Meta has been painstakingly working on improving the messaging experience on WhatsApp. Following the recent introduction of WhatsApp Plus, the Liquid Glass redesign, and multi-account support for iPhone users, the company has now introduced WhatsApp Usernames. Users can now set a unique username for their WhatsApp account, and while the feature is currently in a phased rollout, it is already live for many users. Here is how to set yours up.
Reserve Your Username to Keep Your Phone Number Private
WhatsApp Usernames represent a meaningful step toward enhanced privacy on the platform. Given that a phone number is inherently personal and tied to many aspects of a user’s life, the ability to connect without sharing a phone number is a welcome development for those who prefer to keep their contact details private. Also, it is much easier to tell someone “@YourUsername” than to dictate a 10-digit number.
Similar to Instagram and X (formerly Twitter), every username must be entirely unique and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Usernames are alphanumeric, and users who already have their preferred username associated with a Facebook or Instagram account may link their account to claim the same username on WhatsApp.
Steps to Set a Username in WhatsApp
First things first, you need to update WhatsApp to the newest version available on the App Store and Play Store. As I mentioned earlier, the feature is currently in a rollout phase. If the feature is available for your WhatsApp account, you can follow the steps to claim a unique username for your account.
Steps for iPhone:
Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
Step 2: Tap You (Your Profile) from the bottom navigation bar.
Step 3: Tap on your Profile Picture to view your profile information.
Step 4: Tap Reserve username option in front of the Username option.
Step 5: Select Create username option or you can choose between Use Instagram or Facebook username.
Step 6: Enter your desired username, and the app will automatically check its availability in real time as you type. If it’s unavailable you can try typing another username or simply tap Suggest a username option.
Step 7: Once you are satisfied with your selected username, tap the Save button located in the top right corner to complete the process.
Steps for Android:
Step 1: Open WhatsApp on your Android smartphone.
Step 2: Tap the three-dots menu icon from the menu bar at the top and select Settings.
Step 3: Tap on your Profile Picture to view your profile information.
Step 4: Tap Reserve username option in front of the Username option.
Step 5: Select Create username option or you can choose between Use Instagram or Facebook username.
Step 6: Enter your desired username, and the app will automatically check its availability in real time as you type. If it’s unavailable, you can try typing another username or simply tap Suggest a username option.
Step 7: Once you are satisfied with your selected username, tap the Save button located in the top right corner to complete the process.
Upon setting your username, you can configure the associated privacy settings to determine who can contact you via your username. Two options are available: Everyone and People who know my key. Selecting the latter will generate a four-digit username key. Should the assigned key not meet your preference, you may tap “Get a different key” to generate an alternative.
That’s it. This is how you can set a username in WhatsApp. If you want to edit the username in future, you can follow the same steps again. Additionally, if you want to remove the username, simply, open your Profile from settings > tap username > tap Edit and select Delete username option.
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