WhatsApp is reportedly preparing to roll out usernames across its platform by next year, with businesses required to fully support the new system by June 2026, a WaBetaInfo report added. It further added that the Meta-owned social media giant has confirmed the development of the feature and will allow users to communicate without sharing their phone numbers. The feature is currently in the final stages and seems to debut soon.
According to WABetaInfo’s update, usernames will allow users to search, chat, and make voice or video calls with a unique identifier rather than a phone number. The feature is intended to improve privacy, especially when communicating with new contacts or businesses. The rollout will also include a Business-Scoped User ID (BSUID), a new identifier that enables businesses to securely interact with users even when their phone numbers are hidden.
WhatsApp has set a clear deadline for adoption, requiring all businesses that use its API to update their systems by June 2026, the report added. Developer documentation has already been updated to include integration guidelines, sample workflows, and best practices for ensuring message continuity and encrypted integrity.
According to the report, WhatsApp engineers had to redesign key components of the app’s infrastructure to support username-based communication while maintaining end-to-end encryption. The company refers to this as a “privacy-first modernisation” of its messaging system, which balances anonymity and reliability.
The username feature, which was first discovered in earlier Android beta versions, is expected to be rolled out in stages in 2026. While businesses are the initial focus, the update confirms that usernames will be available to all users simultaneously. Once operational, the feature will allow individuals and businesses to connect without disclosing personal information.