As WhatsApp approaches the official rollout of usernames, the app now lets users save a contact’s username alongside their name and phone number. WABetaInfo spotted the new username field appearing between the first/last name fields and the phone number section on the New Contact screen. Users can access this by tapping the "+" button in the Chats tab and selecting "New contact."

The username field is rolling out to select users on both beta and stable versions of WhatsApp. However, in testing, the field returns an error message "This username is not on WhatsApp" even when the username exists, indicating ongoing refinement. WABetaInfo notes that when usernames become widely available, the field will populate automatically when creating a contact from the chat info screen.

This feature marks another step toward WhatsApp catching up with competitors by offering a basic feature long missing. Earlier this year, a username reservation system was introduced to let users claim handles and avoid impersonations. The gradual rollout suggests a full launch is coming soon.