WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.17.10.70: what's new?
WhatsApp has released a new iOS update through the TestFlight beta Program, bringing the version up to 25.17.10.70.
What's new in this update? WhatsApp is working on a feature to choose a username for phone number privacy, and it will be available in a future update!
| Common questions | Answers |
|---|---|
| Name of the feature? | Username |
| Status? | Under development |
| Availability? | WhatsApp is currently developing a feature to choose a username for phone number privacy, which is expected to be released in a future update. |
| I've installed the update, but this feature isn't available. Why? | This feature is currently in development and not yet available for beta testing. In the meantime, you can read this article for a sneak peek. |
| Previous news? | WhatsApp officially announced new features for Status updates, including music, stickers, and photo layouts! |
USERNAME
In the article about the WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.11.10.72 update, we announced that a feature to notify users when the username changes was under development. This feature will automatically generate a system message within the chat thread that indicates when someone updates their username. These events will appear in real-time and are delivered to all participants in the conversation, ensuring that everyone is promptly informed of the new username. An update is also planned for the web client, where users will be able to verify the availability of their preferred username in the future. Although this feature is still in development, WhatsApp appears to be actively refining the ability to configure a username ahead of its official beta release, aiming to provide users with a more optimized experience from the outset. Following the release of the latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.17.10.70 update, which is available on the TestFlight app, we discovered that WhatsApp is working on a feature to choose a username for phone number privacy!
As you can see from the attached screenshot, WhatsApp is exploring the implementation of a feature that will allow users to enter a unique username that adheres to specific criteria, scheduled for release in a future update. To ensure consistency and security, WhatsApp has defined a clear set of rules for choosing usernames. Usernames cannot begin with "www." as this could mislead users into thinking they are interacting with an official website entity. Usernames must include at least one letter, which prevents the use of usernames made up only of numbers or symbols. Only certain characters are allowed: lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), periods, and underscores. This will help maintain a clean and predictable structure across all usernames.
WhatsApp will introduce a rule that disallows usernames already saved in a user's contacts or taken by someone else, since duplicate usernames are not allowed and WhatsApp does not support discriminators to differentiate them. Usernames also cannot end with a domain (like .com or .net), which helps avoid confusion and potential scams. Moreover, usernames cannot start or end with a period, and using two periods in a row is also prohibited, as this can make usernames more difficult to read or recognize. The character length is limited to between 3 and 30 characters, although this requirement may change in the future as WhatsApp continues to refine the feature based on certain considerations.
Usernames must meet these conditions to protect users from impersonation and scam, which are common issues on messaging platforms. Once a username that meets all the above criteria is chosen by the user, a confirmation screen will appear. This screen includes a celebratory animation with confetti, and it will confirm that the username has been successfully linked to the user's account. From that moment on, people who do not have the user's phone number will see the username instead, both when initiating a new conversation and within group chats.
A feature to choose a username for phone number privacy is under development and it will be available in a future update of the app. We will keep you updated on any further developments about this feature until it's officially released.
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