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WhatsApp is gearing up to launch a brand-new “Username Reservation” feature, allowing users to secure their favorite and unique usernames before others do. Initially, the feature will be rolled out for select iOS and Android beta testers, giving them an early opportunity to personalize their WhatsApp experience and safeguard their digital identity.

What Is the Username Reservation Feature?

Inspired by platforms like Telegram, WhatsApp’s Username Reservation system will let users create and reserve a unique identifier for their account. Instead of relying only on phone numbers, users will now be able to set usernames—making it easier to connect and communicate without sharing their personal contact details.

Each username can contain between 3 and 35 characters, including lowercase letters, numbers, underscores (_), and dots (.). However, usernames cannot start or end with a dot, nor can they contain domain-like names (such as “@gmail.com”) or misleading identities.

The feature is designed to make WhatsApp more personalized, secure, and professional—a step toward enhancing privacy while aligning with modern digital communication trends.

Fair Access for Everyone

To ensure fair play in the username race, WhatsApp plans to introduce an Early Access Username Reservation system. This means that users who reserve their preferred username first will get to keep it permanently, and once a username is taken, no one else will be able to claim it.

This move is aimed at preventing name squatting—where users hoard popular or brand-related usernames—and ensuring that everyone gets a fair chance to secure their preferred digital identity.

Why This Feature Matters

The new username feature adds an extra layer of privacy and personalization to WhatsApp. It allows users to share their username instead of their phone number, making conversations with unknown people or in large communities more secure. For businesses, it offers a professional identity on the platform, improving discoverability and trust.

Experts believe this change could transform WhatsApp from a simple messaging app into a more versatile social and business communication platform—similar to how Telegram and Signal already operate.

Other New WhatsApp Updates

Apart from the username reservation feature, WhatsApp is also working on several exciting updates across its ecosystem to enhance user experience:

• Mac-style Sidebar for iPad: WhatsApp is testing a sleek new sidebar interface for iPad users, making navigation smoother and more convenient on larger screens.

• Status Reaction Stickers: Users will soon be able to add custom emoji stickers to their status updates, allowing friends and followers to react privately with a single tap.

• Emoji, Sticker & GIF Controls: WhatsApp will soon introduce settings to enable or disable emoji, sticker, and GIF animations, helping users save data and customize app performance.

• Status Notifications for Selected Contacts: A new feature will allow users to enable real-time status update notifications for specific contacts, ensuring they never miss important updates.

• @all Mention in Groups: Similar to workplace chat apps, WhatsApp will allow group admins to mention all members at once using the “@all” tag—perfect for announcements in large groups.

• Interactive Quizzes for Channels: Channel admins will soon be able to create interactive quizzes, letting followers answer questions and instantly see if they got them right.

The Road Ahead

While WhatsApp hasn’t announced an official release date for the Username Reservation feature, it’s clear that the company is moving toward making user experience more secure and flexible. The feature aligns with WhatsApp’s broader goal of enhancing privacy, authenticity, and engagement across its platform.

As testing progresses, users can expect gradual rollouts of these updates in the coming months. Whether you use WhatsApp for personal chats, business, or community management, reserving your username early might soon become the next big thing in digital identity management.