WhatsApp usernames: Reserve your Facebook and Instagram handle. Launch before 2026

A new report from WABetaInfo, which states that WhatsApp is building a WhatsApp usernames reservation tool, was spotted after the Android beta 2.25.34.3 update. The feature will let users (and businesses) secure their handle before WhatsApp’s full username system goes live—reducing land-grabs and impersonation when the rollout starts.

How WhatsApp usernames would work

• Match existing handles: Early reservations appear geared toward handles you already use on Instagram or Facebook.

• Ownership check: Verification would run through Meta’s Accounts Center, ensuring only the legitimate owner can reserve the same handle on WhatsApp.

• Protection before launch: Once verified, the handle is locked to your account, preventing others from claiming it when usernames open up widely.

WhatsApp usernames: Limits and timing

• Likely restriction: Users may not be able to reserve brand-new handles at this stage; the focus is on unifying identities across Meta’s platforms.

• Rollout window: WhatsApp aims to deploy the full username system before Meta’s 2026 compliance deadline, with a phased release to testers first, then broader availability.

• Status: WhatsApp usernames are still under development; WhatsApp is refining flows for clarity and reliability ahead of wider testing.

Source: WABetaInfo