# WhatsApp username

A WhatsApp username is a unique @handle, rolling out in 2026, that lets people find and message an account without ever seeing its phone number.

Source: https://getkanal.com/whatsapp-marketing-glossary/whatsapp-username  
Last updated: 2026-08-09

Usernames follow simple format rules: 3 to 35 characters, using Latin letters, numbers, periods, and underscores, with one handle per account and uniqueness across all of WhatsApp. The phone number does not disappear: it still registers the account behind the scenes.

The rollout began in 2026: businesses could start claiming handles on June 29, the first country wave went live on July 7, and in-app reservation opened globally in July, with availability expanding country by country through the rest of the year.

For brands, a username is both a land-grab and an asset: @yourbrand becomes printable, clickable, and consistent with other social handles, and it lowers the opt-in friction for customers reluctant to share a phone number. On the API side, customers who adopt a username appear to businesses as a business-scoped user ID (BSUID) instead of a raw number.

## Go deeper: articles

- [WhatsApp Usernames: How to Reserve Yours (2026 Guide)](https://getkanal.com/blog/whatsapp-usernames): WhatsApp usernames are rolling out in 2026: how to reserve your @username, the format rules, what changes for privacy, and what businesses must do about it.
- [WhatsApp Business Search: How to Get Your Store Found (2026)](https://getkanal.com/blog/whatsapp-business-search-get-found): Users can now find businesses directly in WhatsApp search. The readiness checklist for your Shopify store: profile, catalog, verification and fast replies.
- [WhatsApp Business Profile: 12 Best Practices That Convert](https://getkanal.com/blog/whatsapp-business-profile-optimization): Set up a WhatsApp Business profile that converts in 2026. 12 best practices for photo, name, description, catalog, verification, and Shopify sync.

## Related terms

- [Official business account (blue tick)](https://getkanal.com/whatsapp-marketing-glossary/official-business-account)
- [wa.me link (click-to-chat)](https://getkanal.com/whatsapp-marketing-glossary/wa-me-link)