- WhatsApp is testing a new username reservation feature in its Android beta, allowing users to secure their preferred usernames before the official launch.
- The update will enable users to connect without sharing phone numbers, marking a major shift toward greater privacy and convenience.
- WhatsApp plans a gradual rollout of the reservation feature to ensure fairness and system stability before full public access.
WhatsApp is testing a new WhatsApp username reservation feature for Android users, which is a major step toward allowing communication without phone numbers. The update, found in the latest WhatsApp beta for Android, signals that the platform is moving closer to introducing usernames, a feature long requested by users and already popular on rival messaging apps like Telegram and Signal.
A shift away from phone numbers
Since its launch in 2009, WhatsApp has required users to register and connect through their phone numbers. This approach has worked for years but has also raised privacy and accessibility concerns. The introduction of a WhatsApp username feature aims to modernize the platform and offer more flexibility, allowing users to connect without revealing personal contact information.
According to the feature tracking site WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is developing a username reservation feature. This will let users secure their chosen usernames before the official rollout, which ensures fairness and prevents popular handles from being claimed early.
Username rules and format
Early reports from WABetaInfo reveal several rules to keep usernames standardized and safe. These include:
- Usernames cannot begin with “www.”, avoiding confusion with web addresses.
- Each username must contain at least one letter, ensuring that names made up solely of numbers or symbols are invalid.
- Allowed characters include lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), periods (.), and underscores (_).
WhatsApp username reservation feature
The latest WhatsApp Android beta version 2.25.28.12 introduces a new username reservation option under the app’s Settings menu. This feature lets users reserve their desired handles before the full username feature is launched.
This reservation process is not for username-based messaging yet. Instead, it acts as a placeholder, letting WhatsApp manage demand, stop name squatting, and test systems before expanding the feature to all users.
By rolling out the reservation phase first, WhatsApp can gradually introduce usernames while maintaining system stability and monitoring performance during testing.
Release timeline
As of now, WhatsApp has not announced an official release date for the username feature. However, the inclusion of username reservation in the beta suggests that the company is actively preparing for a broader launch in the coming months.
Users interested in early access can join the WhatsApp Beta Program on Google Play, where new features are tested before their public release.
