Too Long? Didn't Read ● The WhatsApp username feature lets you pick a unique @handle, just like on Instagram. ● People can start a chat with your username, without needing your phone number. ● Usernames are first come, first served, so reserve yours early. ● To reserve, open WhatsApp Manager, select your number, go to Username and click Create. ● You can claim your Instagram or Facebook handle by linking those accounts to your business number. ● Your business phone number stays visible, while customers can keep their number private. ● Meta has announced no charge for usernames, and message pricing stays the same. |
Do you remember your best friend's phone number? Most people do not. Do you remember their Instagram handle? Most people do. That is the idea behind the WhatsApp username feature, which WhatsApp has officially announced.
Instagram has handles. X has handles. Now WhatsApp has them too.
A WhatsApp username is a short, unique name for your account, such as @urbanthreads. A phone number is hard to remember, and a username is easy to remember. A phone number tells people nothing, and a username tells people who you are.
WhatsApp opened username reservations on 29 June 2026 for its 3 billion+ users.
In this blog, we guide you through three things: how WhatsApp username reservation works, how to reserve your username step by step, and what every business should know before usernames go live.
What Is the WhatsApp Username Feature?
WhatsApp usernames are unique handles (e.g., @yourbusiness) that give users an alternative way to connect without sharing phone numbers. Similar to how usernames work on Instagram or Telegram, this feature adds a layer of privacy and convenience to WhatsApp conversations.
The WhatsApp username feature gives each account an optional, unique handle. A person who knows your exact username can message you for the first time using that handle.
WhatsApp built the feature for privacy. A phone number is still required to register, and WhatsApp offers no public directory of usernames. People reach you only when they know your exact handle.
Both the WhatsApp Business app and the WhatsApp Business Platform support usernames. If you are new to the WhatsApp Business API (Application Programming Interface), start with our WhatsApp Business API guide.
WhatsApp Username Rules
Meta applies the same username format rules to business and personal usernames. Check your preferred handle against this table before you submit it.
| Rule | What Meta allows | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 3 to 35 characters | abc works, ab does not |
| Characters | English letters (a to z), digits (0 to 9), periods and underscores | urban_threads |
| Letters | At least one English letter | store247 works, 247247 does not |
| Periods | Cannot start or end with a period, or use two in a row | urban.threads |
| Web-style names | Cannot start with www or end with a domain such as .com or .in | Use urbanthreads, not urbanthreads.com |
| Upper and lower case | Case is ignored | MyShop equals myshop |
| Separators | Periods and underscores create different names | my.shop and my_shop are two usernames |
How WhatsApp Username Reservation Works
WhatsApp username reservation lets you hold a handle before the feature becomes active in your country. Here is how the process works.
1. First come, first served
Every username is unique across WhatsApp. Once an account reserves a name, no other personal or business account can claim it.
2. One username per phone number
A username maps to a single phone number. A brand with three WhatsApp numbers needs three different usernames, so plan a naming pattern early.
3. Your Instagram and Facebook handles are held for you
WhatsApp reserves existing Instagram and Facebook usernames for their owners. Link your business phone number to that Facebook Page or Instagram account, and you can claim the same handle.
4. Well-known names stay protected
WhatsApp holds the names of public figures, government bodies and Meta Verified accounts for their rightful owners. It also restricts words such as bank, government, police and verified.
5. Reserved first, active later
A new request shows the status Reserved. The name belongs to your number, and customers see it once usernames launch in your region. The status then moves to Approved.
6. A 60-day hold when you change your name
You can change your username later. WhatsApp keeps your previous username reserved for 60 days, and only your business can reclaim it during that time.
How to Reserve a WhatsApp Username
Here is how to reserve a WhatsApp username for a number on the WhatsApp Business API. You need access to your WhatsApp Business Account in WhatsApp Manager. WhatsApp also has a help article on how to request a business username.
- Open WhatsApp Manager inside Meta Business Suite.
- Go to Phone numbers and select the number you want the username for.
- Scroll to Username and click Create.
- Type your preferred username, or pick one of the names Meta suggests for your business.
- Confirm. The status shows Reserved until usernames go live in your country.
On the WhatsApp Business app, update to the latest version. Then go to Settings, then Account, then Username.
Tip: Names that match your WhatsApp display name, your verified business name, or your Facebook or Instagram handle have a higher chance of approval. If you do not see the Username option yet, the feature has not reached your account.
Why Your Preferred Username May Be Unavailable
| What you see | Reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Username not available | It matches an Instagram or Facebook username | If you own that account, link your WhatsApp number to it and claim the name |
| Username not allowed | WhatsApp holds it for a public figure, a government body or a verified brand | Choose your own brand name, or verify ownership with Meta |
| Username already taken | Another account reserved it first | Add a clear qualifier such as .india or official |
| Account not eligible | Your business portfolio needs a higher messaging limit | Raise your tier first. See our WhatsApp message limits guide |
What Businesses Should Know
Your phone number stays visible
Meta states that business usernames are built for discovery. Your business profile keeps showing your phone number next to your display name and username.
Customers can message you without showing their number
A customer who adopts a username can start a chat with you and keep the number private. WhatsApp then shares a BSUID (Business-Scoped User ID) with your business.
A BSUID looks like
IN.13491208655302741918
It is unique to each customer and business pair, and it works with every number inside your business portfolio.
You still receive phone numbers in many cases
WhatsApp includes the customer's phone number when one of these conditions applies:
- You messaged or called that number in the last 30 days.
- The customer messaged or called you in the last 30 days.
- The customer is saved in your Meta contact book.
You can also send a Request Contact Info button. One tap from the customer shares the number with you.
OTP templates still need a phone number
You can send almost every message type to a BSUID. One-tap, zero-tap and copy-code OTP (One Time Password) authentication templates are the exception, and they require the customer's phone number.
WhatsApp follows a fixed order for your chat name
WhatsApp picks the name shown in a chat in this order: saved contact name, verified business name, username, then phone number. A verified business name still ranks above your username.
Customers find you by exact match
Once usernames go live, a customer who types your exact username in WhatsApp search can open a chat with you. Keep the handle short and easy to spell.
Pricing and opt-in rules stay the same
Meta has announced no charge for usernames. Template messages still bill by category, as covered in our October 2026 pricing update.
You also still need consent before you send templates. Here is how to collect WhatsApp opt-ins the right way.
Username vs Phone Number vs BSUID
| Aspect | Username | Phone number | BSUID |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | A public handle you choose | The number registered on WhatsApp | A backend ID that WhatsApp generates |
| Who sets it | The account owner | The telecom operator | Meta, automatically |
| Can it change? | Yes, with limits on frequency | Yes, when the user changes numbers | Only when the user changes numbers |
| Best use for a business | Branding and discovery | Messaging and OTP delivery | Matching customers inside your tools |
| Use it to message a customer? | No | Yes | Yes |
The takeaway is simple. Treat the BSUID as the stable customer key, keep the phone number where you have it, and show the username as a display detail.
How to Prepare: A Checklist for Businesses for WhatsApp Usernames
WhatsApp Usernames go live country by country, so the best time to prepare is now. Work through these seven steps in order. The first three secure your name, the next three get your systems ready, and the last one puts your handle to work.
- Choose one handle for every platform. Use the same name you already use on Instagram and Facebook, so customers recognise your brand wherever they find you.
- Link your Facebook Page and Instagram account. WhatsApp holds your existing handles for you, and linking your business number unlocks them.
- Reserve a username for each phone number. Every number needs its own name, so follow a clear pattern such as yourbrand, yourbrand.support and yourbrand.sales.
- Add a BSUID field to your CRM (Customer Relationship Management) tool. Store it next to the phone number for every contact, so your records stay complete even when a customer keeps their number private.
- Review flows that depend on phone numbers. Check your OTP journeys, lead forms and webhook automations, and update any step that expects a phone number every time.
- Keep the Meta contact book switched on. It lets WhatsApp keep sharing phone numbers for customers you already talk to.
- Show your handle wherever customers look. Once it goes live, add it to your packaging, website, Instagram bio and Click to WhatsApp Ads.
How AiSensy Helps You Get Ready
A username brings customers to your chat. What happens next decides the sale. AiSensy, an official Meta Business Solution Provider, gives you the tools to respond at scale on the Official WhatsApp Business API.
Your number sits inside your own WhatsApp Business Account, so you reserve the username in WhatsApp Manager and keep running broadcasts, chatbots and shared team inbox on AiSensy as usual.
Ready to get started?
FAQs
Q. What is the WhatsApp username feature?
The WhatsApp username feature gives every account an optional unique handle. People can use that handle to start a chat for the first time, so they do not need to share a phone number. Each username belongs to one phone number, and a phone number is still required to register on WhatsApp.
Q. How does WhatsApp username reservation work?
Reservation holds a username for your phone number before the feature goes live in your country. Usernames are first come, first served. Once reserved, no other account can claim the name, and it becomes active automatically when WhatsApp launches usernames in your region.
Q. How to reserve a WhatsApp username for a business?
Open WhatsApp Manager, go to Phone numbers, select your number, scroll to Username and click Create. Enter your preferred name or pick a suggestion, then confirm. WhatsApp Business app users can go to Settings, then Account, then Username.
Q. Does a username hide my business phone number?
No. Meta states that business usernames are built for discovery. Your business profile keeps showing your phone number along with your display name and username.
Q. Will I still see my customers’ phone numbers?
For most customers, yes. If a customer uses a username and has no recent history with you, WhatsApp shares a Business-Scoped User ID (BSUID) in place of the number. WhatsApp still shares the number if you exchanged messages or calls in the last 30 days, or if the customer is in your Meta contact book.
Q. What are the WhatsApp username rules?
A username is 3 to 35 characters long. It can use English letters, digits, periods and underscores, and it needs at least one letter. It cannot start or end with a period, contain two periods in a row, start with www or end with a domain such as .com.
Q. Can I use my Instagram or Facebook handle as my WhatsApp username?
Yes. WhatsApp holds existing Instagram and Facebook usernames for their owners. Link your WhatsApp business number to that Facebook Page or Instagram account, then claim the same name.
Q. Can I use one username for several phone numbers?
No. One username maps to one phone number across all of WhatsApp. If your brand runs several numbers, plan a naming pattern such as yourbrand, yourbrand.support and yourbrand.sales.
Q. Does a WhatsApp username cost anything?
Meta has announced no charge for reserving or using a username. Template messages continue to bill by category under the standard WhatsApp rate card.
Q. Is the WhatsApp username feature live in India?
India’s activation is under government consultation. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) sent Meta a notice on 1 July 2026, and Meta submitted its reply on 9 July 2026. Check the Username section in WhatsApp Manager for your current status.