WhatsApp launches user‑name handles to hide phone numbers

WhatsApp has begun a gradual rollout of an optional user‑name feature that lets users create a unique @handle for their account. The handle, which can be between 3 and 35 characters, allows people to start chats without exposing their phone number. The rollout is being activated country‑by‑country and will become generally available later in the year. Users can also set an optional four‑digit “username key” that must be known before anyone can message them via the handle, adding an extra layer of privacy.

The system does not include a public directory; contacts must know the exact handle (and the key, if enabled) to initiate a conversation. Meta will reserve certain names for celebrities, public figures, brands and organizations, and businesses can mirror the same handle they use on Instagram or Facebook. Handles can be deleted or changed at any time, and if deleted the user has a 14‑day window to reclaim it before it becomes available to others.

WhatsApp says it has built rate‑limits, abuse detection and anti‑scam safeguards into the feature to prevent fraud and impersonation. The company emphasizes that a phone number is still required to register an account, but the new handle option provides a way to keep that number private in day‑to‑day interactions.