WhatsApp is reportedly working on a new feature that will let users reserve unique usernames, marking a shift toward more personalized and secure user identities on the platform.
The option was spotted in WhatsApp Beta for Android version 2.25.28.12, which has been marked as a compatible update. Although the feature is not yet live, it is expected to be rolled out in a future release of the Meta-owned messaging platform.
According to the reports, a Username name option will be available under the Profile tab in WhatsApp settings. Users can reserve their usernames through this option.
WhatsApp Username Reservation to Boost Privacy and Fair Access
The feature is seen as a step toward introducing usernames on WhatsApp, aiming to enhance user privacy and control. It is expected to include a ‘username key’ option that restricts who can contact you, only users who have both your username and the key will be able to message you.
By allowing users to reserve usernames in advance, WhatsApp hopes to ensure a fair rollout, giving users the chance to secure their preferred usernames before the feature becomes widely available and reducing the risk of names being claimed by others.
Setting up the username will have some restrictions. For example, usernames cannot begin with ‘www’ to eliminate the risk of a person being disguised as an official website entity. Further, the username must include at least one letter. It can include certain characters, such as numbers (0–9), periods, and underscores.
The new option to reserve a username is currently under development and is not available even to beta testers who are registered via the Google Play Beta program. It might be rolled out for testing purposes to a wider audience over the coming weeks, as per the reports.
