WhatsApp Username Feature 2026: The popular messaging platform WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that could significantly enhance user privacy and convenience. According to recent reports, the app is planning to introduce a system of usernames or unique user IDs, allowing people to connect with others without the need to share their phone numbers.
With this update, users may be able to send messages, make voice calls, and even initiate video calls using just a username or ID, similar to how other social and messaging platforms operate. This would mark a major shift from WhatsApp’s current model, which relies entirely on phone numbers for identification and communication.
The proposed feature is expected to offer greater control over personal information, reducing the need to disclose sensitive contact details, especially when interacting with new or unknown users. It could also help minimize privacy risks, spam, and unwanted communication, making the platform safer and more user-friendly.
If implemented, this change would represent one of WhatsApp’s most significant updates in recent years, aligning it with evolving global standards for digital privacy and user security. While the feature is still under development and has not been officially launched, it has already generated considerable interest among users eager for more flexible and secure ways to connect.
WhatsApp Username Feature 2026: Username feature to be available soon
According to reports, this new feature could be rolled out globally in June 2026. It will allow individuals and businesses to have unique names or handles, similar to other social media platforms. “We’re excited to soon bring usernames to WhatsApp, allowing people to connect with new friends, groups, and businesses without sharing their phone numbers,” the company said in a statement.
This feature is expected to be optional, allowing users to continue using their phone number if they wish. The move is intended to avoid disruption and prevent users from migrating to rival platforms. Furthermore, according to reports, WhatsApp is considering a dynamic pricing model for businesses, under which companies would be able to bid in real time to send marketing messages.
WhatsApp New Feature: When will this feature come?
According to reports, trials of this new system are likely to begin in the second half of 2026 and could be implemented in 2027. India, with over 500 million users, remains one of WhatsApp’s key markets globally.
WhatsApp New Feature: WhatsApp is becoming a platform for product discovery
A report in February said that social media platforms influence 77 percent of retail purchasing decisions in India and meta platforms play a key role in 96 percent of social discovery.
The report, from Meta and the Retailers Association of India (RAI), states that short-form videos and creators are driving product discovery, as 97 percent of consumers watch short videos daily and 60 percent of time spent on Facebook and Instagram is spent watching videos. The report also states that 72 percent of product discovery happens on the messaging platform WhatsApp.
Also Read: 1,500 km Range! Chery’s ‘Rhino’ EV to Debut with Next-Gen battery technology
