WhatsApp is now promoting usernames with a dedicated banner on the App Store and Google Play. This is the first time that WhatsApp features usernames as a major update directly on the stores. This may indicate that a wider release is finally getting closer, although WhatsApp says the feature will become available to everyone over the coming months.
| Key Points | Details |
|---|---|
| Feature: | WhatsApp usernames |
| Status: | Rolling out |
| Availability info: | WhatsApp is gradually rolling out the full usernames feature. |
| Previous news: | WhatsApp celebrates the World Cup final with status animations! |
WhatsApp is making usernames available to a limited number of users
Last week, we announced that WhatsApp is currently rolling out the full username feature to a limited number of users. For those users, the reservation phase is over and the username is now active and ready to use. Usernames let users connect with new people and businesses without sharing their phone number. However, the full username feature is not accessible to everyone yet. This rollout should not be considered a global launch yet, as WhatsApp is making it available gradually.
Both stores are now promoting usernames as a major update
Today, WhatsApp is taking the promotion a step further. Specifically, WhatsApp is now promoting the username update directly on the App Store and Google Play. The feature is labeled as a "Major update", making the announcement visible to every user who opens the store. At the moment, WhatsApp is showing this banner on both platforms at the same time. This is the kind of spotlight WhatsApp reserves for important features available to users.
What the banners say on App Store and Google Play
Both banners focus on the same message: usernames let users keep their phone number private. On the App Store, WhatsApp says that usernames are coming for a more private messaging experience. On Google Play, WhatsApp describes it as a way to message new contacts without sharing the phone number. WhatsApp suggests that users reserve their preferred username ahead of the full launch. Neither banner goes into technical details. Both keep the message simple and focused on privacy.
Why WhatsApp is considering this as a major update
WhatsApp does not often promote features as major updates. Instead, WhatsApp reserves the banner for features that significantly improve the user experience. Usernames fit exactly that description. For the first time, users can contact new people and businesses without sharing their phone number. This is a major change for WhatsApp, an app that has always used phone numbers to connect people. WhatsApp decided to promote this update on both stores, a choice that highlights the importance of this feature.
This promotion may indicate that a second rollout is coming
Banners like this one on the store do not target a small group of beta testers. They appear to everyone who opens the WhatsApp page on the App Store or Google Play, which means WhatsApp is talking to all users. WhatsApp usually gives this level of visibility during a rollout. Last week, we already reported that some users moved past the reservation phase and got their username confirmed and ready to use. That was not a global launch yet. However, this banner makes that direction even clearer.
What users can do right now
Users who have not reserved a username yet can still claim it. To reserve a username, users can open WhatsApp Settings > Account > Username. Since WhatsApp will likely expand the rollout soon, users should reserve their preferred handle now to avoid losing it to someone else. If the username is already confirmed, users can start using it to connect with new people and businesses without sharing their phone number. For everyone else, the wait should not be much longer.
WhatsApp is gradually rolling out usernames on iOS and Android
Usernames are currently available to a limited number of users on iOS and Android. Users who do not have access yet should keep the app updated. WhatsApp will notify users directly in the app once the feature becomes available in their region. WhatsApp has not announced an official date for the global launch, but the banner on the store and the gradual rollout suggest one is getting close.
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