I Reserved My WhatsApp Username Early and Here's Why This New Privacy Feature Matters
- Utshab Biswas
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
WhatsApp has started rolling out username reservations worldwide, and I successfully reserved mine. In this article, I explain how to reserve your WhatsApp username, how the feature improves privacy by hiding your phone number, and why claiming your preferred username early is a smart move before the global launch.
Finally, it seems like WhatsApp is implementing some of the biggest updates it has done in terms of privacy in a while, and I have been eager to check it out. The moment I saw that there was an opportunity to do so from my own account, I made sure to save my username on WhatsApp before the update launches for all users.
For quite some time now, I have believed that having to provide my phone number just so that I can get into a discussion with another person is not really the right way of doing things. This is whether you want to join a community, reach out to a company, or make new friends.
Once I update my WhatsApp to its latest version, I got notified about the arrival of the username reservations feature through the application. WhatsApp is introducing the username reservations feature slowly to give the users the opportunity to reserve a unique username before it introduces the full username system.
Since I did not want to lose my username which I usually use for all my applications, I decided to reserve it immediately after getting the opportunity. With WhatsApp having three billion users across the globe, I am sure that popular usernames will be gone pretty soon.
Reserving Whatsapp Username Was Surprisingly Easy
The process only took a few moments.
On Android, I simply opened Settings > Account > Username after updating to the latest version of WhatsApp. iPhone users will find the option under their profile settings once the rollout reaches their accounts.
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If you don't see the option yet, don't panic. WhatsApp is releasing the feature in stages, so it may take some time before it becomes available for everyone.
And the most important thing about this update for me is the increase in privacy that comes with it. When messaging based on the username becomes available officially, then I would be able to converse with strangers without having to disclose my personal phone number. Rather than giving out my personal contact information, I could just share my username with others.
I believe that this is one of the most valuable privacy improvements provided by WhatsApp in quite some time.
The one thing I like about this feature now that I've read up on it more is that WhatsApp doesn't seem to be aiming to turn itself into a social media site.
It won't work like Instagram or Telegram, meaning that there won't be any kind of public phone book where you could just type in a bit of my username and find me that way. Rather, the only way to contact me would be for someone to already know my username.
Businesses and Creators Are Also Getting Priority
Another intriguing fact here is the ability of WhatsApp to allow users who are creators, brands, and organizations to claim usernames similar to their Instagram or Facebook handle whenever available.
WhatsApp has also pre-claimed usernames of celebrities, public figures, and government agencies. This will minimize cases of impersonations when username messaging goes live.
One more aspect that caught my attention is the username key that can be optional.
Even if people know my username, there will be another step necessary before they can talk to me – providing an extra username key. That way, there is one more level of security that prevents spam messages from getting into my inbox.
For those who prioritize their privacy, this will be one of the most useful aspects of WhatsApp.
Should You Reserve Your WhatsApp Username?
Having booked mine, I really feel that it's definitely worth doing when the chance comes up.
Given the billions of users that use it, good usernames are not going to be available for much longer. In case you are already using the same username on Instagram or Facebook, this can help you prevent losing it in the future.
Despite the fact that usernames will not be available to be used for messaging for several more months, you would be well-prepared for it in advance.
Having reserved my username on WhatsApp, I am quite confident that this particular update is far more than just the opportunity for a user to get a new online name. Rather, this is a great move towards increasing privacy while still remaining easy-to-use by WhatsApp.
Not having to share one's phone number while being able to enjoy some security features and not having any possibility to search for a username publicly is one of the greatest updates in a long while on the app.
Should you see an option to reserve your username on WhatsApp, then grab it while you can.
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