After two years of limited testing, WhatsApp will soon let users and businesses hide their phone numbers and use a username instead. The new feature is expected to significantly reshape how companies communicate on the platform.

WhatsApp has started informing business users that it will introduce usernames, a long-awaited feature that the company plans to roll out in 2026, according to technology news outlet Android Police. The platform has issued guidance on steps businesses can take ahead of the update.

The messaging service confirmed the change, saying it will allow users to choose a username that can be shown in individual and group chats instead of a phone number. The company said the feature has been one of its most frequent requests.

For individuals, usernames are intended to strengthen privacy by reducing the need to share phone numbers. For businesses, WhatsApp said the feature will make it easier for customers to initiate conversations and give them more confidence about how their personal information is handled. The company said users are more likely to contact businesses when they can keep their phone numbers private while still retaining the option to share them.

Usernames are already a standard feature on competing services such as Telegram. WhatsApp had 2 billion monthly active users worldwide as of February 2025.

Chedjou Kamdem