If you use WhatsApp daily, this is very interesting to you. Meta has just opened the username reservation process (also known as handles) for the more than 3 billion people who use the most popular messaging app in the world. The feature's global rollout is still underway, but you can now make sure no one else “steals” the name you want before the big day arrives. And the best thing is that the entire process is done directly from the app, without the need for third-party websites or complicated steps.

The change that is coming is historic. For the first time in its more than 15-year history, WhatsApp will allow you to identify yourself with an @ instead of your phone number. A move that Telegram and other platforms have had for a long time, and that Meta now brings to its flagship app to give users something they have been crying out for: more privacy and more control over who can contact you.

Why reserve your WhatsApp handle right now

The username system is not yet available to everyone, but the booking process is now open and is being progressively rolled out worldwide starting this week. That means that if you wait too long, someone else can keep the name you wanted to use, whether it's your personal brand, the name of your business, or simply the nickname that everyone knows you by.

Once you reserve your handle, it will be locked to you and no one else will be able to claim it until the feature's mass release arrives. It's basically like when they opened domain registrations on the internet, but for the app you carry in your pocket. And if you already have an account on Instagram or Facebook, there is good news: Meta gives you priority to claim that same name on WhatsApp by linking your accounts through the Meta Account Center. That is, if you are already @yourname on Instagram, you can make sure you are also @yourname on WhatsApp.

For those who are not sure which name to choose, the platform itself includes a suggestion generator that proposes options based on your name and profile. So even that is no excuse to be left without one.

How to reserve your username from the WhatsApp app step by step

The process is faster than you imagine. You just need to have the most recent version of WhatsApp installed on your phone, whether Android or iPhone. Once you receive the update with this option, the path is as follows:

Open WhatsApp and go to Settings or Settings (the gear icon). From there, go to Account and then look for the Username option. When you enter, you will see a field where you can write the identifier you want. The system checks in real time if that name is already being used in the entire Meta ecosystem, so that there are no duplicates.

When choosing it, keep in mind that the username must be between 3 and 35 characters, can only include lowercase letters, numbers, periods and underscores, and cannot begin with “www” or end in extensions such as “.com” or “.net”. Once you confirm it, your handle will be linked to your account and you can share it as a link or simply by telling someone your “@”, without revealing your phone number.

There is also a very useful extra security option: WhatsApp allows you to activate a four-digit PIN that any new person must enter before being able to write to you for the first time using your username. A simple but effective filter to avoid unwanted messages from strangers.

What changes with usernames in WhatsApp

The impact of this feature goes far beyond having a “cool” name on the app. Nowadays, sharing your phone number with strangers, clients or professional contacts means giving up very sensitive information that can end up in the wrong hands. With the handles, that is no longer a problem.

Imagine being able to give your WhatsApp contact to someone at an event, in a business meeting or in a community group, without that person having access to your real number. That is exactly the privacy that Meta wants to offer its users with this update. The app thus becomes a tool much more similar to what we already know about social networks, but with all the weight and trust that WhatsApp has in the daily lives of millions of people.

The full rollout of the feature is expected during the second half of 2026. Until it arrives, the smartest thing is to enter the app right now, update to the latest version and secure that name you want. Good names always go quickly, and in this matter of handles, he who doesn't run, flies.