October 7, 2025, 10:37 am | Read time: 2 minutes
Since the launch of the messenger in 2009, a phone number has been required to use WhatsApp. This not only makes changing phone numbers unnecessarily complicated but also poses a privacy risk. Since August 2024, WhatsApp has been testing the use of a unique username linked to the account instead of a phone number. Now, the service is expanding the test to include the option to reserve the desired username in advance.
Usernames Aim to Make WhatsApp Safer
The advantage of a username over a phone number is clear. Anyone with the correct number can contact a person on WhatsApp without their consent. Additionally, all contacts in the app can access and share your phone number.
Usernames are intended to eliminate these issues. Users gain control over who can contact them on WhatsApp. Besides a unique name, a key can also be set. Even if someone knows the username, they will need this key to start a chat.
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Beta Test for Name Reservation
To keep phone numbers private, users will need to choose a username in the future. To ensure this process runs smoothly, WhatsApp is working on a way to reserve the name in advance, as reported by “WABetaInfo.”
In the beta version 2.25.28.12 for Android, the new option “Reserve Username” appears in the profile overview. This gives users the opportunity to choose a name before the switch from phone number to username actually takes place.
Fairness in Choosing WhatsApp Usernames
WhatsApp aims to ensure fairness with the launch of the new feature. Due to beta tests and multiple app versions in circulation, users are rarely on the same page regarding new features. Without the reservation option, some users could gain early access and claim popular usernames for themselves.
According to “WABetaInfo,” the reservation option could reach a larger user group faster than the new username feature. However, the actual introduction of usernames in WhatsApp is likely to take longer, giving the service time to identify and fix issues. When the reservation starts and the username feature follows is not yet determined.