WhatsApp is preparing to roll out usernames more widely by adding a new username field to the contact creation screen on Android and iOS.
The username field appears when users create a new contact from WhatsApp. After tapping the “+” button in the Chats tab and selecting “New contact,” users may now see a dedicated field for entering a username alongside the existing contact details.
The change is part of WhatsApp’s broader move toward usernames, which will allow people to connect with others without having to share their phone numbers. WhatsApp has already started gradually rolling out its full username feature to a limited number of users, while username reservations are also available to some users.
For now, users who already have a WhatsApp username can share it with others so they can save it in their contacts. Once usernames become more widely available, WhatsApp is expected to automatically add the username when someone creates a contact from a chat’s information screen.
Saving a username can also make it easier to identify and find contacts later. The person’s saved name will continue to appear in conversations as usual, so users will not have to remember which username belongs to which person.
WhatsApp is also connecting username contacts with its existing contact and Status features. When both people have saved each other and their privacy settings allow it, they can continue to see each other’s Status updates while the phone number remains protected.
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The new username field is currently rolling out to some WhatsApp beta testers on Android and iOS. Some users running the latest stable version may also see it, but WhatsApp has not yet announced when the feature will become available to everyone. Availability may also vary by region.
