Why WhatsApp aim to replace phone numbers with usernames

WhatsApp is preparing to replace phone numbers with usernames. This could usher in another pattern of technology that would surprise everyone.

WhatsApp is testing a new username function, which allows users to connect without providing their phone numbers. Instead of assigning numerals, you will be able to establish a unique username, similar to Instagram, Telegram, or X.

This feature, initially discovered in WhatsApp’s beta testing program, is one of the app’s most important privacy changes in years. And if it becomes publicly available in 2025, it has the potential to change how more than two billion people use WhatsApp each day.

At the moment, WhatsApp’s system is simple; You sign up with your number, and that number becomes your identity. If someone wants to chat with you, they need your digits. When you join a group, your number is automatically visible to everyone else in it.

That design has always raised questions around privacy. Once you share your number, you lose control over who has it and how it’s used. For many people, that’s fine when it’s just family and friends. But in larger groups, business chats, or online communities, it can feel intrusive.

The WhatsApp username update aims to solve this by offering a second option. Instead of giving out your number, you’ll be able to create a username that’s unique to you. Think of it like an Instagram handle, something short, personal, and easy to share.

If someone wants to add you, they can simply type in your username instead of asking for your number. The feature is expected to include privacy controls too, so you can decide whether or not to let others see your actual phone number once they connect.

There are very evident reasons for this WhatsApp privacy change. First, privacy has emerged as a prominent subject. More individuals want to secure their personal information online, and WhatsApp is under pressure to keep up. Allowing usernames adds an extra degree of security; users may communicate, join groups, and meet new people without immediately giving their phone number.

Second, the change makes sense for WhatsApp’s global audience. Right now, if you want to connect with someone abroad, you need to know the country code. With usernames, that hurdle disappears. It becomes as easy as typing a name, no matter where in the world the person is.