp beta for Android version 2.26.1.32
- WABetaInfo reported the discovery of the feature in the beta build
- Usernames appear as '@' handles and replace the phone number location on contact info screens
- Starting a chat via a username keeps both parties' phone numbers hidden unless they already have each other's numbers saved
- WhatsApp intends usernames to be optional; core app experience should remain unchanged for users who do not opt in
- The feature is designed to let users hide their phone numbers from new contacts, group members and businesses
- WhatsApp may allow users to port or reserve the same username used on Instagram or Facebook
- Expectations in the source suggest usernames could roll out this year
- Username reservation is likely to arrive in the first half of 2026, according to the source
What to watch next
- Official launch date and rollout schedule from WhatsApp — not confirmed in the source
- The release and mechanics of username reservation, which the source predicts could arrive in early 2026
- How WhatsApp surfaces and enforces privacy settings for hiding phone numbers from contacts, groups and businesses
- Whether cross-platform porting of Instagram and Facebook usernames is supported and how that process will work
Quick glossary
- Username: A unique identifier chosen by a user to represent their account, often prefixed with '@' for discovery.
- Beta: An early software release provided to testers that may contain in-development features and is not final.
- Handle: An informal term for a username or identifier used on social platforms for discovery and mentions.
- Contact info screen: The page within a messaging app that displays a contact's details such as name, phone number, status and profile.
Reader FAQ
Will a WhatsApp username replace my phone number?
Usernames are intended to let you share a handle instead of a phone number with new contacts; phone numbers remain visible if both parties already have each other's numbers saved.
Can I use my Instagram or Facebook username on WhatsApp?
The source indicates WhatsApp may allow users to port or reserve Instagram and Facebook usernames for use on WhatsApp.
Is choosing a username mandatory?
No — the feature is described as optional and the core WhatsApp experience will remain for users who do not opt in.
When will usernames be available to everyone?
Not confirmed in the source; the article expects a rollout this year but gives no concrete launch date.
WhatsApp just put a handle on contact info screens By Karandeep Singh Oberoi Published 22 minutes ago Karandeep Singh Oberoi is a Durham College Journalism and Mass Media graduate who…
Sources
- WhatsApp just put a handle on contact info screens
- WhatsApp is getting usernames so you can finally stop …
- WhatsApp Is Developing a New Username Lookup Feature …
- It's official: WhatsApp's new usernames are here … – AS USA
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