WhatsApp is preparing to introduce one of its most significant privacy updates to date, allowing users to connect with others through unique usernames instead of revealing their phone numbers.

The feature, which is still under development, will enable users to create a unique username that friends, family and other contacts can use to find and message them without needing access to their mobile number.

The move is expected to strengthen privacy, particularly for people who regularly interact with individuals outside their personal contact list. This includes users participating in community groups, communicating with businesses or buying and selling items through online marketplaces.

Under the planned system, phone numbers will remain linked to users’ WhatsApp accounts for registration and security purposes. However, they will no longer have to be visible to everyone a user communicates with on the platform.

The update mirrors similar username-based systems already offered by messaging platforms such as Telegram and Signal, where users can maintain a degree of anonymity while remaining easily reachable.

WhatsApp has not yet announced an official release date for the feature, but reports indicate it is being actively developed and could become available in a future update.

If rolled out as expected, the change would represent one of the platform’s biggest privacy enhancements in recent years, giving users greater control over their personal information while making it easier to connect with others safely online.