WhatsApp tests username system with reserved handles

WhatsApp is preparing a username system that would let users reserve handles and connect without sharing their phone numbers, a change visible in recent Android beta builds that include a new username reservation option in the app's settings. The feature, still under development, would allow people to claim a unique username before the broader rollout and appears designed to reduce phone-number exposure and limit impersonation.

The beta reveals a reservation mechanism that would let users secure a desired handle ahead of the full username launch. Reserving names in advance is intended to prevent early testers from monopolizing popular usernames during a phased rollout, and reports indicate the reservation capability itself may be distributed more widely and sooner than the complete username functionality. WhatsApp has not issued an official timeline or confirmed when either reservation or full username support will be available to all users.

Preliminary rules embedded in the beta aim to standardize usernames and reduce potential misuse. Usernames would be limited to lowercase letters, digits, periods, and underscores, and must include at least one letter. Usernames cannot begin...