Meta announced that WhatsApp will add usernames, letting users replace phone numbers with a handle for more privacy. The feature isn’t live yet; a global rollout will roll out over the next months, but reservation windows opened this week. Early adopters can lock in a name now via the mobile app.

To reserve a handle, open the app. iPhone users tap the profile picture, choose “Create Username” or “Reserve Username,” and save. Android users go Settings → three‑dot menu → profile → option. Names must be 3‑35 characters, using lowercase letters, numbers, underscores or periods; all‑numeric strings and restricted words are blocked. Import a Facebook or Instagram handle. Dropped names return after a 14‑day cooling period.

Meta plans to curb impersonation by requiring an authorization key for first‑time contacts, yet critics warn that unchecked handles could aid scammers. India, WhatsApp’s largest market with over 500 million users, has asked regulators to pause the feature until fraud safeguards are clarified. The rollout now faces legal scrutiny that could delay widespread adoption and could influence future privacy features.