WhatsApp Rolls Out Username Support
Users can now save a contact's username alongside their name and phone number, as the messaging app moves away from relying on phone numbers for identification
WhatsApp has started rolling out support for a username field when creating new contacts, allowing users to save a contact's username alongside their name and phone number.
The username field appears between the first and last name fields and the phone number section. Users can access the contact creation screen by tapping the + button in the navigation bar of the Chats tab.
When usernames become widely available, WhatsApp will populate the username field automatically when users create a new contact from the chat info screen. This feature is part of WhatsApp's efforts to introduce usernames, which will eventually replace the reliance on phone numbers for user identification.
## What's changing The rollout of the username field is a significant step towards WhatsApp's goal of moving away from relying exclusively on phone numbers for user identification. Earlier this year, WhatsApp started rolling out a username reservation system to give users a chance to claim their preferred handles and avoid scam impersonations before usernames officially launched.
## Why it matters The introduction of usernames on WhatsApp will provide users with more flexibility and convenience when it comes to identifying and connecting with others on the platform. It will also help to reduce the reliance on phone numbers, which can be a security risk and a hassle to manage.
The username field is rolling out to select users on both the beta and stable versions of WhatsApp. As the feature becomes more widely available, users can expect to see the username field populated automatically when creating new contacts from the chat info screen.
