WhatsApp will let you sign in to the service with just a username or screen name instead of your phone number for increased messaging and texting privacy.
WhatsApp requires a phone number even as rival messaging platforms like Viber, Telegram and the encrypted messaging app Signal introduced usernames. But that could change in the future, as Meta has been spotted testing WhatsApp usernames in a recent beta version of the app available on TestFlight.
The feature is not live yet even for beta testers as it’s in the early stages of development. As such, WhatsApp usernames may take a few weeks to roll out to all users. Once they do, you’ll be able to create a WhatsApp username and the app will display it in chats and elsewhere without revealing your phone number.
WhatsApp username instead of your actual phone number
WABetaInfo recently discovered code strings in the WhatsApp Beta indicating usernames are coming. There are some privacy stipulations to keep in mind. For example, Meta’s rules prohibit WhatsApp usernames that begin with “www” to avoid misleading people that they’re interacting with an official website. Also, usernames based on saved contacts are not allowed.
Moreover, only lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), periods and underscores are allowed in usernames. Usernames comprising only numbers or symbols will be rejected. Also, usernames must include at least one letter. Usernames can’t start or end with a period or have two periods in a row. Your username must be between 3-30 characters long.
WhatsApp will let you check if a desired username is available. Once you’ve picked a valid username, you’ll see a confetti confirmation animation. “People who don’t have your phone number will see your username instead,” the onscreen message reads..Similar to other messaging platforms, Meta will permit you to change your WhatsApp username.
It’s unclear if the number of username changes per account is restricted. For the sake of transparency, changing your username will prompt WhatsApp to notify everyone in the conversation about the change with a system message.
Other privacy changes and new features
A recent WhatsApp update has fixed another significant privacy leak by ensuring messages deleted for everyone in the chat are also deleted from quoted replies. Earlier updates added a number of notable new features and enhancements, like a native iPad interface that lets you multitask while keeping tabs on your WhatsApp chats, voice chat in group conversations (swipe up in a group chat), as well as AI wallpapers, message summarization and new privacy controls.
Meta could also release a native iPad app for Instagram. The Information said a while ago that Meta was developing such an app. Mark Gurman corroborated the report on Bloomberg, saying a native Instagram iPad app optimized for the tablet’s larger display remains in the works and is on track for release later this year.