On the Internet, we may have already been late for our username more than once. In one network it was busy, in another we had to add numbers and in some we ended up accepting a version that never convinced us. WhatsApp now opens a different window: reserve an identifier before it can be used later this year.
Until now, the phone number has been the centerpiece of identity on WhatsApp: it is used to create the account and, in practice, also so that others can find us. What changes with the usernames is that second part, because WhatsApp will allow, when the function is active, for someone to contact us for the first time without us having to give them our number.
The company itself proposes it as a privacy measure for everyday situations, from a group with people we don’t know to a specific conversation with someone we just met. ANDl number will still be required to open the accountbut it will no longer always have to be the letter of introduction.
How to reserve your username on WhatsApp
To reserve it, the path indicated by WhatsApp is simple: you must have the most recent version of the application installed and enter Settings > Account > Username. From there, when the reservation is available, we can choose the name we want to use later, once the function is generally activated.
The official WhatsApp account on X says that reservations will begin this week | Click to see the original publication
The company led by Mark Zuckerberg explains that the deployment will be gradual during the coming months and that will notify within WhatsApp when the usernames are available in each country.
It should be noted that usernames may be between 3 and 40 characters, and the company will allow you to change the username or deactivate the function at any time.
In our case, at the time of writing this article, we have tried from Spain and the option still does not appear. This fits perfectly with what the company announced, which talks about a gradual implementation over the coming months and notifications within the app when the function is available in each country. So if you don’t see it yet, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing something wrong.
Early booking has a simple explanation: in a service of this scale, many names can coincide and the most obvious ones can soon be disputed. WhatsApp summarizes it with a piece of information that appears in Meta’s financial results for the first quarter of 2025: The application exceeds 3 billion monthly active users.
There is an important difference compared to how usernames work on some platforms: WhatsApp will not allow you to search for profiles as if we were on a social network. According to the company, there will be no directory or suggestions, and people will have to know the exact username to get in touch for the first time.
Additionally, WhatsApp will add an optional username key to reinforce that initial filter. That is, the objective is not to gain visibility, but to provide a more private and controlled form of contact than the telephone number.
There is another important piece to this reservation: not all names are put into play in the same way. WhatsApp explains that creators, small businesses and organizations will be able to claim their existing Instagram or Facebook name, something designed for those who need a recognizable and constant presence. On the other hand, the company has already reserved names of public figures to avoid opportunistic appropriations.
Images | Meta (cover edited with Photoshop) | Screenshot
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